NW-QAC18 10-Cup Capacity Flat-Top Induction Cooker and Warmer with Custom Cooking Pan, Double Nonstick Coating for Easy Clean-Up (Black)

I am very happy with this Zojirushi rice cooker. It cooks rice evenly and the texture comes out soft, fluffy, and delicious every time. The machine is easy to use, and the menu settings are clear and convenient. I also like the design because it looks modern and does not take up too much space in the kitchen. The pot feels high quality, and cleaning it is simple after cooking. Although the price is higher than some other rice cookers, the performance and quality make it worth it. If you want a reliable rice cooker that makes great rice, this is a very good choice.

With the NW-QAC18 Induction Rice Cooker, Zojirushi continues the tradition of making the best rice cooker on the market! I have used Zojirushi rice cookers for the past twenty years and have purchased several for myself, family and friends (see photo below of sample models). Every kernel of rice is perfectly moist and tender. It may take longer to cook than other models, but the results are far superior. This version is a 10 cup cooker and cooks as little as one cup with the same perfect outcome. Pros: 1) Easy to use controls. 2) Intuitive programming. 3) Quality build overall. This housing is new and some type of polycarbonate. My previous cookers came in stainless steel and hard plastic. We will have to report at a future date if this is an improvement. 4) Able to use as a steamer. This is a new option and will need more experimenting. It may be easier and faster to use a steam basket on the stove. 5) Less parts to clean. There is now a built-in vent and comes with a self-clean setting. I used this setting to remove some of the odors of manufacturing. 6) The rice pot has a nonstick coating as before. We will have to see if the “double nonstick coating” performs better and lasts longer than previous models. Cons: 1) There is a detachable cord. I would have preferred a retractable cord. Zojirushi Customer Service responded that an FCC safety requirement does not currently allow for a retractable cord on their IH (induction) or Pressure IH units. 2) This unit is louder than previous models. Not a major factor but surprised by the slight increase in noise. 3) There is a small backup battery that keeps the time and timer settings if unplugged. Older models continued to show the time when unplugged, but that is changed on this newer model. Zojirushi said that this should increase the battery life because a terminal is soldered in place and can only be changed by a factory service representative. If the battery fails, the rice cooker will still perform normally when plugged in. 4) It is expensive. However, the longevity of the units justify the cost. My older units and the ones my family use are still going strong after 10+years! Here are some tips on using your rice cooker: • Wash your rice in a separate bowl to prolong the life of the nonstick rice bowl. Your unit will last much longer and will prevent the lining from scratching. • Use the measuring cup that comes with the rice cooker. This is smaller than a US measuring cup (approx. 7/8 cup) and will provide you with better cooked rice. • Keep your unit unplugged to prolong the life of your backup battery. This is not a major issue but may give you a couple more years before you have to replace a dead battery. • You can use the Warm setting to keep foods warm for family gatherings. We often use the rice cookers to keep mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy or vegetables warm so that everything is ready at the same time. Updated 8/10/24 The Zojirushi still makes the best rice. After one year of regular use, here are my observations: 1) The plastic housing is easy to clean, but scratches easily. This does not impact the performance of the rice cooker. However, it is disappointing aesthetically. Previously owned models were stainless steel (easily dented) and hard white plastic (this housing held up the best over time). 2) The nonstick pan is improved from previous models. It feels thicker and performs well. Older models were more prone to scratching and losing some of the nonstick surface. 3) The steamer basket is meh. It is just as easy to use a steam insert with a small pot and lid. 4) Still recommend that Zojirushi incorporate a retractable power cord. For a premium product at a premium price, it should be included to make it simpler to use. Overall, I would still highly recommend this rice cooker. Zojirushi has proven that it makes great rice. My comments are hoping that they make the minor changes mentioned above to make it even better!

I’ve been using this rice cooker for about a month now. I was using a cheap $20 rice cooker from target before this and the difference is noticeable. This is like the kitchen aid of rice cookers. The quality is a huge step up coming from a cheap lever cooker. The inner cooking pan is heavy and solid. The buttons are tactile and it even plays nice melodies when it starts and finishes, Overall it’s easy to use. There are many settings, I especially like the GABA brown, quinoa, and Jasmine settings as those are the most used in my household. It has cooked perfect grains every time, no more “I hope it turns out okay” moments. I bought the smaller 5.5 cup version and it’s plenty for the two of us. It doesn’t take up too much room on the counter and looks nice enough to leave out, though I tend to put mine away. If there is one thing to say about this cooker is that the top will scratch easily if a rough towel is used. I recommend using a set of microfiber cloths to wipe the cooker. Great cooker if you want a “buy it for life” rice cooker. Zojirushi cookers will last generations if taken care of properly. Edit as of 1/25/26: It’s been several years since I bought this rice cooker and it’s been through a ton of use. I still have very minimal scratching on the top, actually it still looks pretty new. The inner cooking pan is also holding up well with zero scratches. Overall, this rice cooker is amazing and well worth the money if you cook grains regularly. I highly recommend reading the user manual front to back taking special note about the care section. You can’t go wrong with this model.

This is the best Japanese made high end rice cooker you can buy without pressure. It cooks rice great. Use it for morning oatmeal. Makes gaba rice also. It also has a very thick pot with a thick coating, much improved over the thin Zojirushi pots of older models. And the biggest feature, this is one of the ONLY induction rice cookers WITH a steamer tray. Works great with steaming frozen dumplings. No need to buy a pressure model, they are more to maintain and less long lived. I can't taste much difference at all between pressure and this induction model. This is all the newer tech in the latest models such as the loud active fans. Same as the pressure models. So I can't recommend this enough if you want the latest high end Japanese rice cooker.

Cooks rice perfectly, easy to use and clean. Looks good design wise, all materials feel hi-end. A trusted brand in Japan. A must buy for rice lovers. It may be more expensive than others out there but it's quality thru and thru.

I'd seriously give this 10 out of 5 stars... If you've never experienced Zojirushi rice, you are missing out. Somehow this little machine makes perfect quality rice EVERY TIME. And it doesn't require any skill. I never cooked rice myself before this machine and now my mother in-laws are jealous that my rice is better. White rice takes 1 hour to cook, and will stay warm for up to 72 hours. I'd recommend not going more than 48 hours as the rice tends to get dried out after that. Yes this machine is expensive. Yes it is worth the price. I'd get another one if I truly needed one but this machine easily feeds my family. The instruction manual is easily the best written manual I've ever read. It goes into the specifics of how to care for the machine and how to use it. It also has a few recipes to try out. I haven't cooked much beyond rice in this, but it absolutely will. Seriously. Buy this machine. You won't regret it. You'll find yourself having rice with most meals just to be able to eat delicious rice every day.

It's a nice sleek rice cooker, the design is modern and has many great functionalities. The rice came out well, although it wasn't any different or better than my old Zojirushi rice cooker. The one thing that I wasn't certain is the fan noise that it makes when you press start. That's definitely new because my old one is absolutely quiet, not a peep, but this rice cooker is considerably loud in comparison. Not sure if that's how it's built or I just got a lemon. We'll see how long this one lasts, my old one is still going strong after 18 years, just that the inner pot is a bit banged up.

Recently our old Zojirushi rice cooker gave up after 6+ years of almost daily use. This new unit is bigger and even better than the old one. It can do all the things our old one could, plus a few extra features. I like the way it opens up and is space efficient. Rice, oats are always perfect. Nothing sticks and it is easy to clean. While not cheap, this is a very good investment.