Zojirushi 6-Cup Rice Cooker

Great rice cooker. I grew up with more expensive and bigger Zojirushi rice cookers, where my family would cook rice and eat from for a couple days. This doesnt provide that convenience but it makes the same quality rice but ease of storage and cleaning. I can just take the pot out and stick in in the fridge. The lid is very easy to clean, unlike the larger rice cookers that are not removable and gunk builds up. I've had this rice cooker for 5 years now and use it at least 3-4 times a week and still spits out great quality rice. Will say it probably not great for a big family but great for us.

I used to think rice was simple. Boil water, throw in grains, hope for the best. But my “best” usually looked like a sad science experiment—half mush, half gravel, all disappointment. Then the Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker waltzed into my life like a culinary fairy godmother. ⸻ The First Encounter Unboxing it felt ceremonial. Small, sleek, and oddly adorable—like if R2-D2 retired and decided to open a Japanese bistro. It doesn’t scream “appliance”; it whispers, “Trust me, I know rice.” The buttons are labeled with polite confidence: White Rice, Brown Rice, Keep Warm. None of that intimidating “Turbo Ultra Steam” nonsense. Just clean, simple functionality. ⸻ The First Batch I measured the rice (using the special little cup it comes with—because apparently every other cup in my house is “wrong”), rinsed it like a responsible adult, and hit start. Then… silence. Unlike my old bargain cooker, which sounded like it was powering a small aircraft, the Zojirushi hummed quietly—like a monk meditating. The anticipation was real. When it beeped (with the most cheerful little tune, like a rice lullaby), I lifted the lid and saw it: fluffy, perfect, restaurant-quality rice. Not mush, not crunchy, but each grain distinct, glistening like tiny pearls of joy. I teared up. Not ashamed. ⸻ The Keep-Warm Sorcery Here’s the kicker: hours later, the rice was still perfect. Warm, fluffy, like it had just been cooked. How? Witchcraft. Or maybe advanced Japanese engineering. Either way, it’s basically Tupperware with a soul. I left rice overnight once (as a test, not because I was lazy… okay, because I was lazy). Next morning? Still edible. I half expect to wake up one day to find it’s learned how to pay rent too. ⸻ The Emotional Journey Using this rice cooker is not just cooking—it’s self-care. The process is so foolproof, I actually look forward to making rice now. My friends laugh when I gush about it, but then they eat the rice and suddenly they’re believers too. I even caught myself talking to it once: “Good job, buddy.” That’s how deep this relationship has gone. ⸻ Downsides Let’s be honest: it’s not cheap. You could buy a random $20 rice cooker at a big box store. But here’s the thing—those are “rice cookers” the same way a tricycle is “transportation.” They’ll technically get you there, but you’ll look sad and fall over a lot. Also, the 3-cup size is small. Perfect for one or two people, but if you’re feeding a family of six or hosting a sushi-themed block party, you’ll need a bigger one. And yes, cleaning requires actual effort. The nonstick pot is easy, but if you’re a savage who burns rice somehow, that inner lid will judge you. ⸻ The Extras Oh, and it’s not just rice. Quinoa? Nailed it. Steel-cut oats? Perfect. Lentils? Chef’s kiss. Basically, if it’s a grain, Zojirushi looks at it, smirks, and says, “Amateur hour is over.” I once made rice pudding in it. Came out so good I briefly considered opening a dessert shop. I didn’t (because laziness), but the dream was alive. ⸻ The Cult of Zojirushi Here’s the thing: once you own one, you join a secret society. Other Zojirushi owners spot you in the wild, nod knowingly, and whisper, “Ah, you too know the truth.” There’s no going back. Regular stovetop rice? Barbaric. Instant pot rice? A pale imitation. The Zojirushi cult demands loyalty, and you’ll give it gladly. ⸻ The Sounds That little jingle it plays when the rice is done? Pure serotonin. I’ve considered recording it as my alarm clock. Nothing says “rise and shine” like the cheerful rice cooker song. It’s like being congratulated by a tiny robot every time you succeed at adulting. ⸻ Comparisons Without Zojirushi: you’re scraping burnt rice off a pan, wondering where you went wrong in life. With Zojirushi: you’re scooping fluffy clouds of joy, humming along to its tune, and contemplating buying bulk jasmine rice like a prepper. Without Zojirushi: rice is a side dish. With Zojirushi: rice is a lifestyle. ⸻ Final Verdict The Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker is not just an appliance. It’s a benevolent kitchen overlord. It doesn’t just make rice—it makes perfect rice, every time, without fail. Is it small? Yes. Is it pricey? Sure. Is it worth it? Absolutely. It’s not just an investment in rice—it’s an investment in happiness. ⸻ Final Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars) • Rice quality: Divine • Ease of use: Foolproof • Keep warm: Witchcraft • Emotional bond: Stronger than some family ties • Downside: You’ll judge all other rice forever

What a fantastic rice cooker. I enjoy the fluffy rice in restaurants, but was not able to achieve that at home in a regular pot. I decided to try this and am highly impressed with how well it works and how easy it is to use. Measure the rice and water, put them in, turn it on, and that's it. Delicious, fluffy rice. And it is very easy to clean.

