Zojirushi NP-NVC10 Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker Review

Zojurishi’s top-of-the-line rice cooker boasts several features, including artificial intelligence (AI) for you to cook perfect rice. But do all the bells and whistles—not to mention countless number of buttons—of this unit actually make a good meal? This Zojurish NP-NVC10 review breaks down all you need to know about this machine.

About the Zojirushi NP-NVC10

Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer NP-NVC10

The Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer is a space-age unit that uses advanced fuzzy logic technology with AI to ensure that your rice is cooked exactly how you want it, each and every time. Similar to its sister models, the Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH and Zojirushi NP-HCC18XH, The NP-NVC10 has several menu settings including: white (regular, softer or harder), umami, sushi/sweet, porridge, brown, GABA brown, steam-reduced, scorch, rinse-free and quick cooking. As you can see, there are two healthy cooking options for you to choose from—making the NVC10 the ultimate unit for any type of rice cooking you want.

The AI technology also helps the beginner cook by automatically selecting from three pressure levels according to the menu setting you pick.

Zojirushi NP-NVC10 Benefits

See more product details on Amazon

If Star Wars had a rice cooker, it would be this one (or another similar model, the NP-GBC05). Hailed as the best advanced Zojirushi rice cooker, the NP NVC10 is, arguably, the most intelligent rice cooker in the market today. This is because its advanced fuzzy logic technology “learns” and adjusts the cooking cycle depending on the menu setting you choose from. Then, the unit automatically selects from three pressure settings to give you the best cooking results each time. Further, Zojirushi designed its nonstick cooking pan to be infused with platinum particles, allowing grains to absorb water quicker for better tasting rice.

Multiple Cooking Functions

You can make every rice type imaginable, from the standard white rice to rice you can use for sushi. For those of you who want healthier rice, the Zojirushi 10-cup pressure induction heating rice cooker & warmer NVC10 has two options just for that: brown and GABA brown. Additionally, this machine also cooks porridge, just like its other counterparts, the Zojirushi NP-NWC18/ NP-NWC10.

AI Fuzzy Logic Technology

This rice cooker “learns” from past cooking experiences and adjusts its cooking “flow” to cook ideal rice. Thus, the NVC10 cooks to the same consistency regardless of the season, when water and room temperature may be different. With this AI technology, the NVC10 remembers the capacity you cook at most often and then adjusts its “flow” from the very first stage of the cooking process.

Zojirushi is known for producing highly advanced rice cookers that incorporate modern technology to deliver quality performance, as evidenced by the Zojirushi NP-HCC10/ NP HCC18 and NP-NWC10 models. Many of their models, like the NS-ZCC18, make use of fuzzy logic technology for a better cooking experience.

Induction Heating and Pressure System

Unlike some rice cookers that only heat rice from the bottom (resulting in sometimes burnt rice), the NVC10 uses induction heating, where it transforms the inner cooking pan into a heat conductor, giving way to more precise and uniform cooking temperatures. Moreover, Zojirushi’s pressure system prevents air or liquids from escaping below the preset pressure measure, resulting in rice that stays soft for longer periods.

Platinum Infused Nonstick Inner Cooking Pan

The cooking pan is infused with platinum particles which alkalizes the water, breaks down the protein on the surface of the rice grain, and makes it easier for water to penetrate the grain. As a result, you get sweeter, better-tasting rice.

Automatic and Extended Keep Warm Settings

The NVC10 has two Keep Warm settings: automatic and extended. The rice cooker automatically switches to Regular Keep Warm when cooking completes, keeping cooked rice warm for up to 12 hours. On the other hand, the Extended Keep Warm setting keeps cooked rice warm at a lower temperature than the Regular Keep Warm which minimizes drying and yellowing of rice. You need to manually switch to Extended Keep Warm. This is the same feature you’ll see in its counterpart models, such as the NP-GBC05 and NP-NWC10.

Keep Warm Monitor

The lid sensor detects how many times the lid has been opened and for how long, helping the AI calculate the amount of rice left inside the inner cooking pot, and how much heat is needed to keep that rice at its optimal warm temperature. The monitor will alert you of all its computations with a beep.

Pros and Cons of the Zojirushi NPC-NVC10

What People Are Saying About It

Despite all the buttons and hallabaloos that come with the unit, and a real need to go through the manual, the NVC10 is quite easy to use and understand. The initial cooking may seem scary at first, but constant use and practice makes the NVC10 less scary.

At first, I was afraid it would be too high tech, with all the different buttons. But I quickly found out it was idiotproof: You put in your grains and liquids, press the button for the preparation you want (porridge, sushi rice, etc.), and it’s done. There are even measures inside of the cooker that show you exactly how much rice and water to add.

Victoria Blamey
Chumley Chef writing for The Strategist

This unit, however, is not affordable. It is definitely one of the more expensive rice cookers out there but worth the price, since rice made with the NVC10 is consistently cooked well. Its multi-function menu settings also allows you to experiment with different types of rice, including its “umami” setting which soaks the rice for longer, giving a more robust flavor.

If you’re looking for cheaper Zojirushi rice cooker models, check out our other Zojirushi reviews. You might want to consider the NP-NWC10/18 model, which has the same features but at a more affordable price point, or the induction heating system rice cooker & warmer NP-HCC10/18. If you want a larger version of the NP-NVC10, check out the NP-NVC18.

Where to Buy the Zojirushi NP-NVC10

Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer NP-NVC10 Check Price on Amazon

The Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer is part of Amazon’s Best Sellers rank, coming in at #37 in the Rice Cooker Category. You may check for the best deals here.

Zojirushi applies a limited warranty for all its products for a period of one year from the date of original retail purchase. Commercial products have a 6-month warranty from the date of purchase. In both cases, a copy of the purchase receipt is required.