Zojirushi NHS-18 10-Cup Rice Cooker/Steamer & Warmer

The Zojirushi NHS-18 10-Cup Rice Cooker/Steamer & Warmer is somewhat atypical of the Zojirushi rice cookers we usually review here, because it is a pot style rice cooker and steamer, as opposed to a regular standalone rice cooker (which are the norm in Japan where Zojirushi is based). Like most Zojirushi products, this is a high quality cooker, but there is a bit of a learning curve if you want to get the most out of it. Some people complain about this rice cooker boiling over, but that's a result of not following the instructions to the letter and using this exactly the same as they would use a simpler rice cooker/steamer unit.

This is a pretty basic appliance compared to many of Zojirushi's other products. It cooks rice and warms it for up to 5 hours after cooking. And it can also be used for steaming veggies and seafood, and to cook eggs or custard. It has a large capacity of 10 cups of dry rice, more than most other Zojirushis. That makes this unit suitable for feeding groups of people at an event or party that lasts a few hours. It has a nice glass lid so you can watch the progress of the cooking, and your guests can tell what's inside without removing the lid.

I think this is a good, simple but sturdy Zojirushi rice cooker. My only problem with it is that the handles are a little small. Be careful when you are moving the unit around. You don't want to drop it!

The Zojirushi NHS-18 10-Cup Rice Cooker/Steamer & Warmer retails for $73.00, but can be found at a discounted price of $62.99 from online retailers. You can find cheaper pot-style rice cooker/steamers, for example those from Aroma. And they will do the trick just fine. But Zojirushi products are sturdier and higher quality.