Cuckoo vs Zojirushi: Which Rice Cooker Wins in 2023
If you eat rice every day, you know how important it is to cook the perfect cup of rice every single time. A fluffy bowl of perfect, warm rice will complete any meal, and to achieve that, you have to invest in high-quality rice cooker models.
Japanese and Korean rice cookers seem to dominate the market. When it comes to quality rice cookers, you can never go wrong with them, for they know their mixed sushis and rice bowls well. So, you can expect nothing but the best in quality and innovation.
We are going to compare two big premium brands, Cuckoo and Zojirushi. If you can’t make up your mind, our rice cooker reviews will give you more clarity. Keep scrolling for our Cuckoo vs Zojirushi rice cooker comparison.
Zojirushi Rice Cookers Overview
Zojirushi is one of the trusted Japanese brands of rice cookers. The brand started selling vacuum and sealed bottles and then, later on, ventured into making electric rice cookers
Zojirushi is a high-end brand that features a ton of sophisticated innovation you won’t normally find in a traditional rice cooker. It’s a combination of high-end Japanese technology and the basic functions of a rice cooker. We all know how smart Japanese tech is; thus, you can expect their rice cookers to have well-executed artificial intelligence.
All Zojirushi rice cookers use automatic cooking and fuzzy logic technology, two innovations that make the rice cooker very forgiving and user-friendly. Even if it’s your first time cooking rice, it will come out perfect.
You can cook any type of rice, and the rice cooker will adjust the cooking time and the temperature, so your bowl of rice will come out deliciously fluffy each time. Even if you made a little mistake in adding too much water or too little water to your brown rice, the rice cooker would solve the problem.
Not only that, you can use Zojirushi rice cookers to prepare other delicious and healthy meals aside from plain rice.
Cuckoo Rice Cookers Overview
Cuckoo is a high-end South Korean rice cooker brand. Cuckoo rice cookers boast of multifunctional features and classy exteriors, as you’d expect from a premium brand. These kitchen appliances often stand out because of their sophisticated and modern look.
Cuckoo rice cookers have the latest technology. Several innovations can make your life in the kitchen easier. For instance, it’s got fuzzy logic, so it can adjust itself to whatever type of rice you’re cooking. The larger LCD display is also quite convenient.
Furthermore, all of the brand’s rice cookers make use of induction heat, similar to an induction cooktop. Thus, the rice cooker can cook rice more efficiently while using less energy. Moreover, their rice cookers have natural auto steam cap cleaning, so the rice cookers take care of themselves in the cleaning department. You only need to do so little when it comes to cleaning.
One look at the brand’s rice cookers, and you’ll notice that it has a lot of navigation and preset options. Even if you are new to cooking rice, you can cook like a pro in the kitchen. You just choose the suitable preset option and wait for the rice to cook.
And since it’s a multifunctional rice cooker, you can use it to whip up amazing meals too. You can use some units for cooking fermented foods and bread.
Also, it’s a perfect combination of durability and aesthetics. Most of the brand’s rice cookers have stainless steel pots and stainless steel detachable covers. Hence, these rice cookers are rust-resistant and can last for years to come.
What Are the Similarities of Zojirushi and Cuckoo Rice Cookers?
Let’s quickly have a look at what they have in common. These brands have a lot going for them, and they are far better than conventional rice cookers.
Both units use induction heating. These pressure rice cookers are also equipped with the latest technology. They use fuzzy logic and AI, leading to an array of models with multi-menu cooking functions. So how do you choose a suitable one for you? In the next section, we analyze the differences between Cuckoo vs. Zojirushi rice cookers.
Zojirushi vs Cuckoo Rice Cooker – The Basic Differences
We have compared two of the latest rice cookers from each brand. But there is also a significant distinction.
Let’s spot the differences between the Zojirushi Zojirushi NP-NVC18 and the CuckooCR-0631 by seeing how these rice cookers work.
| Product Name | Capacity | Dimensions | Design | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zojirushi NP-NVC18 Induction Heating Pressure Cooker and Warmer | 10 cups uncooked rice | 16.5 x 11.1 x 10.1 inches | Brown full stainless steel exterior | 15 lbs. | One year |
| Cuckoo CR-0631F Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer | 6 cups uncooked rice | 10 x 13 x 9 inches | Pink and white aluminum exterior | 6.6 lbs | One year |
Zojirushi NP-NVC18 Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker and Warmer
The Zojirushi NP-NVC18 model is perhaps one of the smartest rice cookers of the brand—it’s probably the best. It packs the latest technology that you can find in a rice cooker.
