Which is better? Nonstick coated or not coated? At Zojirushi, we know they’re both great! This month we’re excited to share the design and engineering behind our nonstick and SlickSteel® bottle, mug, and food jar interiors. Both interiors are easy to clean. Both interiors have been proven durable. And both interiors are hygienic and repel stains. So why have two types of interior finishes?
Well, as usual, we believe in customer-centric design, and offer our products in both nonstick and SlickSteel® finishes to satisfy your requests.
Customer-Centric Options
Nonstick
As cleanability is important to our customers, many Zojirushi products are nonstick coated. Our nonstick coating is made using PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, a polymer that is applied in a two-step process with a primer and a topcoat. It is nonreactive, inert, ultra-smooth, hydrophobic, and resistant to abrasions, corrosion, and heat. It’s ideal for use in containers that hold food or beverages, since it doesn’t stain or absorb odors. In Japan, our nonstick interior mugs are highly prized for their durability and cleanability. This is very important, since they are primarily used for holding coffee and tea, which tend to leave odors and stains. Some of our newer bottles, such as the Stainless Mug SM-TA and Stainless Bottle SJ-JS, even utilize double-layer nonstick coating. This provides additional protection against salt-containing beverages such as sports drinks. Materials like salt will corrode stainless steel.
SlickSteel®
The SlickSteel® interior finish was introduced for our customers who prefer to avoid PTFE nonstick. We’ve electro-polished the interior, resulting in a surface that resists corrosion and repels stains without the use of nonstick coating. Electropolishing works using the principal of electrolysis. The stainless steel is immersed in an ionized, electrolytic solution which is subjected to an electrical current. The reaction that results from the charged solution removes the microscopic peaks and fills the microscopic valleys in the stainless steel. As a result, the surface is ultra-smooth surface without any mechanical smoothing, grinding, or buffing.
Because eating out of Food Jars would require a utensil to be used, we use our SlickSteel® interior in all of them so that the nonstick coating is not scratched. Some of the other products with SlickSteel® interior are the Stainless Bottle SV-GWE50, our Stainless Mugs in models SM-JHE, SM-KHE, SM-SHE and our Travel Mug SM-YAE48.
SlickSteel® or Nonstick: Either Way, You Win!
No matter what your preference is, both of our interior finishes showcase the same smart design and expert engineering you’ve come to expect from Zojirushi. Feel free to call our friendly customer service with any additional questions. We would love to help you select your next mug, bottle, or food jar!
I am considering the purchase of your new maestro breadmaker, but am not happy about the non stick pan. Do you offer a pan made with stainless steel or other non toxic material.
Hi Cheryl,
We unfortunately don’t have a breadmaker without nonstick coating. We will pass along your request to R&D though. Thank you for reaching out to us!
I have one of the BB-PAC20 breadmakers and the Teflon smell is awful. every time you turn the machine on the room fills with the smell of burnt plastic. it’s unusable. I wish this company would recognize that there are insurmountable challenges to making PTFE safe for food contact and heating.
Hi Ty! New machines may have a resinous smell, such as that of plastic, but the odor will lessen as you use the product. Please let us know if you continue to encounter this smell through use. The baking pan has a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use (FDA approved). If you need further assistance, please contact our customer service team at 1-800-733-6270 or email support@zojirushi.com.
Please consider making a replacement pan for breadmakers so that we can replace the PTFE one. So bummed to hear that it’s not PTFE free.
Hi Kristin, the nonstick coating is PTFE and is used commonly in cookware. It allows for the bread to be released from the pan easily. Currently, we don’t offer a non-coated pan alternative. However, if the pan becomes worn then we have replacements available on our Parts & Accessories page: https://www.zojirushi.com/app/spare_parts/category/list
We hope this helps!
I have been in the market for a breadmaker forever, and I’m holding out for a pan made without a nonstick coating–for example, one make with your SlickSteel would be something that would interest me. Many other consumers are waiting for teflon-esque free breadmakers. Please invent this!
Thank you Nick, we’ll pass along your comment to our product R&D team!
“Thoughts & Prayers!”
I expect better from Zojirushi. Very sad.
Hi Pichan, we understand your frustration but we do pass along every request to our research and development team at headquarters in Japan. We are sorry that at this time we are not able to fulfill your request but we hope to convey that we ensure that all our products are made with the highest quality materials and we thoroughly test them for their safety. You can rest assured that every single product that bears the Zojirushi name has been held to the highest quality and safety standards.
