If you’ve ever tried to make rice on the stovetop, you know it can take a bit of babysitting for things to come out just right — or anywhere near the perfectly cooked rice from your favorite restaurant. Making good rice is often best left to the experts, whether that expert is a seasoned chef, your grandparent, or a countertop rice cooker that knows what it’s doing. And while you can buy rice cookers from dozens of brands (here are a few we’ve tested and liked), one brand name usually tops almost any list you’ll come across: Zojirushi.

Our favorite Zojirushi rice cookers

The Japanese company with a reputation for quality appliances and products (including our favorite travel coffee tumbler and a surprisingly good, cheap coffee maker) has been around for over 100 years and has been making rice cookers since the 1970s. The tricky thing about Zojirushi rice makers is that, to anyone who hasn’t spent way too much time analyzing different models, their names may look like an alphanumeric mess. Many models also look alike and often only have slight differences in features, which can make shopping for one confusing. But we still think Zojirushi manufactures many of the best rice cookers on the market, so this guide is here to help you make sense of them all.

The best Zojirushi rice cooker for most people: Zojirushi 5.5 Cup Induction Rice Cooker (NP-HCC10XH)

With this induction heated Micom model, available with a 5.5-cup or 10-cup capacity (Zojirushi NP-HCC10 [1 liter], NP-HCC18 [1.8 liters]), we’re back to fine-tuned white rice settings, as its presets include white rice (regular, softer or harder), jasmine white rice, mixed, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, and quick cooking, along with time delay and two keep warm settings, plus the full array of beep, song, and silent alert options. However, compared to the NW-QAC, we’ve lost the steaming, reheating, and self-cleaning functions. The exterior of this unit is a clear-coated dark gray stainless steel, there’s an included paddle holder, and this model has a fixed power cord that can’t be removed or retracted.

A smaller version of our favorite: Zojirushi 3-Cup Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer (NS-LGC05)

Zojirushi NS-LGC05 Micom 3-Cup Compact Size

The Zojirushi NS-LGC05 is a compact, all-around rice cooker that’s ideal for the average home cook. It offers the same capacity as our top pick, the NP-HCC10, but in a smaller, space-saving design that’s perfect for kitchens with limited counter space. Unlike the NP-HCC10, this model doesn’t feature induction heating, which allows for more precise temperature control and often results in better-cooked rice, particularly with brown rice. That said, we were impressed with the NS-LGC05’s performance: it produced brown rice that was perfectly chewy and al dente, with distinct, separate grains that didn’t stick together.

A great budget Zojirushi rice cooker: Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker (NHS-06)

Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup Rice Cooker

If simple is what you’re looking for, this line of rice cookers (Zojirushi NHS-06, NHS-10, NHS-18) offers no-frills functionality in three-cup, six-cup, and ten-cup options. What all three have in common are their bottom-oriented heating element, nonstick pot, clear glass lid that sits on top (rather than one that clips or locks into place), and one single cook setting (defaulted to white rice) that uses an indicator light to tell you when it’s done.

Opt for one of the two larger capacity models, which feature detachable power cords that help with storage. You’ll also get a Keep Warm function and a steaming basket, slightly expanding its capabilities to veggies and more. The larger model is only available in white; however, the smaller two models are available in both black and white exteriors. But just because it’s basic doesn’t mean it isn’t great. Check out associate food editor Kendra Vaculin’s deep dive into the pleasures of owning a humble Zojirushi NHS-06 three-cup rice cooker.

Our upgrade pick: Zojirushi Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer (NW-JEC10)

Zojirushi NW-JEC10BA Pressure Induction Heating (IH) Rice Cooker & Warmer, 5.5-Cup

The NW-JEC10 is Zojirushi’s most advanced and most expensive rice cooker for home kitchens. With its polished design and extensive range of settings, it feels more like a piece of high-end tech than a countertop appliance. Its standout feature is the My Rice function, which uses artificial intelligence to gradually learn your texture preferences. After each batch, it asks for your input on stickiness and firmness and uses that feedback to make adjustments.

Commerce writer Wilder Davies has been testing the NW-JEC10 regularly for over a year and has found that the machine’s My Rice learning feature delivers a real service. The rice has steadily gotten closer to his ideal texture with more feedback. It also made an excellent first impression, coming out on top in a blind staff taste test. While this isn’t the model we’d recommend for the average home cook, it’s a thoughtful and highly capable option for someone who wants the most customizable results possible.

How we tested Zojirushi rice cookers

We haven’t tested every Zojirushi rice cooker on the market, but this guide covers all the major models in the brand’s current lineup. To help you narrow it down, we’re highlighting the ones we’ve tested and loved.

