Zojirushi NP-HBC10 Induction Heating Rice Cooker Review

Price Range: Expensive

Rice Quality: Excellent

Benefits & Features: Several

Performance: Excellent

Pros vs. Cons: Pros Outweigh Cons

Overall Rating: Excellent

Buying a Zojirushi NP-HBC10 is a smart investment for getting one of the best tasting and healthiest brown rice dishes offered from any known rice cooker, as well as other rice types too. However, as stated on the similar NP-HTC-10/18 model pages this cooker isn't for everyone.

In other words, this isn't your average one-switch-lever rapid-boil style cooker and should only be considered if you both:

A) plan to use it often

B) intend on preparing other rice types and not just white rice.

We make these points since this is an expensive item and should not be used solely for once and a while regular white rice...unless of course this model fits your budget for such use anyway.

And since we're speaking of cooking white rice, what we loved about this unit is that it offers 3 different white rice textures to choose from which are: "regular", "firm" (hard), and "soft". The 5.5 cup bowl capacity will prepare up to 16 cups cooked white rice.

Now let's see how it does as a brown rice cooker...

"GABA" Style Brown Rice Cooking

One of the key benefits the Zojirushi NP-HBC10 model offers is a setting (or technology) called "GABA". This setting not only cooks brown rice perfectly, but releases more nutrients in the rice making it both healthier and easier to digest.

We do want to state that this setting also requires more time to prepare the rice since it requires an additional 2 hour soaking time.

However to help counter that little con, this unit allows users to set up a timer.

Included with this Zojirushi Induction Heating rice cooker is a non-stick bowl designed for even heat distribution, measuring cup, rice spatula, and spatula holder that attaches to the side of unit for added convenience when cooking/serving.

Along with brown rice, the Zojirushi NP-HBC10 has settings for white, mixed, sushi, sweet, and "quick cook" for speedier completion. Simply follow the instructed specific measurements, select the rice type on the easy to use soft-touch pad menu, and press “Start”.

You'll discover that it is true when folks say this unit takes the guess work out of cooking great rice.

Pros

Cons

Where to Buy a Zojirushi Rice Cooker

Purchase at Amazon.com

So for folks who love to cook multiple rice types but seem to be having trouble getting it to the texture and consistency of their liking, this Zojirushi brown rice cooker, although expensive, is a fine choice.

While we do wish the Zojirushi NP-HBC10 offered a slow cooking and steaming feature like the less expensive Sanyo ECJ-HC55S, in the long run, overall, you will get what you paid for. But as previously mentioned, for the price be sure this is something that will get used frequently, especially for other rice types.

Another recommended product from Zojirushi.

Tip: keep unit plugged in to prolong the internal battery life...please note the unit will still continue to perform properly without it as it just runs the clock when the unit is unplugged. Life of battery is approx. 4 years.

Measurements: 10 x 14 x 8 Inches | 5.5 Cup Capacity (approx. 16 Cups Cooked)