Zojirushi NW-QAC10 Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Zojirushi NW-QAC10 is an induction heating rice cooker that offers a number of useful features for cooking rice and other grains quickly and easily. This mid-range model from Zojirushi's Neuro Fuzzy line provides reliable performance with fuzzy logic technology that adjusts cooking time and temperature to ensure perfect rice every time. With its stainless steel exterior and easy-to-clean nonstick inner pan, the NW-QAC10 combines durability with convenience. Its compact size and straightforward interface make it a great choice for home cooks who regularly prepare rice or other grains. This induction heating rice cooker can cook up to 5.5 cups of rice at a time, ideal for families or batch cooking. With additional settings for porridge, sweet rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, and brown rice, it offers versatility beyond just regular white rice cooking. The NW-QAC10 delivers the quality and reliability expected from Zojirushi at an accessible price point. This review will take a more in-depth look at the cooker's design, features, performance, ease of use, accessories, pros and cons.

Design

The Zojirushi NW-QAC10 rice cooker has an attractive, modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It has a stainless steel exterior with a black lid and control panel.

• Dimensions - The rice cooker measures approximately 10 x 14 x 8 inches, making it a compact size but large enough to cook up to 5.5 cups of uncooked rice. It has a sturdy, rounded rectangular shape.

• Materials - The outer housing is made of brushed stainless steel, which gives it a sleek, elegant look. The detachable inner cooking pan is nonstick and coated in a special titanium material for enhanced durability. The steam vent cap and serving paddle are made of plastic.

• Colors - The stainless steel exterior provides a neutral palette that can fit with any kitchen decor. The black accents on the control panel and lid give it a modern, sophisticated style.

• The simple but contemporary design makes this an attractive rice cooker that looks more high-end than its price tag suggests. The materials seem durable enough for regular use. Overall, the look and size of this model are ideal for most kitchen settings.

Features

The Zojirushi NW-QAC10 induction rice cooker has some great features that make it stand out.

Cooking Settings

• The induction heating system allows for precise temperature control for perfect rice cooking every time. It has settings for white rice, mixed rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, and quick cooking. The fuzzy logic technology adjusts the cooking temperature and time automatically based on the amount of rice and water added.

• There are also settings for cake baking, steel cut oatmeal, and slow cook. The multi-menu options provide versatility to cook a variety of foods beyond just rice.

Keep Warm Function

• The keep warm function will automatically switch on after cooking is finished. This keeps the rice at an optimal serving temperature for up to 24 hours without overcooking. The rice will taste freshly cooked for the next day.

• There are extended keep warm options ranging from 24 hours to 72 hours for flexibility.

Timer

• The programmable timer allows you to set the rice to finish cooking at a specific time. This allows you to coordinate meal prep and have the rice ready when needed.

• Delay timers from 1 to 15 hours can be set so you can wake up to freshly cooked rice or have it ready after work.

Performance

The Zojirushi NW-QAC10 induction cooker performs extremely well when cooking different types of rice. Its induction heating technology and fuzzy logic technology allows it to heat the inner cooking pan quickly and evenly for optimal rice texture.

The cooker has specific settings for white rice, brown rice, sweet rice, mixed rice, porridge, and more. It can expertly cook each type of rice perfectly. The grains come out consistently fluffy and moist without being mushy or overly dry.

In terms of speed, this Zojirushi model cooks rice relatively quickly compared to other rice cookers. Its 1-liter capacity can cook 2-3 cups of uncooked rice in about 30-40 minutes. The quick cooking is achieved through swift, even heating of the inner pan.

No matter what type of rice you choose, the NW-QAC10 delivers consistent, restaurant-quality results every time. The advanced technology ensures the rice is cooked thoroughly without burning or undercooking. It takes the guesswork out of preparing foolproof rice.

Ease of Use

The Zojirushi NW-QAC10 rice cooker has a very intuitive control panel that makes it easy to use. There are clear buttons for cooking white rice, mixed rice, porridge, and more. The LCD display shows cooking settings and keeps time.

The buttons have symbols that clearly indicate their function, so it's simple to select the correct setting. For example, there is a snowflake button to cook porridge and a rice paddle button for white rice. The buttons give a satisfying click when pressed.

Opening and closing the lid is effortless thanks to the light plastic construction. The nonstick inner cooking pan removes smoothly for washing. Both the pan and lid can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher.

