A versatile and delicate dish that, if done right, seems worthy of its price, sushi is what’s taking over the scene.
And it spread its wings throughout the western hemisphere, and its shadow seems to be growing ever so wide.
But have you ever stopped to think how most of those fancy restaurants get it so perfect all the time?
Well, your search ends here as I’m about to show you the best sushi rice cooker money can buy with a guarantee that you’ll be making restaurant-grade sushi at home in no time.
So, the next time you’re craving for sushi at 3 am, or you want to impress someone special, you won’t be falling short.
5 Best Sushi Rice Cooker Reviews
To help further make your life, we’re going to give you a breakdown of the best rice cookers for sushi in the market. Thus, we will be helping you pick a product that best fits your lifestyle and budget.
1. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
The NS-TSC10 comes with all the bells and whistles you’ll need to give you that perfectly cooked sushi rice. With its automatic keep-warm technology, you can be busy as a bee, and the machine will take care of the rest. The machine routinely shifts to the keep-warm mode when cooking is over.
Moreover, this cooker also features state-of-the-art Fuzzy Logic technology. This gives the cooker a mind of its own so that it can carefully determine both cooking time and temperature, ensuring you get that restaurant-grade rice as promised.
Also, the cooker includes a detachable inner lid and a nonstick inner cooking pan, which helps in making the cleaning process hassle-free and convenient. The machine, moreover, comes with a steam basket; you can cook both your rice and steam your food at the same time, allowing you to make the most of your day.
Additionally, the built-in retractable cord system aids make it more versatile as now you can transport your cooker almost anywhere, and you don’t need to deal with the ‘I lost its cord’ situation ever again.
At the more affordable price point, this cooker doesn’t seem to quit it. Not only do you get the ability of a normal rice cooker, but it also lets you bake a cake right in the cooker. With all its features and the ability to do so much more than just cook rice, I would say this cooker snuggly fits into that worth the buck price point.
Pros
- Great value for the price
- Ability to cook multiple dishes
- An abundance of features
- Easy to clean and store
- A solid stainless-steel body making the device sturdy
Cons
- You’ll have to measure rice using the scoops provided, causing an extra hassle
- Take a little longer to cook the rice
2. Zojirushi NS-ZCC18 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker
This one comes straight to us from Japan, so you know you’ve made the right choice. The NS-ZCC18 comes slightly cheaper than the other mentioned cookers but does not compromise on quality. The cooker features a wide range of modes to fulfill your various rice needs. This includes sushi, rice, brown rice, porridge, and much more.
It further includes a mixed rice mode; this allows you to add additional seasoning to your rice. The seasoning comes out thoroughly and evenly spread every time. And the cooker incorporates a Neuro-Fuzzy microcomputer; this gives you an additional two sensors compared to the Fuzzy Logic system.
With the inclusion of a room and lid temperature sensor, the computer is better able to determine the suitable temperature and time required to cook your rice.
Behind every flawless serving of rice, there’s a brilliant cooking pan, and this one deserves all the credit. The spherical design of the pan gives a more even heat distribution. And the engineers seem to have thought about everything; they’ve even included stay-cool side handles so that you don’t go around burning your fingers.
And last but not least, the keep-warm technology makes sure that the rice you cooked before going to work is still hot and ready to eat when you come back. So, if you’re thinking about bringing your friends over, you won’t miss out on any office gossip because you were stuck preparing the sushi rice.
Pros
- Flawless performance delivered through Japanese quality standards
- Easy to clean and handle with an additional stay-cool handle
- Neuro-Fuzzy technology pitches in to make sure you have nothing to worry about
- Cooks a large assortment of rice
- Easy to carry and transport with the additional fold-down handle and retractable power cord
Cons
- The product design isn’t as modern compared to other cookers
- The lithium battery will run out in a few years, which will require replacement
3. Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System
Now this one’s going out to the health junkies out there who enjoy their sushis but are also looking out for their health. This comes to life by using GABA Brown technology.
The cooker heats brown rice to an extent at which it releases GABA, a type of amino acid that improves blood pressure, kidney functions and provides stress relief.
But don’t feel short there, this cooker has a few tricks up its sleeves. With an induction heating technology, the cooker using magnets heats the inner cooking pan itself. This not only gives you a superior rice quality but also manages to adjust heating temperatures fine to ensure an errorless cook.
However, even though this device might send you back a few bucks. You might want to look into what you’re getting before making a decision. This device doesn’t stop at making sushi rice; it goes way beyond. You can create an entire meal using just one machine, rendering you to ask why even buy anything else?
With its stainless-steel body and modern design, be sure that it’ll be raising the bar high for all your other kitchen appliances. And it’s not all for a show; the steel body pitches in to make cleaning seem like child’s play.
All this comes with the added assurance of the ‘Made in Japan’ inscription. So, you can rest assured that your money is well spent and that you’ll be spending a long time with this cooker. And in that unlikely event that something does go wrong, their warranty will be there to have your back.
