Zojirushi rice cookers

[KennethT]

45 minutes ago, rotuts said:

still trying to decided on ' umami rice '  :   

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskCulinary/comments/24yvim/how_do_rice_cookers_with_umami_settings_work/

 

unfortunately I can't get to reddit .  but 

 

I suspect the link is info from manufacturers sites , thus , a bit suspect .

 

it seems some Zo RC's have this setting , inc the pressure $$$ ones.

 

the setting takes longer , and include a water-soak stage  .  that' I can do manually 

 

Zo also makes a Micron Zo :

 

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NL-GAC10-Cooker-5-5-Cup-Metallic/dp/B08ZHRMGJ2?th=1

 

as I understand it , Micron Zo's are manufactured in China , vs Zo's made in Japan.

 

so , unless I hear differently from the eG Ricer's

 

its mostly hype , but not 100 %  :  80 - 85 % seem about right ?

 

Ill manually soak my next batch of rice and see if I can tell any difference.

 

I don't have a Zo, but I do manually soak both my jasmine and basmati rices for 10 minutes prior to a thorough washing.

[rotuts]

@DesertTinker

 

many thanks for that ref.   

 

and as I though , just like  @KennethT ( thank you ! )

 

people who eat more rice than I , pre-soak .  

 

then decided on new 5 Cup , based on using the extra space in the cooker ( after cooking )

 

for mix-ins , when making   Not-Fried-Rice .

 

 

Edited Saturday at 05:01 PM by rotuts (log)

[rotuts]

I have one last question ,  for now at least :

 

Zo has two ( made in Japan ) styles :    the dome and handle ( a tan color )  and a flat top ( black )

 

the fat is newer , and generally cost a bit more over the Dome :

 

 

here  478 dome vs 577 flat .  for pressure RC's

 

but 

 

 

not in the case of the 5C induction :

 

dome  $ 360   flat $ 332 .

 

if you understand the price differences , as dollars ,  ie  more $$ might get you , at least a useful gain .

 

Id like to hear from you here.

[TdeV]

This is the display from the manual for NW-JEC10 or 18, so you see it has an Umami setting.

 

 

It comes from the bottom half of page 7 of the manual:

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 07:02 PM by TdeV
Edited to note Umami setting (log)

[TdeV]

7 hours ago, rotuts said:

Wait !  it also have a self standing rice scoop ! 

 

 

 

I had NO idea this scoop stood up on its own! Thanks, @rotuts

[KennethT]

For those with one of these rice cookers, does the cooker care if you unplug it for storage?  A while ago, I was reading a manual and it made it seem like you had to set the clock every time it had power disconnected - which is fine if you leave it on the countertop and plugged in, but I don't have that much counter space and would unplug and store in between uses.  And I really don't need a clock on my rice cooker - I would never put the rice/water in and have it turn itself on 7 hours later or whatever its intention was to have.

[TdeV]

8 minutes ago, KennethT said:

For those with one of these rice cookers, does the cooker care if you unplug it for storage?  A while ago, I was reading a manual and it made it seem like you had to set the clock every time it had power disconnected - which is fine if you leave it on the countertop and plugged in, but I don't have that much counter space and would unplug and store in between uses.  And I really don't need a clock on my rice cooker - I would never put the rice/water in and have it turn itself on 7 hours later or whatever its intention was to have.

 

I unplug it in between uses. I'm not sure what it thinks the date is, but the time is right. I'm not remembering exactly whether I changed the time during Daylight/Daylight Savings.

 

Kenneth, I can set what time I want the rice done. Although I have more than once set the rice for 6 (instead of 18:00) ! Porridge for 6 am does sound good though.

 

@rotuts, my plug does NOT detach.

 

@gfweb, for sound one can choose between Melody, Beep, and Mute. Begin Cooking or Set Time plays "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Completion of task plays "Amaryllis"

 

 

[weinoo]

33 minutes ago, TdeV said:

 

I had NO idea this scoop stood up on its own! Thanks, @rotuts

 

At that price, I think the scoop should cook the rice for us!

 

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

  A while ago, I was reading a manual and it made it seem like you had to set the clock every time it had power disconnected

 

I think you probably misread or the manual was unclear.  There is an internal Lithium battery that the clock runs on.  (Seepage 22 of the manual on this page).  Of course the problem happens when that battery runs out, as there is evidently no way to change the battery by one's self.

[TdeV]

2 minutes ago, weinoo said:

At that price, I think the scoop should cook the rice for us!

 

😂

 

3 minutes ago, weinoo said:

<snip> Of course the problem happens when that battery runs out, as there is evidently no way to change the battery by one's self.

 

My Zo bread machine no longer allows me to set the time, so it's permanently in either Daylight or Daylight Savings . . .

[weinoo]

I made a mistake by saying there is no way to replace the battery by one's self.  I meant to say that I wouldn't be able to replace it; someone with a little bit of technical ability and a soldering iron would be able to!

