ZojirushiNL-AAC10 Micom Rice Cooker (Uncooked) and Warmer, 5.5 Cups/1.0-Liter

The media could not be loaded. Calling a rice cooker life-changing might sound dramatic, but for anyone who hasn’t experienced the convenience of a high-quality smart rice cooker, it truly is. We recently replaced our first-ever rice cooker, a compact Aroma model that served us well but whose inner pot didn’t stand the test of time. I might replace the pot someday to keep it as a backup, but for now, the Zojirushi NL-AAC18 has become our new kitchen hero.Key Features and Highlights:Versatility: This rice cooker is a gem, offering far more than perfectly cooked rice. The porridge setting has revolutionized our mornings—I use the delay timer to prepare oatmeal (1:2 oats-to-water ratio), and it’s ready the moment we wake up. No more rushing to get breakfast going!Steamer Basket: One of the standout additions is the included steamer basket, which allows me to steam vegetables or proteins while cooking rice or other dishes below. This feature makes it a multitasking powerhouse, perfect for quick, healthy meals.Ease of Use: The quick-start guide and user manual are clear and helpful, but honestly, the buttons are so intuitive you might not need them.Consistent Performance: I made a soothing congee when my husband was under the weather, and it turned out beautifully. While I haven’t tried sushi rice yet, I’m confident this cooker will handle it flawlessly based on its performance so far.Convenient Functions: The keep-warm feature is surprisingly useful—it ensures food stays warm without overcooking or drying out. The delay timer is another game-changer for meal planning.Durable Design: The inner pot’s non-stick lining feels robust, but I’m careful to use only the included spatula or other gentle utensils (like a plastic KitchenAid spoon).Additional Notes:Customer Service: Zojirushi’s customer service is outstanding. I contacted them for a user manual for an older product, and they responded promptly. Even detailed questions about material safety were answered quickly and professionally.Conclusion:The Zojirushi NL-AAC18 is not just a rice cooker—it’s a versatile appliance that simplifies meals and saves time. If you’re on the fence, I can’t recommend it enough. With the added bonus of a steamer basket, it’s a multitasking dream that has upgraded our kitchen and given me peace of mind in the mornings.

I've wanted a Zojirushi rice cooker for several years, but wondered if it really was THAT much better than the inexpensive Chinese-built 10-cup cooker that had been in regular weekly use for the last 10 years. Short answer: yes. It's THAT much better.My old rice cooker was a very basic, made in China, 10-cup flip top rice cooker. The non-stick coating in the rice pot was very thin and fragile, and from day one, there was always some overcooked, crunchy rice in the very bottom of the pan near the heating element. I learned to immediately uplug the rice cooker as soon as the rice was done, or even with a minute or two showing on the timer. With the Zojirushi, there is nothing tricky or fussy. I mostly cook medium grain (sushi) rice, and use the recommended water/rice level as indicated on the inside of the rice pot. It's important to remember that "one cup" of rice is not the 240 ml US cup standard, it's the 180 ml rice industry standard, so use the cup that's included with the purchase if you use the water level indicators on the pot. It's also a good idea to let the rice rest for five minutes after the cook time has concluded to allow the moisture to evaporate a bit, and the heat to distribute evenly through the cooked rice. This resting period is not mandatory, but it's become a habit for me, and I just factor it into the meal prep time. After the resting period, fluff the rice with the included paddle, and it's good to go. There are two warm settings on the Zojirushi, I generally use the lower setting.I don't need to use the rice cooker for anything other than rice, and indeed, all I really use are the white/brown/quick and warm settings. The quick rice feature is nice if you really are in a hurry, but I'd suggest you avoid using it unless necessary. The white/sushi rice settings cook perfectly. Every grain, every time. The rice is tender, and never gummy. According to Zojirushi, micro computer, fuzzy logic tech allows the rice cooker to make cooking temp and time adjustments on the fly to insure perfectly cooked rice.This model, the NL-AAC-10 is Made in Japan, unlike many cookers in the Zojirushi line. That is important to me, but it does come at a price. Less expensive models, made in China, are also available, and likely work just as well, so you may choose savings over the country of origin. Overall, I'm extremely happy with this purchase, and can attest to the fact that it really does produce a superior cooked rice as compared to my older, basic rice cooker. I could have saved over 100 dollars by buying another cheap, generic rice cooker, but we do a LOT of Asian cooking in our house, so really felt that the upcharge was worth it, especially after we've used this one for a few weeks. Highly recommended

Satisfied with the purchase, quality rice cooker, useful features, easy to clean, cooks rice perfectly, made in Japan. Only con is that it doesn't include a rice paddle holder so I had to purchase an after market one to attach to the cooker. I'd purchase it again if need be but I'm hoping it will last for many years of weekly use.

I had my eye on this rice cooker for two years. When I moved out on my own, I pulled the trigger and bought it.It's everything the reviews say it is. Easy to use, a lot of directions provided to give help, and it's all in English so need for confusion.It keeps rice warm for up to 24 hours (anything beyond that isn't recommended. Around the 20-22 hour mark you can tell the rice declines in quality).It also has it where you can prepare your rice the night before and when you get up, you have prepared rice. Just make sure to set the time for right as you get up so you can fluff it! Otherwise, not as good.Make sure you wash your rice or you'll see the starch along the inside.All the lines make having to worry about water measures no issue. Whether you use short grain rice or long grain rice. I've only use short grain so far myself, but I've just run out so soon I'll be trying long grain in it.Well worth the high price point and certainly a buy it for life item as people say.

Great cooker, but doesn't have the newer plastic handles of the neuro fuzzy and the removal for the lid is a little different.Overall worth the $50 savings over the neuro if you can get it for that much better a price.What else to say? It's a Zoji. I'm no connoisseur - that's specifically WHY I like Zoji - I can turn off my brain and follow instructions.