Everything I have made has turned out great and much better than in other conventional rice cookers I have owned. I love my big Zoji but this is so much quicker I use it most of the time. The 6 cup rice capacity turned out to be the size I needed and was purchased because it was the smallest with a warmer. Most types of rice cooks quickly in approximately 15 minutes, but tastes better if you let it sit for at least 10 minutes before fluffing. For speed and quality in cooking, a definite 5 stars but took off a star for the pot being really thin. After only a week of heavier use than usual to test it, the pot is slightly discolored but it does not affect the non stick. No problems with sticking. Brown rice was a real test but isn’t one I cook very much. First tried it without soaking and it was messy without overflow but needed to be carefully monitored. Soaking it for approximately 20 minutes made a difference. The lid and the main body of the cooker are well made and heavier than usual for this type of rice cooker from other makers. Overall it seems to be the usual Zojirushi quality and should prove to be well worth the money spent. The steamer tray is well made but a bit disappointing in the area to remove it from the bowl. It isn’t that easy to get out quickly. Tiger makes a steamer basket that doesn’t transfer flavors to rice and is easy to remove with a slot to put a fork in to lift it out. ///// Oct 2025 update: watch for big prime sales as this was almost $20 less now than when I bought it. Price is now a no brainer for this Zoji. Basmati rice is my favorite and this cooks it perfectly every time. Even at the higher price, no regrets.

For the first time in my life I have made good rice and it's all thanks to this rice cooker. Before I would make it on the stove and it never was the right consistency. Too mushy or too crunchy. As leftovers the rice always dried out. As such, I rarely made dishes with rice because it was just not good. Now I love my rice!!!! It is soft and fluffy and perfect. It is even good as leftovers!! The cooker is extremely simple to use. I will now be making rice more often. I probably would have bought one that had a cute design, but this exact model was recommended by a friend. It doesn't take up a lot of room on the counter and is small enough to tuck into a corner when not in use. Very glad I bought this model.

I eat a lot of Quinoa and Forbidden Rice. Pros - this will make grains. Follow the same course as with Rice. Very convenient to use. The pan and lid do fine in the dishwasher. Cons - I have to cover the lid with paper towels when I prepare Forbidden Rice. Otherwise the dyes in the rice go "everywhere. That's a minor problem. Quinoa seems to scorch a little bit. I eat it anyhow. This device does not have a keep warm feature. For single or double servings of rice or quinoa, it fits the price point just fine.

Excellent rice cooker! First time using a rice cooker and in my very first try my basmati rice came out perfect! I took 2 cups of basmati rice with the provided cup, and after thoroughly washing the rice and soaking for 30 minutes I added 3 cups of water (2 X 1.5) and the rice cooker did a fantastic job! Highly recommend this rice cooker!

I gave this product 3 stars because it has the features I wanted, 6 cups, small foot print, steamer, keep warm, and the brand reliability/quality. I would have given it 5 stars but it has PTFE as the non-stick coating for the inner pot. I did assume that products being produced for use in cooking were moving away from PTFE and other harmful chemicals. Especially for reliable brands. The product description on Amazon does not contain the fact the product has PTFE. The PTFE is the non-stick coating on the inner pot. Zojirushi has many models that have stainless steel as the inner pot, as do competitors, with some using ceramic coating. The part of the product that touches the food is where the presence of PTFE matters. YES, PTFE is harmful to the human body, and yes it is bad for the environment. That being said, I do see now after purchasing that the photos of the item show the inner pot, and for anyone who knows what to look for, you can see the non-stick coating is clearly some type of PTFE product (or analogous). The non-stick coating will chip, crack, or scratch over time, use, cleaning, and wear and tear. That is when the PTFE in the non-stick coating will become harmful, because it will get into the food. IF, either Zojirushi, or a third party made a stainless steel inner pot replacement I would buy it. Better yet, if they had a stainless steel inner pot option, I would have selected that.