I have zoirushi bottles that have the cancer warning on the box. What part of the bottle is made of that material and what is it I really like it but I am concerned. I have the 200ml lavender flask and the 360 ml flip top.
Hi Kris, the Prop65 warning for cancer is for the nickel used to make the stainless steel. For further information on California Proposition 65, please visit https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/
Sorry that really doesn’t answer my concern of if it is in the stainless that is inside where food or fluids reside dangerous .
I have a SMkhe 48. Are you saying that the interior SlickSteel® has cancer warning 65. I would understand outside but inside….. please advise
Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about their exposures to certain chemicals. Stainless steel products will contain Nickel as it is an important alloying element and these products will bear a proposition 65 warning in California. Please note that the warning does not mean that our products will necessarily cause harm or that they violate any product-safety standards by the FDA. In fact, the California government has clarified that “the fact that a product bears a Proposition 65 warning does not mean by itself that the product is unsafe.”
For further information, please go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
The stainless steel in the interior of the vacuum mug and spring in the lid contains nickel. Nickel is an important alloying element in food-grade stainless steel. It provides high anti-corrosive properties to the stainless steel (surgical steel contains nickel as well). This is true of any stainless products that you may use in your kitchen. Please note that the warning does not mean that our products will necessarily cause harm or that they violate any product-safety standards by the FDA. In fact, the California government has clarified that “the fact that a product bears a Proposition 65 warning does not mean by itself that the product is unsafe.”
For further information, please go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
My 4 litre electric water boiler and warmer was scratched. Is it safe to use?
Hi Kathy,
All of our water boiler liners are made of stainless steel with nonstick coating made of PTFE. It is a fluoropolymer, a material commonly used for nonstick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use.
As long as the product is used under normal circumstances, it should not pose any problems.
All product materials used for our products are materials that are approved by the FDA for food and beverage contact.
Please contact your nearest authorized service center if you would like to receive an estimate to replace the water boiler liner: http://www.zojirushi.com/app/service_centers
This is not an answer. I am absolutely scouring the internet looking for the answer to this question. I received a used CW-PZC30 air pot, and the liner inside is a dark grey, but parts of it are a lighter grey because a common green nylon pad was used to clean it. So it has a multitude of shallow scratches and I don’t know if it is safe to drink water that’s been in contact with that, hot, for a long time. I assume that, due to liability reasons, you are not able to reassure us that it is “safe enough”. I’d hoped to find a third party (who doesn’t have a conflict of interest )with an opinion on this, but I cannot find one, all discussion of Teflon safety is focused on cookware.
Even so, seeing your non-answer response to her direct question is disheartening. She just said it was scratched; you said a non-scratched item is safe. That’s not an answer. If it is actually unsafe to use, have the courage to tell us so, please.
Hi Syrasha, a scratched inner liner will lead to the nonstick coating peeling overtime as it heats up water. It sounds like the water boiler you were gifted was not maintained properly since a nylon pad was used to clean it. Although the nonstick coating is safe, it will come off the surface due to the scratches. The nonstick coating is made of PTFE, which is a common nonstick used for cookware. Normally nonstick coating will break down if exposed to heats higher than 500F and the water boiler will never reach that temperature since the highest temperature it reaches is water boiling point. If the nonstick comes off and is accidentally consumed, it will just pass through your system without being absorbed. We normally advise that it’s best to replace the product since the nonstick is scratched and to make sure to always follow our maintenance recommendations to ensure the longevity of the product.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service team: https://www.zojirushi.com/app/customer_service/entry
I have a stainless steel mug SM-Sd60-RC. I noticed the interior of the mug is coated and not in steel finish. Is the coating toxic and contains PTFE OR PFOA?
Hi P Loh,
Thank you for your inquiry! The interior has a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use (FDA approved). Please contact Zojirushi America Customer Service at 1-800-733-6270 for further information or email support@zojirushi.com. Thank you!
I have a NS-KCC05 I bought 7 years ago as used which had the bowl already scratched. The scratches catch nylon shamoji and damage it then the shamoji damages the scratched coating more and more. Despite being careful and removing the damage from the shamoji the scratches are becoming larger chips. The bowl is no longer available anywhere.
