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(More customer reviews)Using a rice cooker should be easy - otherwise, why plunk down the money for it? This Zojirushi is user-friendly only after some experimentation since the manual contains almost no information about how to use it. However, since I've finally found the right procedure (as I'll share later), I've been pleased with its performance.
First, some background. I have a Zojirushi NHS-10 that worked beautifully from the start, but after a year of use, started spitting and gurgling starchy water all over the counter. With that kind of mess, I was afraid to cook larger amounts of rice, so I bought this model as a replacement. I liked that the top latched and that the vent hole had a shallow well around it to catch expelled water. I had loved the quality of rice that the less expensive model cooked, so I stayed with the same brand.
My first attempt with this model resulted in the same gooey mess as with my old model - and I was furious. After several phone calls to relatives who also owned this model, I discovered that you MUST use the measurements provided by the plastic measuring cup and inside the non-stick pan. (Because I found that the plastic cup is not really a full cup of rice and was used to a one cup rice to two cups water ratio, I had used my own measuring cup.) For every Zojirushi plastic cup measurement, fill to the corresponding water mark inside the pan. Fill the pan with water to the correct level AFTER adding the rice.
Rinse rice twice before cooking if you want to avoid slight browning on the bottom. Allow fifteen minutes after the machine changes from cook to warm for additional steaming and fluffier rice. How do you cook brown rice? Not a clue. Brown rice requires longer cooking time and therefore more water. My old Zojirushi came with a small manual that provided rice/water ratios for several varieties, but this arrived with almost no instruction. I suggest experimenting with brown and wild rice before counting on it for company.
The pan for this model is huge, and you must use at least two cups of dry rice. The size stated on the box is misleading, as two to ten cups refers to uncooked, not cooked, quantities; rice doubles in size when cooked. Although it's not practical for a small family, larger families and frequent rice eaters will appreciate its generous capacity. Cleaning is slightly more complicated (though hardly time-consuming) than with less expensive Zojirushi models since the steam valve at the top should be rinsed free of accumulated starch between uses. (One relative rarely rinses the valve, however, and has no problems.) The non-stick pan cleans easily, although care must be used not to scratch the surface. The cord wraps around the bottom for storage. The unit itself is surprisingly light-weight given its appearance, making it easy to remove from even high cupboards.
I have mixed feelings about this rice cooker, as I prefer the results of the less expensive model. However, the overall design of this cooker, with its latched lid, larger steam hole, and "dew" catcher (to collect condensation when the cooker is left on warm for prolonged periods), is better, especially if you intend to leave the rice on warm for an extended time. The biggest drawback of this model is the lack of instruction for users unfamiliar with rice cookers.
Three stars right out of the box, four stars once you adapt.
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Zojirushi NS-PC18 Electric 10-Cup Rice Cooker and WarmerStart your rice in the morning and have it moist, tender, and hot when you come home for dinner. This large capacity cooker will make enough for a crowd and the "keep warm" system switches on immediately after cooking without any help from you. Clean up is no biggie with the non-stick cooking pan and direct heating provides more even heat distribution to ensure delicious results every time.
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