Pros
- More efficient Induction Heating Technology
- Cooks more than just rice
- GABA Brown technology to make your sushi experience healthier
- Cleaning becomes a cakewalk
- Keep Warm technology will help ensure your rice never goes cold
Cons
- Quite expensive compared to other models
- Slower, when it comes to cooking the rice
4. Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
A fancy multipurpose rice cooker is not something everyone’s looking for; sometimes, all you need is a cooker that gets your sushi rice right. For those of you out there, this model fits your needs perfectly. Being the cheapest of the bunch, we can still guarantee you’ll be paying for your money’s worth.
The microcomputer inside ensures that you get the best results, with better control on temperature and time. For this price, you’ll still be able to be worry-free about your rice being over or undercooked. The triple heating technology makes sure the machine heats the entire pan, so the rice gets a well thorough cook up.
With a stainless-steel body and its sleek design, this model will easily fit into your kitchen decor. Having a stainless-steel body gives you the added advantage of being super easy to clean.
Cleaning is an important part that plays to any kitchen appliance, and cleaning the inside of your rice cooker is even more so. Zojirushi makes sure you’re able to clean your device thoroughly. With its easy-to-remove inner lids and nonstick pan, you’ll never have to worry about a lingering taste.
To not make your life monotonous, the company made sure that it’s not only the simple white rice you have every day. With this machine, you can make your sushi and other meals using a variety of rice. The machine also includes GABA Brown technology so that your meals can be healthier than ever.
Pros
- You get a great deal for the price you’re paying
- Easy to clean due to the stainless-steel body and detachable lid
- You’ll be able to cook a large variety of rice
- Easy to move around
- A user-friendly interface
Cons
- Exceptionally long time taken to cook the rice
- A few features are not included, as in other models
5. Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer
We’ve saved the best for last. This one’s the alpha cooker that goes above and beyond any other cooker you’ll find in the market. With its high-tech features and user-friendliness, you have our word: you won’t find anything better.
Not only does this cooker come with the up-to-date Fuzzy Logic technology, but it also processes data using AI (Artificial Intelligence). Thus, with every cook, the machine better understands your cooking needs and adjusts its pressure settings accordingly.
Wait, we seemed to have forgotten to mention: this machine uses a pressure-induced induction heating system. How does that make a difference? It uses the same principles as a pressure cooker.
Creating a vacuum inside the cooker heats up the water quicker and keeps it hotter for a longer period and ensures a thorough cook and softer rice.
The inside walls of the cooking pad are coated with a platinum lining. This allows the water to alkalize and break down the starch present in rice, making your sushi taste sweeter. It also enhances the flavor of the sushi.
This machine can be regarded as a miraculous feat of engineering with other additional features and assortments like the scorched setting, reheat function, keep-warm monitor, and many more. The list doesn’t seem to end.
However, with what you’re being offered, you’ll probably have to make do with the hole it’ll make in your pocket.
Pros
- Using the most sophisticated technology, making life simple
- Will make any variety of rice meal imaginable
- A sleek design and color to stand out
- Best quality rice using Pressure Inductive Heating technology
- Highest quality material and the Japanese quality mark
Cons
- Extremely expensive for a rice cooker
- The softness of the rice is set to Japanese standards; may not be liked by all cultures
How To Choose The Best One
Maybe you’ve moved into your apartment as you start your first year of college. Or maybe your wife asked you to redo the kitchen, but you don’t have a clue about where to start.
If you need a rice cooker but don’t know what will fit you right, we’ve got your back. This section will talk to you about what you should look at before making your purchase.
Capacity
Before you buy a sushi rice cooker, you must consider the number of people you’re planning to feed. These cookers come in various sizes ranging from less than 1 liter to 5 liters. So, you could either make enough for two or be able to make enough sushi to feed your friends, family, and have some for your neighbors as well.
That’s not all you need to consider; a bigger machine will also require more space on your kitchen shelf. If you’re the type of person, who likes having everything organized and neatly set, you might want to consider something compact that will fit in the space you have.
Price Tag
Many factors are involved when it comes to deciding a product’s price, and it follows a similar situation here. Prices for different cookers vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, size, model, etc.
We can help justify these variations in price; however, what you might be able to afford is a factor completely dependent on the individual.
To have an idea on a price range to look out for, we would suggest going for cookers costing from $60-$150. At this price range, you’re likely to find a well-built cooker that does the job right.
The amount of usage you get out of these sushi rice cookers is also a factor to consider. If you’re only going to use them a few times a week, there’s no point buying an expensive sushi rice cooker. But if you’re planning to use it more often, then an expensive cooker might be worthwhile.
Cleaning
It’s important to look into the cleaning features included in the machine. This is important that you are able to clean the inner cooking lid and pan thoroughly. It ensures none of the flavors from your previous cook are infused into your present one. And it also lowers the chances of any form of bacterial or fungal formation.
To make sure the cooker you’re buying is easy to clean, there are a few simple characteristics you must keep in mind.
- The cooker comes with a detachable inner lid
- The inner cooking pan is nonstick and includes a Teflon coating
- The outer body is stainless steel
These would make cleaning your cooker a matter of minutes; some cooking pans are also dishwasher-safe. Popping it in for a few minutes or running the bowl through soapy hot water will ensure you serve clean and healthy food to your family.