But I would like to make a suggestion, or perhaps request, for the harder non-stick ceramic coatings. I would not mind paying more. And then I do not need to worry so much about the coating being damaged. Thanks.
Thank you for your feedback Dewa! We’ll pass it along to our R&D team!
Hi, my food jar with slicksteel interior has been scratched by stainless steel spoon. Is it still safe to use? Thank you.
Hi Liying, the food jar is safe to use even with a scratch. Thank you for using our products!
I have SM-LA60AD mug. I have recently noticed that this coating has come off my mug and is now floating on top of my drink. I don’t think it is safe, and even if is safe to consume this coating, I don’t feel very comfortable. Will I be able to receive a refund or exchange of product somehow? Thanks.
Hi Jason, we’re sorry to hear you’re unhappy with the product. Would you mind reaching out to our customer service team? They would be able to answer your questions better. https://www.zojirushi.com/app/customer_service/entry
Great blog article, looking forward to see a SlickSteel or something similar in your rice cookers. I have no interest in PTFE coating, aluminum pot, fluorine platinum powder coating or any such similar products. It’s nice to see that finally Zojirushi is working on new non aluminum material like SlickSteel. As soon as it is available in the rice cookers we most likely be some of the first ones to get it.
Thank you for your comment Sebas! We’ll pass along your comment to our R&D team!
We would also like an insert for our NS-TSC10 that does not contain PFAS. Will you be offering inserts soon?
Hi AK, we take great care to ensure that all our products are safe and all the materials are of the highest quality. Our cooking pans are made of aluminum with a PTFE nonstick coating over top and does not contain any PFOA’s. The cooking pan for the NS-TSC10 is currently out of stock but if you get in touch with our Customer Service Team they will be able to provide you with an ETA or add you to a notification list: https://www.zojirushi.com/app/customer_service/entry
Hello, I have tried to find info about the nonstick coatings on your rice cookers but I don’t see any details. Can you please offer specifics on the product pages? Thanks!
Hi Dana, please reach out to our customer service team with the model number and they can get you more information. We apologize that they are not on the product page. https://www.zojirushi.com/app/customer_service/entry
I have bought Zojirushi Stainless Mug SM-SD60 around a one and half year and found out that the nonstick interior become rough which i never use any detergent to wash it before. Would like to know the possibility of the caused ?
Hi CW, we’re not sure what you mean by “rough”. Would you mind reaching out to our customer service team? They would be able to help you better. https://www.zojirushi.com/app/customer_service/entry Thank you!
Can i know if i can order a replacement part and have it picked up locally in singapore? the singapore website forms are not getting replied, so i think it seems like i need to spend on a whole rice cooker instead when the pan coating is flaking.
can you let me know if you can arrange for an overseas PO ?
thanks
Hi Lincoln, unfortunately we cannot send parts overseas, as the product safety and design requirements are different for each country, and the products and parts we have here are only for the US (and Canada). I will see if I can have somebody contact you directly by e-mail.
Please make an uncoated stainless steel rice cooker pot that I could use to replace my current pot. I don’t want to use PTFE-based products anymore and am considering no longer using my rice cooker because of it. I love my rice cooker, and I would hate to get rid of it. I think many more people would consider buying your products if this were an option, even if it took a bit more effort to clean.
Hi Eliza, thank you for your valuable comment! We will pass it along to our product R&D team. Thank you for using our rice cooker!
Yes, please make an uncoated stainless steel rice cooker bowl/pot and I am surprised that Zojirushi has not made such an option available in this day and age. I’ve stopped using my cooker because the coating is scratched and do not feel safe. I really hope your R&D team will make this option available soon so I can use my rice cooker again (I love my cooker just not the cooking pot).
That would be too technically tricky for their engineers to pull off. Most likely the Swiss or the Iranian engineers could figure this out.
Hello, does your non-stick material contain PFOA?
thank you
Hi Emil, the nonstick coating is made of PTFE and it is PFOA free. The nonstick coating is a fluoropolymer, a material commonly used for nonstick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use.
As part of the approval process, the FDA considers the amount of a substance expected to migrate into food and the toxicological risks associated with that substance. FDA standard testing methods found no detectable levels of PFOA in any of our products.
Please let us know if you have any other questions, thank you!
Hi
I have read the info about slick steel. So how does slick steel compare to the stainless steel interior that has bren used in Thermos sold in America fir the last few years. I purchased a 16oz thermos in New York in 2015 and it has stainless steel inside.
