Zojirushi Rice Cooker Reviews and Comparisons
Review for Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker, Warmer and Stainless Steel
In my earlier experiences with rice cookers, though older models tend to be quite messy, I still feel satisfied. However, the moment I have come across with Zojirushi rice cooker, cooking has never been the same for me.
Since I work at home, I am usually more focused with my work in front of the computer. I do not have the time to oversee other things. Probably, this is because I do not have a family yet, though I have my younger sibling with me at home. He is seldom in the house, so most of the time I manage and maintain it.
And of course, I cook for myself. I do not have time to eat in restaurants. Not to say that eating outside will be more costly than staying and cooking for myself at home.
So, I made the time to research for a capable rice cooker at home so I can easily cook rice, oatmeals and cereals, porridge, vegetables, seafood and the like. And what I found was the Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker, Warmer and Stainless Steel. It caught my attention since it mostly has positive reviews.
Features of a Capable Rice Cooker
As I read reviews from other people, I have come to realize that there are certain features of a rice cooker that you have to consider before buying. For this reason, I conducted further readings on this topic which I will impart with you along with my experiences.
First, you have to know the features of capable rice cooker. Of course, this may vary from person to person. There are several factors that may affect your views and opinions as to which product is capable. But more or less, you will surely find that most of your views coincide with other people’s views.
- The number of cups of rice it can cook
- Other uses (cooking oatmeals, vegetables, stews, etc.)
- Cooking process and technology
- Safety features
- Additional cooking tools such as pan, lids and trays
Number of Grain or Rice Cups
Zojirushi rice cooker is available in 3-cup, 5-and-a-half-cup and 10-cup. You can choose among this three whichever is most suitable for your situation.
Let’s say, you already have a wife or husband. You can choose between a 3-cup and 5-and-a-half-cup rice cookers depending on how often are you going to cook. On the other hand, if you have a family of four or five members, and rice is already staple on your food table, a 10-cup rice cooker is the best choice. You no longer have to cook rice again, as a 10-cup can suffice until dinner for a whole family.
As I have mentioned, I have the NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup model. I am usually the only one at home, so for me, a small rice cooker is ideal. What I like about this product is that it is space-saving and lightweight. It only weighs 7 pounds and has size dimensions of 12 x 9 x 8 inches.
Cooking Food Aside from Rice
With the technology brought by the Japanese to rice cooker products, an individual can now cook food aside from grains. Usually, you will find forums discussing how to use a modern rice cooker for making stew, porridge, oatmeal and dessert. There is also a high chance that you might read tips on how to cook vegetables, seafood and even meat.
Mainly, I bought a Zojirushi rice cooker for this purpose. Yes, I eat rice but not always. Oftentimes, I use this rice cooker to make an oat meal to prep up my mornings. In fact, here is a tip on how to use your Zojirushi for a steel-cut oat meal.
- Collect your ingredients.
- 1 part of steel-cut oats
- 3 parts of water
- Milk, raisins, almonds (if you prefer)
- Mix the ingredients in your Zojirushi at night and put your cooking settings to ‘porridge’.
- Sleep. When you wake up, you will find a delectable breakfast waiting for you.
Tip: Do not worry about hard and cold rice. This model comes with a keep-warm feature. Your oatmeal will still be warm when you wake in the morning.
Tip: Cleaning your rice cooker is definitely easy with Zojirushi. Just take out the non-sticky bowl, wash with soap and water, and wipe. This rice cooker also comes with a durable steel exterior which is, likewise, easy to clean. No hassles, unlike with other brands.
Cooking Process and Technology
You will be glad to know that Zojirushi NS-LAC05 comes with a microchip computerized Fuzzy logic technology. It is an advance technology developed by the Japanese which allows rice cookers to make adjustments to temperature and cooking length by itself based on its sensor’s thermal calculations. Furthermore, with Fuzzy logic, you can adjust the cooking settings of your rice cooker from a main menu selection. Now, you can choose from white rice, brown rice, mixed rice, sushi, porridge and quick cooking settings depending on what are you going to cook.
If you do your own search, you will find that there is another type Fuzzy logic rice cookers—the Induction model. This model will make adjustments for you whenever you make measuring errors especially with water. However, this model only works best with white or plain rice. If you plan on cooking other grains, you better stick to basic Fuzzy logic models.
Safety Features
This Zojirushi rice cooker comes with built-in retractable power cord. You will have less clutter and have room for storage. Plus, this product is guaranteed to work in US and Canada since it operates with 450 watts or 120 volts or 60 Hz.
What to Expect With Regard to Price
Zojirushi NS-LAC05 is not one of the cheapest models. But if you are looking for durable equipment for daily use, you can be assured to have a good venture with this one. It is priced between $150 and $200 outside Amazon. But if you buy it there, you can only get it for a price beginning at $137.50. That is already big savings for you.
The package includes:
- Zojirushi rice cooker
- Measuring cup
- Non-stick rice spatula
- Spatula holder