Over the years, we’ve put more than two dozen rice cookers through side-by-side testing, cooking white, brown, and long-grain basmati rice to evaluate performance. We used Nishiki medium-grain white rice as our control, cooking two cups in standard machines and one cup in compact models (those with 4-cup uncooked capacities or less). We were looking for fluffy, well-textured rice with distinct grains, a pleasant chew, and no clumping.

What to look for when buying a Zojirushi rice cooker

If you’ve spent any time looking for a rice cooker online you may have noticed that Zojirushi topping a lot of “best of” lists, and for good reason. Because the company caters to a market that consumes a lot of rice, they’ve come as close as anyone to perfecting the technology that makes this often daily task quick and easy. But other than coming with a rice paddle and measuring cup, not all rice cookers are created equal, including those made by Zojirushi. Here are some factors to consider before buying a rice cooker:

A guide to every Zojirushi rice cooker

Here is a breakdown of every Zojirushi rice cooker sold in the United States, from the most basic to the most advanced.

Conventional Zojirushi Rice Cookers

Zojirushi NS-RPC10HM Rice Cooker and Warmer

Similar to the larger-sized NHS models, these heating plate-style cookers include only Cook and Keep Warm functions with an on/off indicator light. They come in both 5.5-cup and 10-cup options. However, as their price tag suggests, they offer upgrades from the NHS models in the form of heating from the bottom, sides, and lid for more even results, as well as hinged lids that lock closed and release with the push of a button. The inner lining of the lid is detachable (and washable), as is the “dew collector” which helps keep too much condensation from raining back down on your rice. The power cords can be removed as well, and there’s a place to stash the (included) rice paddle. As for color options, the NS-RPC models come in either white with pink tulips or the more industrial-looking metallic gray. However, for fans of all things cute or all things Japan, the 5.5-cup model also comes in a Hello Kitty edition. It’s the same as its tulip-decorated counterpart, except its white exterior is adorned with gold-colored Hello Kitty faces and bows.

Zojirushi Micom Rice Cookers

Let’s start with how these two similar, compact, three-cup models are, well, similar. They both feature clear coated, stainless steel exteriors, retractable power cords, spatula holders, and removable/washable lid liners. The LCD displays both have delay timers, They both have scratch resistant, nonstick inner pots with thicker 2.5mm pans. They both introduce Zojirushi’s “spherical pan & heating system,” which means the pot is more bowl-shaped, designed to create more convection-like conditions, that are supposed to result in even heating of each batch.

Here’s where these two machines differ. Other than their colors (the NS-LHC is Stainless Dark Brown while the NS-LGC is Stainless Black), it comes down to the settings. The NS-LHC05 offers white/mixed, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, jasmine white, porridge, and quick cooking rice presets. The NS-LGC05 offers one more with white/mixed, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, long grain white rice, steel cut oatmeal, and quick cooking rice presets. Neither offers the extended keep warm feature, nor steaming, cake, or congee settings.

Zojirushi NS-WAC10-WD 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker

This model marks the least expensive point of entry into the world of Zojirushi’s Micom rice cookers. Its LCD display allows you to toggle between white, brown, sushi, porridge, sweet rice options, as well as quick cooking settings, and rinse-free rice in the case you didn’t wash your rice (You should be washing your rice, by the way). Plus there are time-delay options, and an ability to change alerts between silence, beeps, or a little song when your rice is ready. Available in Cool White only, but both 5.5-cup and 10-cup capacities, it also features regular and extended keep warm functions, and adds scratch resistance to the nonstick pot lining. Speaking of the inner pot, inside you’ll find higher contrast measurement markings for easier reading, and heating elements surround the top, bottom, and sides of the liner. Finally, this model has a detachable power cord, as well as a flip up handle for carrying it from your cabinet to your countertop or wherever you need to take it.

Zojirushi NL-DCC18CP Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer, 10 Cups

Take things up a notch from the NS-WAC and you’ll get this model which similarly has Micom fuzzy logic technology, comes in 5.5-cup and ten-cup capacities, and offers a delay timer, and two keep warm functions. However this model also includes a reheat mode, as well as additional presets for long grain white rice, congee, Jasmine rice, non-rice settings: quinoa, steel cut oatmeal, and cake (yes, you can steam a cake in your rice cooker). You’ll also notice this one has a “GABA brown rice” setting used for germinated brown rice and is said to activate the “gamma-aminobutyric acid” in the rice, which has been claimed to lower blood pressure and stress levels, among other purported benefits. Inside you’ll find a high-contrast, scratch-resistant nonstick pot (which gets heated from all sides), and the pot is also much thicker than the previously-discussed models at 2.5mm (as opposed to 1.0mm to 1.7mm, depending on the model). The NL-DCC only comes in a Pearl Beige color (it’s mostly white, though), has an onboard paddle holder, a detachable and washable lid, a detachable power cord, and a carrying handle. Perhaps a little less cheerful than its peers, this model only offers to beep or stay silent when your rice is done.