Hi Sknya, we are not knowledgeable enough to speak of other brands’ finishes, sorry, but polishing the finish helps repel odors and stains!
This very article explains that Zojirushi SlickSteel *is* stainless steel that has been “electro-polished” to make it even slicker.
Thermos brand mentions stainless steel on their FAQ page, but says nothing about electro-polishing.
I have both products, and the Zojirushi Teflon-coated (PTFE) mug and found that a coffee patina builds up on the Zojirushi coated mug, but so far not on either Thermos or Zojirushi stainless steel products. I’ll have to try the denture cleaner tablets and see if they work to remove the patina.
Hi Willi, some staining is expected to accumulate in the interior of the mugs. It can be easily removed by cleaning with a food stain remover for coffee carafes that do not use bleach or chlorine. We hope this helps!
Thank you for this site, I LOVE your mug products and promote them to friends. Is it safe to use Oxiclean for the PTFE coating? I don’t soak it, just use heated water and rinse extremely well immediately.
Hello Lynda, we have not tested oxyclean to clean our mugs and bottles. We recommend using a product that would be commonly used to clean coffee carafes that does not contain bleach or chlorine. Usually bleach, chlorine, or any abrasive cleaners will damage the nonstick coating. If you need any additional assistance, please reach out to our Customer Service team and they would be happy to help!
That is sad , I was so excited about your breadmaker BB PAC 20 BB , and I just found out it has non stick pan
I have a 34 oz. Tuff Sports Vacuum Bottle SJ-SDE10XA (with non-stick coating) which I bought years ago. Can you please tell me if the coating on these older bottles was made with PFOA, or if it was PTFE. Thank you!
Also, I no longer want to use non-stick coatings/PTFE. All the larger bottles I see on your site have non-stick coating. The closest similar option to the Tuff Sports bottle—with the same type of lid, but with SlickSteel—seems to be the SV-GWE50…but it is only 17 oz., which is HALF the size of my current bottle. Am I missing something, or do you make a larger size of this bottle with SlickSteel? Please let me know the best option to replace the bottle I have, except with SlickSteel.
Lastly, if you don’t make larger bottles with SlickSteel, I’d strongly urge your product team to do so.
Thanks!
Hi Mary, our nonstick coating does use PTFE. At the moment, the largest slicksteel model would be the SM-SHE60, which is 20 oz. We will pass along your request to our product R&D team!
Can you make a rice cooker with an inner pot made of ceramic it clay instead? I’ll just sleep better knowing I’m not using Teflon. Thanks
Hi there, thank you for this question. Though we currently do not have any plans at this time to produce a rice cooker ceramic clay pot, our Multicooker has both a rice setting and an all stainless steel pot.
Your 400 dollar multicooker is the only option for people who don’t want to buy something which is potentially toxic to the consumer and well known to be toxic to the environments local to the production? How generous of you. You people make the best rice cookers on the market, and you can afford to be more responsible and give us better, more ethical options.
Hi Jordan, thank you for your feedback! We’ll pass it along to our product R&D team!
I purchased a rice cooker (NP-HCC10 Model) in April 2019. It is still less than a year old. I have already noticed there are 3 spots (each size about a sesame seed) that already have the coating coming off. I phoned the company and they said it is not under warranty. I am super disappointed about their product quality. I also concerned about the coating material toxin level since it comes off so quick and so easy.
Hi Kathy, we are so sorry that our product did not meet your expectations. We will pass this message onto our R&D team.
I am looking for a replacement pan for my Zojirushi rice cooker. I have been very happy with it but the lack of a stainless steel pan will force me to another brand. I no longer will buy anything with a coated finish.
Hi Karen, we apologize for your experience. Please contact our Customer Service department at 1-800-733-6270 for further help in purchasing a replacement pan.
Just adding my vote against Teflon PTFE etc. was looking for a Teflon free rice cooker, alas. Teflon and Dupont so terrifying — ever since I read the 2015 three-part series in the Intercept about the Teflon Toxin and saw the Dark Waters film I am terrified of it all. I am angry that these chemicals are now in the blood of 99% on people on Earth and that they will never fully break down. The fumes also kill birds. We should not be eating out of or cooking with Teflon or PTFE containers.
Hi Joni, we understand your concern and will pass it along to our product R&D team for future reference.
