FULL REVIEW: Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom Rice Cooker

How many gadgets do you have in your kitchen that you actually use?

Plenty, is probably the answer. Ice cream makers and coffee machines that never worked properly, that you abandoned and stuck in the back of cupboards...

Well trust me, this wouldn't be the case with the Zojirushi Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer.

Not if the customer feedback is anything to go by.

For $134.31 you get a three cup rice cooker with micro computerized 'fuzzy logic' technology. This means that the cooking temperature is constantly adjusted and you will never get over or undercooked rice, patchily cooked rice, scorched rice or any other unmentionables that we've all had in our kitchens over the years.

(Not to mention the mess...)

This cooker, like most home cookers, comes with a 1-year limited warranty, measuring cup and spatula holder and great functionality: a keep-warm function, timer, non-stick cooking pan and a variety of menu selections.

It might seem pricey for a rice cooker but check out the customer feedback... this isn't just any old rice cooker!

'It's like a dream having rice as good or better than a restaurant at home. We probably eat grain cooked in this machine 6-7 nights a week. Once you switch to this Zojirushi you'll never want to go back to your old ways,' said one user.

'It is everything we hoped for and more,' said another. 'We wanted a rice cooker that would make great rice, that could handle smaller amounts of rice, that had a timer, and could handle a variety of different rices.'

The reports are that this cooker does a great job on a variety of rices; with different settings for different rices and correct measurement markings.

'So far we've tried long grain brown, medium grain brown, sushi, jasmine, white basmati, brown basmati, and brown/white mixes. We haven't had a bad batch,' reports a big rice fan!

And many users love the timer function, so that you can set the rice to be completed at a specific time. Held up at the office? Well don't worry, the cooker will keep your rice warm until you get home.

'If I come home late, the rice is still okay since it automatically goes into a keep warm mode when the cycle is completed,' said one reviewer.

In fact there are so many good reviews for this product that people don't go into detail any more - they just add more superlatives.

Features mentioned are that the Zojirushi is easy to use, doesn't take up much countertop space, is attractive and easy to carry around. 

'I've been using this every day for about a month and it works perfectly with perfect rice every time,' said one satisfied customer.

'There are no scorched spots, and the cooked rice is perfect, long grain or short grain. And it stays hot for hours. Absolutely awesome,' said another.

Even the non-essential functions are enjoyed by customers. 

'The design is slick, with a fingerprint-free metal finish, retractable cord and rice spoon holder (spoon included!). It even plays jaunty tunes when first engaged and when your rice is ready.'

And you can make full meals in it by combining prepared ingredients (such as sauteed vegetables, meat and seasoning) with rice before cooking. 

'I gave also used it to keep rice warm for up to 4 hours with no degradation in the taste or texture,' said one cook.

There were a couple of less-than-perfect comments though: 

'The only con is that the directions are terrible. They must have been poorly translated from Japanese,' said one reviewer. However they added, 'I'm not subtracting a star for this issue because it's so simple to operate once you know what to do.'

'I put in too much water at first,' said another, 'since the directions didn't make it clear that the water measures on the cooking bowl include rice at the bottom. But after I got this right, the results were perfect each time.'

And another customer added that the removable pot is not scour resistant, saying that some cleaning pads, 'leave scratch marks so we have to clean really carefully with soft sponge only... As a solution, we suggest soaking the pot before cleaning.'

But even self-confessed critical reviewers can't find many cons with this product.

'I highly recommend this cooker and we are tough on things. It has been great!'

Once people buy this rice cooker they use it a lot and get consistent, quality results - restaurant quality in fact at much lower prices.

Surely the lovely fragrance of freshly cooked rice in the evening when you get back from work is worth the price...

Or the morning to wake up too, if you're a real rice lover!