Zojirushi NS-TSC10A Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer

If plain white appliances bore you, these stainless steel-clad rice cookers are a sophisticated step in a more stylish direction. But first the basics: The heating plate element warms from the bottom, sides, and lid (which features a detachable and washable liner). The inner pot is nonstick, scratch-resistant, but not as thick as the less-expensive NL-DCC model, at just 1.4mm in the 5.5-cup version and 1.7mm in the ten-cup. Accessories include a steaming basket plus a rice paddle and rice paddle holder, and these are the first models available with a retractable power cord, making for sleeker storage. And they both bring back the jaunty melody option as an audible indicator your rice is done.

As for colors, the NS-TSC models come in either Stainless Brown or Stainless Gray with a clear coat finish on either. However, the colorways here aren’t just an aesthetic choice. Each has differing functions and presets which may make or break your affinity toward one tone or another. The Stainless Brown NS-TSC models (without the A) offer settings for white/sushi rice, mixed (which means rice and other ingredients), porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, cake, steaming, and quick cooking. The NS-TSC models with the A at the end have settings for white/sushi rice, mixed, quick cooking, long grain white rice, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, and steaming. (Absent from both of these are congee, jasmine rice, and GABA brown, all of which are on the NL-DCC.)

Zojirushi NL-BAC05SB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer

If you’re big on features but short on space, this model offers most of the technology of these middle-of-the-road Micom models in the first compact, three-cup capacity version. Why might smaller be better? This and the NS-LHC and NS-LGC models below let you comfortably add as little as ½ cup of rice or grains at a time, meaning you don’t have to make too much if you don’t want to. But no matter how much or how little rice you make, you’ll benefit from Micom technology, an LCD screen with delay timers (and beeping, a song, or muted alerts), heating elements on the bottom, sides, and lid, a 2.5mm thick nonstick, scratch resistant pan, a detachable and washable lid liner, and a detachable power cord for storage.

Settings include white/sushi rice, brown rice, long grain white rice, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, cake, and quick cook. plus extended keep warm function and reheat option, too. In fact, the only thing this little guy doesn’t have is a spatula holder.

Zojirushi NL-AAC18 Micom Rice Cooker (Uncooked) and Warmer

This Micom rice cooker comes in 5.5-cup and 10-cup options with heating elements on the bottom, lid, and sides. Inside you’ll find a nonstick, scratch resistant pan with a thickness of 1.4mm for the smaller capacity and 1.7mm for the larger model. Presets include white/sushi, mixed, porridge, sweet, brown, steam and quick cooking, plus you have a time delay option.

It comes with a steaming basket, detachable cord and, of course, a foldaway carrying handle. Like some of the smaller or more contoured models, this one does not include paddle storage. Interestingly, of all of the rice cookers we’ve covered thus far, this is also the first one that’s manufactured in Japan (instead of Thailand China).

Zojirushi NS-ZCC18 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer

Another made-in-Japan model, this Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker (available in 5.5-cup and 10-cup capacities) includes regular and extended keep warm functions, delay timers, nonstick and scratch-resistant pan with a “spherical” bowl shape and heating system that warms from all sides, a washable/removable lid liner, a spatula holder, and a retractable power cord. The pan also has a pair of handles for sparing your fingers when lifting it out while hot.

What makes this model stand out among those we’ve discussed above is that it has three fine-tuning settings for white rice, offering “regular/sushi,” “softer,” and “harder” options. It also has settings for mixed rice and other ingredients, porridge, sweet rice, semi-brown rice, brown rice, rinse-free rice, and quick cooking. For alerts, you can only choose “melody” or “beep” on this model, as there’s no mute feature, and it does not come with a steaming basket (or steaming preset).

Zojirushi NL-GAC10BM 5.5 Cup Umami Micom Rice Cooker

This Japan-made fuzzy logic Micom rice cooker features an “Umami” setting which soaks and steams the rice longer in a way that is supposed to produce a sweeter taste and fluffier texture. Aside from that, other presets include white, mixed, sushi/sweet, Jasmine, porridge, congee, brown, GABA brown, quick white, quick Jasmine, and steam. It also has time delay, three sound alert options (including mute), regular and extended keep warm settings, along with a reheat option. And it comes with a steamer basket and spatula holder, detachable inner lid, detachable power cord, and a clear coated stainless steel exterior in Metallic Black.