Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer Review
It can be hard to cook delicious and nutritious meals for just one or two people. But there's no need to resort to TV dinners ever again when you own the Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup (Uncooked) Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer.
This handy kitchen appliance has all of the functionalities of larger cookers and makes soft, sumptuous rice for one or two. It's perfect for a night in on your own or to impress a special someone with your culinary skills.
All of the best features of the larger Zojrushi models are included in this compact design. So, you'll still have the same precision technology, convenience, and delicious results of the larger appliances in a size that suits you.
Various Menu Functions That Are Simple to Program
The clear instructions and easy-to-read LCD panel make programming your rice cooker a snap. You're given the options to choose menu cycles to cook white, mixed, or sushi rice. For times when you're in a real hurry, the rinse-free and quick functions will come in super handy. There's also the added convenience of being able to steam vegetables, cook porridge, or even bake a cake. In addition to all that, the delay function allows you set things up and return to perfectly cooked rice when you're ready, while the clock on the display allows you to check how long more your rice needs to cook.
Zojirushi NS-VGC05 vs. Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT vs. Zojirushi NP-GBC05-XT Rice Cookers
If you're specifically looking for a rice cooker that can handle brown rice or GABA brown rice, you might want to check out the Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT rice cooker instead. It also has a 3-cup capacity but comes with a higher price tag.
Alternatively, if you're looking for a 3-cup rice cooker that specifically cooks brown rice (no GABA brown rice option), then take a look at the highly popular Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT rice cooker (see the comparison chart below).
Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT
Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT
Value-for-money
3 cups capacity
- Micom
- Keep warm
- Quick cook
- White rice
- Mixed rice
- Sushi rice
- Porridge
- Brown rice
- Cake
- GABA rice
- Rinse-free rice
Zojirushi NS-VGC05
Currently reviewing this model
3 cups capacity
- Micom
- Keep warm
- Quick cook
- White rice
- Mixed rice
- Sushi rice
- Porridge
- Cake
- Rinse-free rice
- Brown rice
- GABA rice
Currently reviewing
Zojirushi NP-GBC05-XT
Smartest of the lot
3 cups capacity
- Induction heating
- Keep warm
- Quick cook
- White rice
- Mixed rice
- Sushi rice
- Porridge
- Brown rice
- GABA rice
- Rinse-free rice
- Cake
As you can see from the table, the Zojirushi NS-VGC05 rice cooker (which is the one we're currently reviewing) is not going to be suitable if you're a big brown rice eater. This is because the NS-VGC05 doesn't cook regular brown and GABA brown rice. However, where it stands out among the three is its cake making function.
On the other hand, you may be wondering why the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT has been termed the most value-for-money unit. I mean, it appears to have the most red crosses out of the three units, right? But before you cross the NS-LAC05XT model out, you need to decide if the abilities to cook cake, GABA brown rice, and rinse-free rice are all that important for your needs and expectations from a rice cooker.
I would say the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT offers great value at its price point. No doubt, it doesn't cook GABA rice. However, it still make a beautiful bowl of regular brown rice.
Finally, where the Zojirushi NP-GBC05-XT wins out over the two other rice cookers is its induction heating technology, plus the ability to cook both brown and GABA rice. That being said, it comes with a higher price point and while it does an excellent job, the unit may be out of budget for some people.
All-in-all, if you're not a brown rice eater and would like to purchase a rice cooker that offers the most bang for your buck, then the Zojirushi NS-VGC05 rice cooker would of course make the best choice for your specific needs.
Let's take a closer look at the finer details of the Zojirushi NS-VGC05 model.
Spherical Inner Pan That Heats Up Evenly
The cooking pan has a unique spherical shape that ensures each grain of rice is cooked evenly. Instead of only the bottom of the pan being heated and the heat radiating up, which can cause the bottom rice to be overcooked and the top rice to be undercooked, the whole pan heats evenly. This ensures the best possible results. The pan also features cool touch handles so you won't get burned when you lift it out of the unit.
Micro Computerized Fuzzy Logic
The smart technology in this machine takes the hard work out of cooking rice. Thermal sensors keep an eye on the time and temperature, while the fuzzy logic feature makes any adjustments needed to give you perfect rice each time.
Compact Design
Bigger isn't always better as shown from what you can get from the compact Zojirushi NS-VGC05 electric rice cooker. The beauty of this machine is that it's so small, which means it's perfectly suited for households of one or two, or a child who's away at college and needs to eat right! You can cook as little as half a cup of rice with this unit. The rounded rice cooker also makes a minimal footprint on your countertop, making it ideal for tiny kitchen spaces.
Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup (Uncooked) Electric Rice Cooker And Warmer Package Details and Accessories
The Zojirushi NS-VGC05 unit comes with everything you'll need to start whipping up fabulous rice dishes. The package includes:
- The rice cooker unit itself
- Spherical inner pan
- Rice spatula
- Two measuring cups
- Recipe book
- Instructions manual
Dimensions
The electric rice cooker measures 10.9 x 8.8 x 7.9 inches and weighs 5.8 pounds.
Pros
- The recipes that come with the rice cooker are awesome. Customers who reviewed it particularly loved the baked cheesecake recipe.
- The lift out cooking pan is a breeze to clean. Simply rinse and wipe and you're done!
- It's as cute as a button and doesn't take up much space at all.
- The size makes it a wonderful gift for a young person going away to college or flatting (you have to make sure they eat properly!) It's also perfect for friends and relatives living alone.
- Zojirushi has included a 12-month limited warranty on this unit.
Cons
- The cup size is the Japanese cup measure (6.1 oz.), not the American. It comfortably feeds two but you'd be stretching to feed a third or fourth (depends on how big of a rice eater they are!)
- There are no settings for brown or long grain rice varieties on this machine. However, past purchasers have reported that it's possible to cook brown rice by adding a little more water. So, a bit of trial and error might be involved.
Consumer Ratings
Amazon Customer Reviews: Click Here
The Zojirushi NS-VGC05 electric rice cooker is a popular kitchen appliance and it's not hard to see why. Buyers loved the easy to follow instructions and programming, and the way it allows you to make just a small amount of rice in a fuss-free manner.
Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup (Uncooked) Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer Price
Today's Price: Click Here
Summary
The Zojirushi NS-VGC05 is compact enough to operate in a small kitchenette or a dorm room, and it makes a delightful meal for one or two. If you're living alone or as a couple and don't want to sacrifice great food for convenience, then this little beauty will be perfect for you.