Zojirushi 6 Cup Rice Cooker / Steamer

The Zojirushi and Panasonic units are all first rate, BUT you need to know a little something about cooking rice beyond what's in the poorly worded manuals.

Different rice takes different amounts of water. The long-grained rice Americans are used to should be cooked with 1-3/4 cup of water for each cup of rice. Japanese rice needs only 1-1/4 cup of water for each cup of rice, or 1 cup of water for each cup of washed, wet, rice.

Many Americans (and Europeans) have problems with these cookers because the measure ments are calibrated for Japanese short grain rice, and the Westerners are cooking long grain rice. Get the ratios correct, and everything works out fine.

I've had a number of rice cookers of different sizes. My Panasonic has lasted over 20 years, and my Zojirushi looks like it'll last just as long, while my South Bend gave up the ghost after only a year. Go with the top Japanese models; they're made for day-in and day out cooking.


An excellent rice cooker   August 24, 2002
Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA)
186 out of 190 found this review helpful

For a long time, I didn't see a need for a rice cooker. What's the big deal, I thought, of cooking rice on the stove? However, as my life got busier and busier, I began to want one. For one, I cook rice at least twice a week, often more. Second, I thought it would be convenient to start up a rice cooker and then not worry about the rice until I was ready to put dinner on the table. This Zojirushi model is perfect for this. After the rice is cooked, it automatically switches to a "Keep Warm" setting.

A few tips about cooking rice in this model:

1. Follow the water/rice ratio directions on the rice box, NOT in the manual.

2. Fluff the rice when the cooking is complete and then let it steam longer on the "Keep Warm" setting. If you don't fluff, sometimes the rice browns a little on the bottom.

3. Use high-quality rice.

Although I rarely use converted rice (Uncle Ben's Original), I decided to give it a shot in this cooker. The results were barely satisfactory, since the rice browned on the bottom. I don't have this problem with jasmine and other premium rices. I suppose unplugging the appliance immediately after the cooking is done (and letting it steam without the warmer on) might help. My own solution is to stick with the better rices.

Other reviewers have noted a spitting through the steam hole during cooking. This is less of a problem with small quantities than large. The starchy steam doesn't bother me since the same thing happens to the side of a saucepan when I cook a lot of rice on the stove. The cooker is SO easy to clean that I can't imagine complaining about a wipe down of the counter. (Hey, I have to do that anyway!)

You'll be surprised by how simple this appliance is - and how well it works. Recommended for people who cook small to medium amounts of rice at least two times a week.


Perfect rice, every time   May 31, 2000
Jonathan Leblang (Menlo Park, CA United States)
88 out of 88 found this review helpful

I've used less expensive rice cookers, but they don't measure up to the Zojirushi rice cookers. I used to have the 10 cup model, but that one was a little too large for me (it would be great if you're cooking rice for more than 5 or 6 people). This 6-cup cooker is perfect whether you are making 1 cup or 6. Just put the rice in (remember to wash it first), add water up to the line indicated, and push start ... when it turns off, you have perfect rice. No more boiling water, stirring, boiling over, or burned pans!


Great design and quality   July 28, 2003
63 out of 64 found this review helpful

Six cups is the perfect size for a small family. All rice cookers tend to make rice exactly right unless there is too much or too little water. The most important feature for me was the nonstick pan - and what a difference from my old rice cooker!

I had no trouble with excess moisture as some reviewers wrote. The glass lid fits well with or without the steamer, and moisture vents through the little hole on the top. It never boils over - but as with all rice cookers, it is important to rinse the rice before cooking to remove excess starch.

The steamer insert is small, since the cooker is small, but this is a plus for compact storage. I can usually fit all or most of a pack of frozen vegetables in the steamer, but not too many fresh veggies. It makes perfect rice for me, following the simple measuring and cooking directions, and the keep warm feature is very welcome. If you do not need all the bells and whistles of a programmable machine, be sure to choose one with a nonstick pan and the keep warm feature.

The indigo blue color is so unusual and attractive - also a big plus to have a good looking appliance if you leave it on the counter much of the time.

Quality=5, Features=5, Style=5, Compact Storage=5, CLEANUP=5

In my opinion, Zojirushi is very much worth the cost and you will use this for a lifetime unless someone comes out with a model that measures, rinses, cooks, and cleans itself.


I Love My Rice Cooker!   June 13, 2001
Karen in NY (New York USA)
34 out of 34 found this review helpful

This is the best rice cooker I've ever had and I've had one ever since I got out of college. I'm 44. I particularly like the instructions. I never knew there was a difference between old and new rice. I've always measured my rice in regular American cups. This is the first time the instructions were translated well enough to use the Japanese cups and the markings on the inside of the rice cooker. They even explain how to wash your rice properly. Now my rice comes out perfect every time:) Can you tell how much I like rice?!

BTW you can order Japanese sushi rice from Asiafoods.com.