My expertise in the area of rice cookers stems from the time I have spent in Japan. Before I lived in Japan, the idea of eating rice on a daily basis was not appealing. However once you try eating rice that has been prepared properly you begin to see why rice is a staple food for a huge number of people across the world. I now consider myself an ambassador for the simple rice grain and genuine Japanese rice cookers. On this site you will find a wide range of rice cooker reviews made by a range of companies.
My focus will be on discussing Japanese rice cookers that have been designed for the Western market. In effect these machines are very similar to those sold in Japan itself. However important differences include working at the correct voltage as well as having buttons and instructions in the English language.
In Japan, the rice cooker market leader is the company Zojirushi. Many people decide to buy a Zojirushi rice cooker. They make a wide range of top quality rice cooking appliances, including the NS-ZCC10 and NP-HBC10 machines. By clicking the picture links above you are able to find the cheapest prices for these machines on Amazon.com. Rice Cookers 4 U is another rice cooker site that contains a range of rice cooker reviews.
The rice cooker on the left is the Zojirushi NS-TGC10 which is a Micom device. The one on the right is the NP-HBC10 which is also a Micom machine but this one features Zojirushi’s Induction Heating system. So if you generalize this principal we can see that all Induction Heating (IH) rice cookers also have the Micom component. Micom units have a micro computer that controls the way they cook the rice. Induction Heating is a specific way of generating heat within the rice cooker. Both types of machines are very similar in most respects but the way they create heat is completely different. Standard Zojirushi Micom rice cookers have a heating element that warms up when the appliance is turned on. The Micom controller can then adjust the temperature as your rice cooks. Induction Heating style machines on the other hand do not actually have a heating element inside. Instead when this type of unit is switched on, the electrical current creates a magnetic field within the rice cooker which acts upon the metallic inner cooking bowl. This magnetic force turns the cooking pot into the heat source for the machine.
Having owned two regular Zojirushi Micom rice cookers and now an Induction Heating NP-GD05 which is the Japanese version of the Zojirushi NP-GBC05, I can safely say that in my own experience the rice from an IH machine is noticeably better. Rice from regular Micom units is great but using an IH cooker, it is really great! The thing is though, to get the IH functionality, the cost doubles. If you check out Amazon you will find the best deals for Zojirushi rice cookers online. So it really comes down to what size of budget you have available for your new rice cooker as to which machine you should purchase. If you have never owned a Micom machine before then I am sure you will be happy with the quality of rice that it makes. It is really good. However if you have previously owned a Zojirushi rice cooker you will know what good rice is supposed to taste like. Therefore it might be time to consider the top of the range IH models.
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The good news if you have lost your Zojirushi rice cooker instructions is that you can get many different manuals online for free. They also offer a service where you can order a replacement manual for $5 which includes shipping and handling.
To find out more information about how to download these Zojirushi instructions, go to the manuals page of their website.
In this Panasonic SR-MS102 review I want to present the facts about this rice cooker so that you can make up your own mind whether this device is right for you. It is a fairly in-expensive Micom rice cooker that costs not too much over $100. So it is one of the cheapest Micom machines you can find. Other models in this price range include the Zojirushi NS-TGC10 and the Sanyo ECJ-HC55H. You can compare prices of these various models on Amazon which is the best place to find the lowest priced rice cookers online. Its Micom chip also has fuzzy logic technology and is one of the cheapest machines available that has this. You have to buy a Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 if you want a Zojirushi machine with this chip set but it is more expensive.
If you buy a Panasonic SR-MS102 you get a 5 cup rice cooker. This is a mid-sized rice cooking appliance that is good for families. It can make enough rice for up to ten people if you fill it to its full capacity. It has a wide range of different cooking settings and can actually cook much more than just rice. It has a cake cooking function as well as a slow cooker setting. The slower cooker option is great for cooking hot pots and stews. You can even use it to make soup. In addition it also comes with a steamer tray. This is useful for making healthy cooked vegetables and can also be used for seafood.
Cleaning this device when you are finished cooking is very easy. Like all high quality models these days its inner lid is removable. This may not seem like a bit issue but without it coming out, it is much harder to clean. All you have to do is wait for it to cool down and then remove it and wash it in warm soapy water.
For many of you this may well be the best rice cooker you can buy. It is not too expensive but it has a range of impressive options.