Fuzzy Logic Technology
This is something that usually comes in with the more high-end sushi rice cookers. However, this is also something that every cooker needs. The computers on the device determine the optimum temperature and time required to cook the rice to perfection.
Being able to do that requires a large number of sensors to be included on the appliance. These sensors then automatically adjust the cookers setting without any interaction needed from the user.
A sushi rice cooker that includes this feature is something that we would recommend. This chips in to make your life simpler and never lets your rice overcook or undercook. The extra money paid for this feature would, in our opinion, be money well spent.
User-Friendliness
Now, if you had to spend 20 mins or so just figuring out and setting up your rice cooker, you know you’ve taken the wrong turn. User-friendliness is an extremely important aspect when it comes to people with busy schedules.
To ensure that you’ve chosen the right one, make sure that the model only has a few buttons on its control panel. More expensive models include LED screens with digital controls and timers. These provide you with a much simpler experience, once you go through the user manual.
Modes
If you’re spending more than $80 on a sushi rice cooker, I’m going to assume sushi isn’t the only thing you’re making. We suggest you look for a product that cooks more than just one rice. Most cookers on the higher end of the price scale usually allow you an assortment of settings to replenish any form of rice you want.
Design
This is another characteristic that doesn’t factor in everyone but is nevertheless considered very important. These cooking pots produce heat, so its highly likely the outside is going to heat up as well.
If you have children running around your house or you’re just a person who’s a bit forgetful, you might want to look into options that prevent you from having to run to the ER now and then. Any good stainless-steel or plastic models will be good enough to fix this.
Design matters when it comes to your kitchen decor. For those picky people out there, with a few extra bucks, you’ll be able to purchase the one that fits you perfectly. Modern stainless-steel cookers may cost a bit more but will give your kitchen that hi-tech feel, without compromising on quality.
Additionally
There are a bunch of features you might want to look out for before buying that sushi rice cooker. These aren’t necessarily required, but it’s something we’d recommend.
Features such as keep-warm settings, GABA Brown technology, induction heating, included spatulas and measuring cups are all on the list to look out for. These will help make your cooking experience simpler and much more comfortable.
Top-Rated Brands On The Market
With all these choices to make, it might seem to overwhelm you guys with each sales representative pushing his brand as the best in the market. It gets difficult to differentiate between them. Here’s a list that will help you choose from the top tier products in the market.
1. Zojirushi
It’s no surprise this comes up at no. 1 on our list. This Japanese company has its roots set right by producing high-quality cookers that deliver performance and consistency with models ranging in prices for a wide variety of customers.
2. Tiger
This company is also based in Japan. The company is famous for its sushi rice cookers in particular. At quite affordable prices, we would recommend that you consider this brand while making your purchase.
3. Panasonic
This is a name we’re all quite familiar with. However, we know it better for its electronics. It is a Japanese company that has a large part to play in the rice cooker sector. They make machines of high functionality that are available at quite affordable prices without cutting down on quality.
4. Aroma Houseware
Being one of the cheapest on the list, this company makes sure that you’re getting more than you paid for. This is a diversified electronics producer that looks into the lower end of the market but makes sure you’re up-to-date with what’s trending in the industry.
5. Toshiba
One of the most technologically advanced companies of the bunch, their cookers might base a premium price. But with a promise that once you’ve gone with them, you won’t ever need to move anywhere else. This company holds up its end of the bargain with a powerful machine and life satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we have some of the most commonly asked queries regarding sushi rice cookers:
1. Can the rice cooker be used to slow cook the rice?
Yes, certain models with this feature will allow you to take advantage of it. However, cookers by Zojirushi takes a longer time to cook the rice anyway to enhance the rice’s texture.
2. How long can you keep the rice in the cooker after the highest setting on the ‘keep warm’ setting ends?
It is not recommended that you keep the rice in for more than 48hrs. You might also see a slight deuteriation in the quality of rice.
3. What is the difference between Neuro-Fuzzy and Micom technology?
The main difference between these two is mainly in quality and performance. The Neuro-Fuzzy system includes two extra sensors. This helps it to process data with greater accuracy than the Micom system. It gives better consistency to the quality of rice and helps the machine adjust itself quicker to temperature changes.
4. Is the inner cooking pan dishwasher-safe?
Not unless it’s mentioned. This is because it might ruin the nonstick coating on the inside of the pan. Although the pan is extremely easy to wash being nonstick, running it through soapy hot water will probably do the trick.
5. Is it worth going the extra mile to buy the pressure cooker feature?
This answer depends mainly on use; if the cooker is used only to cook rice, then the extra cost should be avoided. On the other hand, if the cooker is also used to prepare meals that involve using poultry and meats, then the pressure is necessary. These may turn out undercooked if cooked using a regular cooker.
Final Words
To the future sushi connoisseur’s out there, we hope that this article provides all the necessary information required. So, you can now choose the best sushi rice cooker that fits your needs to make that restaurant-quality sushi right at home.