 

The unit still works with a dead battery, so I imagine that when the battery in my unit dies, it will stay that way.

[rotuts]

Interesting.  does the battery charge while the unit is plugged in ?

 

and also while making rice ?

 

thus it might last longer w proper charging cycles ?

[weinoo]

22 minutes ago, rotuts said:

Interesting.  does the battery charge while the unit is plugged in ?

 

and also while making rice ?

 

thus it might last longer w proper charging cycles ?

 

No, I don't believe it's a rechargeable battery.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

The battery takes years and years to run down though.  However it did eventually run down on my older Zojirushi.

 

[rotuts]

those eG'ers blessed w the pressure or micron version 

 

w the Umami selection :  how long does the umami cook last ?

 

the regular white rice cook last ?

 

ie  the difference ?  that would be the soaking time ?

 

thanks.

[weinoo]

19 hours ago, DesertTinker said:

@rotuts

Most of the Reddit thread you linked to is just folks speculating about how the umami cycle works, but there is this LINK to an article that seems like a pretty solid explanation.

 

Check the article above that @DesertTinker linked too, or any of the manuals for cookers with the umami setting for a more precise figure.  For example, the manual for my cooker suggests a cooking time between 67 -74 minutes on the umami setting.

[rotuts]

so Id say , max-ish , 15 minutes for the soak .

 

thanks

[weinoo]

 

Note the instructions for the Japanese varieties of rice I get from The Rice Factory...https://trf-ny.com/pages/how-to-cook-japanese-white-rice

 

They call for soaking all variations, some for 30  minutes, others for a couple of hours.  

[rotuts]

thanks to @weinoo 's nudge

 

I was finally able to find and D/L'd a pressure RC manual 

 

here are the various times :

 

 

 

[TdeV]

GABA brown rice takes a LOT longer that regular brown rice. Has an earthier flavour than regular brown rice.

[rotuts]

Ive got GABA on my Induction .

 

it just soaks the rice , in this case the GABA comes from brown , not white , rice

 

to get that GABA in an older machine , just soak the brown rice , 30 +++ minutes , then cook

 

on Brown.    the result is a fairly soft BR.

[JeanneCake]

oh you people ... such enablers.  

 

my husband has finally seen the light regarding his diet after a brief scare (thinking he had colon cancer, he doesn't; his cholesterol is high enough to warrant action though) and is now insisting on brown rice, steel cut oatmeal and a host of other things he would never eat before.  Aside from the fact that I now have to share my brown rice (!) I'm seriously considering getting a rice cooker because he would be more inclined to use it. His birthday is in a few weeks so it can be a birthday gift... Strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.  (And now he embraces the fact that we've been in the Bean Club for so long instead of complaining about the bean bags all over the pantry LOL)

 

there is going to be no room on my counter soon for all the appliances on it (the Smart Oven, the bread machine, the KA, the air fryer...)  I think it's time I get a stainless steel table in the kitchen for the appliances or my prep space!

 

@rotuts which model did you get?  and thank you @DesertTinker for the link to the articles, they're very helpful

[weinoo]

30 minutes ago, JeanneCake said:

my husband has finally seen the light regarding his diet after a brief scare (thinking he had colon cancer, he doesn't; his cholesterol is high enough to warrant action though) and is now insisting on brown rice, steel cut oatmeal and a host of other things he would never eat before.

 

Good news on the scare - but hopefully, in addition to that healthy crap, he's on a statin.

[rotuts]

@JeanneCake

 

Id get the 5 cup Induction .

 

there is some room after cooking 2 cups of rice , to add ' mix-ins ' after you fluff up the rice.

 

have a 10 cup fuzzy , and used to use it frequently when taking a ' dish ' to a pot-luck

 

2 - 3 cups rice , and plenty of mix-ins to make ' Not Fried Rice '

 

I got the 3 cup induction , as the rice was just for me , MC is no fan , 

 

and I love the feel of the bowl that cooks the rice vs a plain fuzzy.  its thicker.

 

unless you have a Trust-Fund , or want to go with Pressure .

 

get the 5 cup , dome or flat top , induction  .   you will love it.

 

Edited 6 hours ago by rotuts (log)

[rotuts]

@JeanneCake

 

get this right now :

 

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0BXZ72MTM/egulletsociety-20?th=1

 

the price has dropped !  

 

it has an insert for steaming :

 

 

when that comes out of the Birthday Box :  you say :

 

'  Look at this :  you're  broccoli will love it !

 

[rotuts]

As I mentioned above :

 

A birthday is coming up .

 

Ill pass up on Pressure , just this time .

 

\and the FlatTop 5 Cup induction price has dropped

 

Bang !

 

Happy Birthday !

 

and that broccoli thing is going to earn its keep .

 

Ha Ha .

Edited 3 hours ago by rotuts (log)