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A rice cooker usually does one job. The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 does three. It cooks rice with computer controlled precision, it steams vegetables and dumplings in a basket and it even bakes a cake. For a small kitchen where every appliance has to earn its counter space, that versatility is the whole point. Here is what it does and who it suits.
What it is
The Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-TSC10 is a 5.5 cup rice cooker from Zojirushi, with a 10 cup version sold as the NS-TSC18. Zojirushi says it not only cooks flawless rice but also comes with a steaming basket so it can double as a steamer, plus a cake menu setting to bake cakes.
The key features, according to Zojirushi:
- Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology
- Steam menu setting with a steaming basket, so it doubles as a steamer
- Cake menu setting
- Clear coated stainless steel exterior that is easy to clean
- Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle
- Interchangeable melody and beep signal
- Delay timer with 2 settings
- Built in retractable power cord for easy storage
What Micom means
Micom is short for micro computerized. Zojirushi's help center explains that in these cookers, temperature and time are controlled by a microchip, and that fuzzy logic lets the cooker make fine adjustments in the way a person would rather than following one fixed program. On its learning page, Zojirushi says a Micom cooker's microchip judges the amount of rice, then surrounds the pan with controlled heat, with soaking and steaming built into the program. Our guide to rice cooker types compares Micom with conventional, induction and pressure models.
Menu settings
Zojirushi lists these menu settings:
- White and sushi rice
- Mixed rice
- Porridge
- Sweet rice
- Brown rice
- Cake
- Steam
- Quick cooking
The quick cooking setting is handy on busy nights, and the porridge setting makes breakfast easy. The brown rice setting means you do not have to guess at timing for whole grains, and the sweet rice and mixed rice settings cover dishes that need different handling from plain white rice.
Steam and cake
This is what sets the NS-TSC10 apart. The steam menu and steaming basket let it work as a dedicated steamer, so the side dish can cook in the same appliance as the rice. And the cake setting turns the cooker into a small baker, an unexpected bonus in a kitchen without much oven time to spare.
Zojirushi sells a replacement steaming plate for the NS-TSC10 through its own store, so the steaming feature can keep going even if a part goes missing.
Design and everyday use
The clear coated stainless steel exterior is easy to wipe clean, and the retractable cord pulls into the body for tidy storage. You can switch between a melody and a simple beep to signal when the rice is done. The delay timer has two settings, so you can set it in the morning and come home to rice ready to eat, and the keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle hold rice until you are ready.
Parts and care
Zojirushi stocks replacement parts for the NS-TSC10, including the inner pan (B362) for the 5.5 cup model, a steam cap and the steaming plate. Wash the inner pan, steam cap and basket after each use. Replacement parts mean a worn pan does not have to mean a new cooker.
How it compares
Zojirushi's NS-ZCC10 is a Neuro Fuzzy cooker with more rice settings, including semi brown and rinse free, but Zojirushi does not list steam or cake settings in its menu. The NP-HCC10 steps up to induction heating with a triple heater for more precise control. The NS-TSC10 is the versatile choice: a solid Micom rice cooker with extra tricks.
Who should buy it
Buy the NS-TSC10 if you have a small household, a small kitchen and want one appliance that cooks rice and steams the rest of dinner. Pair it with a good knife from our guide to Japanese chef's knives and you are set for weeknight cooking. Larger families should look at the 10 cup NS-TSC18.
Where to buy
Zojirushi sells the NS-TSC10 directly, and kitchen retailers carry it widely.
NS-TSC10 at Zojirushi
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker
Zojirushi NS-TSC18 Micom Rice Cooker, 10 Cup
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