By Todd Barron @ FoodieCuisine.com
Zojirushi Rice Maker
Cooking rice is something you either don’t think about or you dread making it for fear of burning or under-cooking it on the stove. I used to be one of those who felt dread at the thought of cooking rice. I watched an episode of Dinner Impossible a year or so ago that reminded me of the terror as Robert Irvine burned rice three times in a row. See, it can even happen to the professionals. 🙂
I had resorted to buying boxed rice “kits” and bagged rice that you microwave. This is akin to using Hamburger Helper for the rice world and although it made me cringe, I did it anyway. Just as I thought about going through a 12-step program to get away from microwaving rice, I had dinner at a friend’s house who owned a rice maker. They didn’t just own any rice maker either, they owned a Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer (1.0 Liter)
The price tag of around $200 is generally the first thing that scares people off from this particular rice maker but trust me, it’s not just “any” rice maker. First off, it cooks 10 cups of rice and can keep it warm, and does this on it’s own. You don’t have to put it on the stove as it has a 1000 watt element and you don’t have to watch over it either. You pour the rice in, add the water, and push the start button. Come back in 30-85 minutes (depending on how much rice) and it’s done, perfectly.
I’ve had the rice maker for around four years now and it’s resulted in me cooking much more rice for the family. Whereas it used to be a chore to do, it’s super simple now and even the kids can use it. I cook rice with many dishes and not only is it easy, but it tastes great. I also use the rice maker to cook different styles of rice. I use Jasmine as my main staple but also cook Basmati, rice pudding, rice with coconut milk, and other rice-based dishes in it.
So, how does it do this? The device works by guaging the moisture content during the cook cycle and adjusts the heat and time left accordingly. This allows you to cook different kinds of rice with various ingredients and know it will come out properly without intervention. You can’t beat the ease of use.
The rice is cooked in a removable container that is Teflon coated (ie, non-stick) and has cool-touch handles for easy transport. The internal steaming lid removes easily for clean-up and the device even comes with a plastic rice paddle. Once the rice is done you can leave it on warming mode for over 24 hours. I don’t recommend leaving the rice for much longer as it will dry out. I tested the temperature of some rice left in for 24 hours and it was at 150 degrees Fahrenheit which is safe for extended food consumption.
Putting the rice in the cooker
Adding the water
Cooked rice!
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