Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer Review

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Even with the numerous conventional, Micom, induction heating, and pressurized rice cookers on the market these days, the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer is still a product that has stood the test of time. This unit has been flying off shelves at many retail warehouses with good reason. It's also a stunning piece of kitchen appliance, cooks perfect rice, uses only 450 watts of power, and comes at an amazingly affordable price.

To find out how this cooker can help you serve great tasting rice, take a few minutes to read this review.

But first, let's take a closer look at how the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT fares against its competition.

As you can see from the table above, the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT offers the most bang for your buck. Although it doesn't cook cakes, rinse-free rice, and GABA brown rice (it does cook normal brown rice), it's a mid-range cooker that excels at all other types of rice cooking.

If you're unsure about which cooker to purchase, you need to decide if cake cooking, GABA brown rice, and rinse-free rice cooking fall into the "must-have" or "nice to have but not a deal breaker" category. Are these features you need and expect from a rice cooker or are they things you can do without?

Again, your decision will depend largely on what you're hoping to get out of your rice cooker. Some people value the "Induction Heating" technology that the Zojirushi NP-GBC05-XT comes with over the "Micom technology" that the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT has.

But at the end of the day, you won't go wrong picking from any of the three Zojirushi rice cookers listed above. All three rice cookers come highly recommended and they're perfect for smaller families, couples, and especially if you have a child who's away at college and needs to eat right.

Additionally, for folks who don't eat brown rice at all, the Zojirushi NS-VGC05 rice cooker is definitely a better buy when you compare it to the other two rice cookers. This is because it's the cheapest of the lot.

With that said, if the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT sounds like it's going to be the best appliance for your needs, feel free to read on for the nitty-gritty details so you can make an even more informed purchasing decision.

Micom Rice Cooker with Multiple Presets

Like all Zojirushi Micom rice cookers, the NS-LAC05XT has an in-built microchip. This allows you to interact with the digital control panel to input settings for whatever type of rice you wish to cook. So, whether you're looking forward to eating some hot and steaming white or mixed rice, brown rice, sushi rice, or porridge – this unit can do it all. As an added bonus, the NS-LAC05XT also offers you a "Quick Cooking" option should you be pressed for time and need to get dinner ready in a jiffy.

By using the push button control panel and LCD display, you'll be able to choose the type of rice you want to cook and the microchip will then automatically set the correct cooking temperature, moisture level, and duration.​

Furthermore, the clock and timer function has a "Delay" mode, making it possible for you to program the rice cooker to finish cooking just at the moment when you walk through the door after a long day at work. And fret not if your boss keeps you in the office longer than you'd like because once the rice finishes cooking, the Zojirushi cooker will automatically switch to the "Keep Warm" function. Your rice will then stay warm for up to 12 hours, allowing you to still come home to warm rice. There's also a reheating cycle, which comes in handy when you need to warm leftovers from the fridge.​

Measurement Markings Take Guesswork Away On How Much Water to Use

Knowing how to measure water according to the amount of grains being cooked is one of the most important aspects of cooking perfect rice. And the good news is that the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT rice cooker comes with a measuring cup for this purpose. It can cook 3 cups of rice, which is equivalent to about 0.6 quarts.

The spherical pan has measurement markings etched on the inside to let you know how much water to use. This really takes the guesswork away for those who are unsure about how much water different types of rice require. From semi brown rice to sweet rice to white rice, the markings are all there ready to help you out.​

I personally think the black and silver color one looks sleeker.

Compact and Portable Design

The NS-LAC05XT Zojirushi rice cooker is perfect for tiny kitchens since it has a very small footprint. Thanks to this compact design, moving the rice cooker from your cabinet to the countertop is now a breeze. The unit only weighs about 7 pounds and comes with a carry handle, making it easy to pick up and store away. As an added bonus, this rice cooker features a retractable power cord, making it even easier to move the rice cooker from one place to another without having to deal with hanging cables.

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Easy to Clean Detachable Parts

When it comes to cleaning this Zojirushi rice cooker, there are no difficult-to-clean or unreachable parts to deal with. The inner lid and inner cooking pan can be removed, which makes cleanup a breeze. Simply soak these components in soapy water, wipe with a sponge to remove stuck grains of rice, and rinse. Remember to wipe the cooking pan dry on the outside too since this part comes into contact with the heating elements. The stainless steel exterior only requires a simple wipe with a well-rung cloth to keep it clean.

The great features of the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT don't end here too. This rice cooker is equipped with some crazy cool sound signals that will let you know when your rice has started cooking, whether the timer has been set, and when cooking has completed. Depending on what you prefer, the sound signals may be changed to a beep, melody, or disabled altogether.​

Check out two of the melodies this rice cooker offers in the video below...

Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer Package Details and Accessories

There's also a bundle package available for a couple of dollars more.

Dimensions

This rice cooker measures 11.8 (L) x 9.1 (W) x 7.5 (H) inches.

Pros

Cons

Consumer Ratings

Amazon Customer Reviews: Click Here

The Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-cup rice cooker is a highly sought after kitchen appliance that has so far managed to score very good ratings at many independent review sites. For the most part, buyers are pleased with this rice cooker because of its convenient features and excellent results.

Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer Price

Today's Price: Click Here

Summary

If you're in the market for a small rice cooker, the Zojiruish NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-cup rice cooker is definitely one of the top choices that should be on your list. With its Fuzzy Logic technology, easy to use control panel, convenient timer function, and keep warm feature, it's not hard to see the value of this wonderful rice cooker.

Click here for a closer look.​