The steam vent on top is easy to open and close. This allows you to check on rice as its cooking.

Overall, the simple interface, labeled buttons, and detachable cooking components make the Zojirushi rice cooker extremely convenient to use on a daily basis. It's effortless to cook perfect rice every time.

Reliability

In terms of reliability, Zojirushi is one of the most trusted brand names when it comes to rice cookers. The company has been making rice cookers for over 100 years and is known for its innovation and high-quality products that stand the test of time.

The NW-QAC10 model comes with a 1 year warranty which is pretty standard for Zojirushi rice cookers. Based on reviews, the rice cooker seems very sturdy and able to handle daily use without any issues. Most customers report that the cooker works consistently even after years of ownership. Some have mentioned using it 2-3 times daily for many years with no problems.

This level of durability and reliability over long periods of consistent use highlights the brand's reputation for making solid, dependable appliances. Overall, the Zojirushi NW-QAC10 rice cooker scores very high marks in the area of reliability.

Accessories

Zojirushi's NW-QAC10 rice cooker includes a number of handy accessories for preparing rice and other dishes.

Right in the box, you'll find a rice spatula, 2 measuring cups, and a steaming basket. The spatula is well-designed for easy serving and getting to every last grain at the bottom of the cooker. The 2 sturdy plastic measuring cups (1 cup and 1/2 cup) are perfect for accurately measuring out rice. And the steaming basket fits nicely in the cooker and allows you to steam vegetables, dumplings, fish and more while your rice is cooking.

Some versions of this cooker also come with a stirring paddle attachment which helps break up the rice so it cooks more evenly. And an omelette pan can turn your rice cooker into a breakfast machine for fluffy egg dishes.

The accessories that come with the NW-QAC10 add functionality and versatility without taking up much storage space. From fluffing rice to steaming veggies or whipping up an omelette, the included tools help you get even more out of this handy cooker.

Pros of the Zojirushi Induction Rice Cooker

The Zojirushi NW-QAC10 induction rice cooker has several excellent features that make it a top choice:

• Precise cooking: The induction heating system allows very precise temperature control for perfect rice every time. It gently heats the rice from the inside out for even cooking without scorching.

• Keep warm function: This cooker has an automatic keep warm function that kicks in after cooking. It keeps the rice fresh and warm for hours without drying out or burning.

• Easy to use: The digital controls and settings make this rice cooker exceptionally easy to operate. It's very user-friendly with clear buttons and display.

• Versatile cooking: In addition to rice, this cooker can make porridge, steel cut oats, cake, and more. The menu settings provide optimized cooking for different foods.

Cons

• The rice cooker is on the larger side and can take up a decent amount of counter space. It has a 10 cup capacity which makes it better suited for families rather than solo cooks.

• The cooking cycles take quite a long time to finish. The regular white rice cooking cycle takes about 50 minutes. The brown rice cycle takes over 1 hour and 20 minutes. While the rice comes out great, it requires some patience.

• Cleaning the inner pot can be tedious as there are many crevices and edges where rice bits can get stuck. Soaking the pot in water for a bit before scrubbing helps. But cleaning is not as seamless as a removable nonstick pot would be.

• The cooker is heavy, weighing over 14 pounds. Moving it around the kitchen or storing it can be cumbersome. The handles are quite small as well which makes gripping it difficult.

Conclusion

Overall, the Zojirushi NW-QAC10 Induction Rice Cooker is one of the top-performing rice cookers on the market and offers a lot of value for the price. It cooks rice perfectly every time and allows you to make a wide variety of rice dishes.

The induction heating technology provides very precise temperature control for flawless rice cooking. The round body and triple heater design promotes even heating. The microcomputer technology also makes adjustments during cooking to ensure optimal results.

The mixed rice function is excellent for making rice medleys. The machine is versatile and allows you to steam vegetables, make cakes, and cook a full meal with rice using the delay timer and keep warm functions. It's very easy to use with an intuitive control panel and LCD screen.

The rice cooker is also well-made with stainless steel construction and BPA-free nonstick inner pan. It has useful accessories like a steam basket and rice spatula. Cleanup is quick and simple.

For the price, the Zojirushi NW-QAC10 offers tremendous value with high-end cooking performance, versatility, and durability. It's highly recommended for anyone looking for an excellent mid-range rice cooker that will deliver perfect rice for years to come.