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So I hear you’re in the market for a rice cooker but you’re not quite sure which to buy. It can be intimidating and there certainly are a lot of options but let me TLDR; this for you: you can’t go wrong with simple and I highly recommend a Japanese brand (i.e. Zojirushi and Tiger).
I personally think a rice cooker is a small appliance you need. Sure, I may be biased, but do you really need that Ninja Creami? A rice cooker is obviously a staple in Asian households but I’ll have you know, I’ve convinced many non-Asian households to invest in a rice cooker. It just cooks rice perfectly, EVERY SINGLE TIME, and it’s thanks to the technology in rice cookers; which you cannot replicate on the stovetop or Instant Pot or microwave.
I’m going to talk about the two kinds of rice cookers out there (generally speaking – digital and conventional) and the two brands I know, Zojirushi and Tiger. These two are the brands I’m going to recommend to you to buy because my family and I have used both for decades — AND they LAST and well, they fit the criteria of Japanese and simple. My parent’s last Zojirushi rice maker lasted them over 20 years.
If you go to the store or browse online, you’ll likely see the word/term “micom” or “fuzzy logic” thrown around. Zojirushi has a patented technology they use in their rice cookers called micom, short for “microcomputer” and with that micom, it implements “fuzzy logic” technology to automatically adjust cooking time and temperatures. It’s that technology that yields perfect rice every single time.
I haven’t done much research with other brands and I’m sure if it’s a patented technology with Zojirushi, other brands have to use another name for it.
Regardless, I would say most digital rice cookers these days use some sort of microcomputer technology that helps it adjust cooking time and temperature, which is typically why on those rice cookers, there really only needs to be like three settings. White rice, brown rice, and start. And if I’m being honest, any more buttons and anything fancier is just extra. You’re making rice, not baking a cake.
Now, let’s talk about the rice cookers that just have 1 switch – simply, on. They’re called conventional, but I just call them simple, lol
These are more traditional and simple rice cookers that you’ll likely see in traditional Asian households. These traditional rice cookers with one switch have an electric heating plate with a thermal sensing device in the center that gets depressed when you put your inner pot in the rice cooker. The heating plate quickly brings the water to a boil and the thermal sensing device is also equipped with a spring-loaded thermometer that gauges the temperature of the pot’s contents.
Once the rice absorbs all the water in the pot, the temperature will start to rise. The rice cooker will sense this change and the switch will automatically flip up to the ‘keep warm’ setting.
With alllll that said, you can’t go wrong with Japanese brands like Zojirushi and Tiger.
Most importantly, make sure they say MADE IN JAPAN on the box. Seriously, ask any older generation Asian about this. I remember going to several Asian grocery stores with my parents and looking for the Zojirushi box that said MADE IN JAPAN because IT MATTERS. I also remember when my parents gifted me my first rice cooker and they specifically went to several stores to find the Tiger one that said MADE IN JAPAN.
Where to Buy
I recommend going to H-Mart, 99 Ranch, or buying directly from the manufacturer. These ensure you’re getting one that’s Made in Japan.
I know Costco sells them too, but I haven’t looked closely to see if they’re actually Made in Japan. I also know Costco is starting to sell a Korean brand called Cuckoo. I haven’t tried Korean brands before, but have heard good things about it!