To begin, it has an advanced fuzzy logic, computer chip system with AI. It automatically adjusts the pressure inside to cook rice perfectly; since this model can handle pressure cooking, it can cook rice faster.
The standard cook time in other Zojirushi rice cookers is about 55 minutes, which this model has. If you choose the quick-cooking mode, you can enjoy a bowl of fluffy rice in 30 minutes. But even though it’s a quick version, it can still produce the same quality of rice.
It also has four menu settings that you can choose from, depending on the type of rice you’re going to cook. For instance, if you love brown rice, this is the ideal rice cooker. It has a brown / GABA rice feature that cooks brown rice better. It’s hard to cook this type of brown rice, but it will be effortless with this model.
Additionally, it has an Umami Cook Mode that will cook rice while rendering it an umami flavor.
Another great feature of this Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker is that it has an automatic saver feature that can seal the rice and keep it fresh for about a week, so you don’t have to cook rice every single day. Especially in a small household, this feature is very convenient: press the Automatic Keep Warm feature when you’re ready to consume it. It also has a Scorch setting whenever you want the bottom part of the rice crisper and browner.
Apart from the multiple cooking options, this Zojirushi rice cooker model has several safety features:
- It has a whistle that makes noise whenever the valve needs cleaning.
- It has a filter that prevents particles from being clogged inside the steam vent set.
- The pressure indicator automatically locks the lid wherever you’re using it in pressurized mode.
- It can reduce excess steam and pressure, along with a pressure control valve that controls the amount of pressure used for cooking.
And even with its high capacity, you can use it for cooking small portions of rice.
Pros
- LCD control panel
- Pressure cooker style of cooking
- Easy to clean interior with non stick inner pot coating
- Offers an array of cooking modes
- Induction heating system
- High-capacity
- Suitable for regular and rinse-free rice
Cons
- Can be expensive
Cuckoo CR-0631F 6-cup Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
This 6-cups multifunctional Cuckoo rice cooker has a rather compact and cute size. It’s ideal to use as a personal rice cooker with its 6 cup capacity. You’ll instantly notice the shiny aluminum pink exterior, which feels robust and well made too.
Like Zojirushi rice cookers, this small rice cooker uses fuzzy logic AI. So this cooker can also adjust the temperature and pressure according to the type of rice you’re cooking.
But one of the unique features of this brand is that it focuses on starch gelatinization. It means that it’s able to break down rice so that it makes it more digestible. So this feature is very handy when cooking GABA brown rice as it’s a tougher grain to crack.
This induction cooking rice cooker model has a lot going for it; for instance, its nine built-in programs: white, GABA brown, mixed rice, porridge, steam, slow cooker, multi cook, multigrain, and My Mode. “My Mode” lets you select over 16 options for the texture and flavor of the rice, so you can choose how soft or how glutinous you want your bowl of rice to be.
You can also choose from a range of reheating temperatures. Thus, whether you want slightly warm rice or a hot bowl of fluffy rice, you’d have the liberty to choose. Furthermore, its delay timer and setting for slow cooking are convenient to have.
Additionally, the rice cooker’s inner part is platinum, which can cook rice faster and gives the rice a slightly sweeter flavor.
The Cuckoo rice cooker also comes with accessories such as measuring cups, a rice spatula, and an instruction manual. Though it does not come with a separate recipe book, the instruction manual has built-in simple recipes.
Pros
- Large and easy to read recipes on LCD color display
- Non-stick and easy to clean interior pot
- Equipped with a voice navigation system in English and Korean
- Adjustable keep warm temperature
- Automatic steam and pressure emission
- One-touch cover lid button
Cons
- Only available in the color pink
Conclusion
In the end, while you may ask, Zojirushi vs. Cuckoo: which is the better choice? The answer is: it depends.
Hover through the features of each rice cooker. In buying a rice cooker, choose one that offers more features that appeal to you. You can also ask yourself these questions: How many cups do I need to cook? What’s my budget? What type of rice do I usually cook? What style or design do I want? Am I looking to steam vegetables in my rice cooker?
You’ll be getting more value for your money if you can buy a rice cooker that can serve most, if not all, of your needs.
