We have tried several brands of rice cooker because we eat rice everyday (2-3X per day). I have yet to see a “nonstick” coating last more than a year without signs of wear on the “nonstick” coating.

Once it eroded, you have to replace the pot/bowl. Otherwise, you will be eating the “nonstick” coating with the rice.

With that in mind, the most metaefficient rice cooker is the one which has the most durable “nonstick” coating on the pot bowl. That is because of the long term cost of replacing a pot bowl.

There is a certain kind of coating which is claimed to be the most durable nonstick system available and comes with a 25 year warranty. I have seen the coating available only in pots & pans (NOT in rice cooker)

http://www.ameriwareprofessional.com/cookware/pages/main.html

N.B. I am not associated with the company. Just a consumer researching for a good rice cooker.

I hope we can have a “durability” test for those “nonstick” coating … OR perhaps have a “generic” rice cooker pot/bowl which can fit most rice cooker (and have the ameriware kind of nonstick coating)

I have concerns about “non stick” coatings (appears teflon does like to stick inside our bodies after it is unknowingly consumed in foods cooked in non stick cookware) and am wondering if I will just have to spend the rest of my sorry gastronomic life without enjoying rice cooked to perfection in one of these adorable little contraptions. Found a model online with a stainless steel (highly polished) bowl. Am I asking for a heartbreak down the road if I go with this bad boy instead of the tamer non stick varieties?

That was a nice review of those cookers. Accurate information, and good delivery without over hyping the products.

I have researched all of those cookers and from what I gathered can report they work fine and without issues. In fact, most receive many positive customer feedback on Amazon.com.

As far as the Sanyo ECJ-D55S, I would recommend checking out the ECJ-HC55S as well since it also offers a slow cooking benefits. Both units however make fine white and brown rice (longer cooking time for brown) at an above standard quality.

The Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 is a great model and even offers 3 different rice textures when preparing white rice, (soft, regular, and firm).

The Panasonic is a good basic cooker for once and a while white rice with dinner.

A rice cooker is an excellent way to prepare rice and/or entire meals for the household all while using one appliance! They are, for the most part affordable, but as Siel mentioned, be sure you will use them at least 2 to 3 times a week in order to justify the purchase.

Great article!

Regards,

-Matt

Consider the other perspective for a moment: The on/off rice cookers don’t cook brown rice well. Because I’m unwilling to put safety at risk cooking the perfect brown rice over the stove, a more sophisticated microprocessor controlled model is well worth the money to me, especially with the understanding that they ARE, in fact, available in the sub-$100 range. The secret needs to be “outed”: Rice lovers dont’ need a Zorishi, some of which are topping out at over $500. Review the Aroma models and become a bit more fair and balanced. After all, there are dimwits over at ConsumerSearch.com implying that the editors here “do not rate the Aroma Sensor-Logic Rice Cooker ARC-896 or the Elite Pro Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker B601T, presumably because of inadequate performance.” Nice assumption by the equally anonymous editors at ConsumerSearch.com.

It’s time somebody here rounds out this article to prove them wrong. My microprocessor rice cooker by Aroma cost me less than $60 and it has perfect reviews. Name anything electronic and kitchen related that has perfect reviews, and I would have told you it didn’t exist. Because people are notoriously fickle about what brands they like and what they don’t, and any and all reliability or build quality issues. The Aroma SensorLogic model has those perfect reviews. This article is in need of an update to reflect the high consumer satisfaction this model gets. It’s a “best buy” in the budget category, and apparently a best kept secret. It shouldn’t be.