I am terrified to find out the inner non sticking pan made of Teflon. Very sad that we have been used years, there is no instruction saying that it used Teflon, why? If it said so, we wouldn’t buy it
I’m currently in the market for a rice cooker & feel unsafe using a nonstick bowl. After searching Amazon & Zojirushi websites many hours over a few months for a Zojirushi cooker with uncoated SS bowl, and considering other options, I’ll be buying an Instant Pot. Not the Instant Pot Zest rice cooker for $29, because that is coated as well, but the regular Instant Pot multicooker in the small size to use as a healthy stainless steel rice maker. I really wanted a zojirushi but I am buying NOW for a lasting solution, so I won’t be getting a Zojirushi for at least many years. People are willing to spend some time soaking off stuck-on rice if it means better health. Or maybe just run a short heating cycle with just water to clean it up faster. I’m SO disappointed in Zojirushi for seeing the trend away from unhealthy non-stick coatings that has been brewing for years, like we all have, & yet taking ZERO ACTION. You just don’t seem to want our business, do you! How dare you! You’ve stolen my dreams.
Hi there, we apologize that our products did not meet your standards. We will pass this message onto our R&D team to put into future consideration for our products. Thank you.
I have a Zojirushi thermos. Model sm-khe48-xa. I think it was manufactured in 2013? The sticker on the bottom says BD131028. Would this have a slick steel coating or a PTFE coating? Thank you!
Hi Julia, All SM-KHE are slicksteel regardless of when they were manufactured.
I love my Zojirushi rice maker, and am looking for a new one, but I want to avoid PTFE and Teflon Coatings. Please consider making a rice maker with a SlickSteel inner pot! I am sure this will be very popular! Thank you!
Hi Steve, we will pass this message on to our product R&D team! Thank you.
I have to add my vote as well, PLEASE make a non-chemically coated version of the cooking pan. I was about to order a nice new rice cooker finally when I realized it was non-stick coated. I just can’t.
Hi Gerard, thank you for your vote! It has been passed along to our product R&D team!
My Zojirushi rice cooking pot interior Teflon is in good shape but the pot’s exterior bottom has scratches from sitting In the sink.
My question is, should I worry about these exterior scratches?
Hi Grant, our Customer Service department can best help you with this question. Please send them an email at support@zojirushi.com. Thank you!
My non stick coating is coming off my bread pan in my zojirushi Home Bakery BB-PDC30BA Virtuoso
I have only used it a few times. Why would the coating be coming off? It is around the paddles also circular scratches where the paddles go around. I have only had the machine for less then a month. Maybe baked 5 loaves total.
Hi Michele, we’re sorry for the inconvenience that this may have caused. Please reach out to our Customer Service department for better help. You may reach them at support@zojirushi.com. Thank you.
Thank you so much. I will contact them with a photo.
Thanks for your time.
Dear Sir
I would like to inquire where can I get the non stick inter pot for my zojirushi NS-WXQ18 from
Singapore.
Thank you
Hi Irene, please reach out to our office in Thailand, or our distributor in Singapore directly.
Zojirushi SE Asia: https://www.zojirushi-seasia.com/
Distributor in Singapore: http://www.zojirushi.sg/contact.html
Thank you!
I purchased a Zojirushi Rice Cooker Model NS-TSC10 In the United States, PFOA was banned in 2014. Being that is an older model and that it was manufactured in China was this chemical eliminated from the cooking pot.
Hi Lisa, the nonstick coating is made of PTFE. It is a fluoropolymer, a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use.
As part of the approval process, the FDA considers the amount of a substance expected to migrate into food and the toxicological risks associated with that substance. FDA standard testing methods found no detectable levels of PFOA in any of our products so if any particles of nonstick coating were, in fact, accidentally swallowed there would still be no toxicological risk according to the FDA.
Because this nonstick coating comes into contact with food or beverage, we carefully screen and select all materials we use. The nonstick coating used on our products may be safely used as components in food equipment and are safely designed to come into contact with food, in compliance with FDA regulation 21 CFR 177.1550 (perfluorocarbon resins).
As a basic rule, the nonstick coating to be used on a product is tested before a new model is designed and manufactured.
Please let us know if you have any other questions!
are you ever going to stop using dangerous chemicals in your products… such a shame.. best name in the market but you can’t make a rice cooker without teflon… come on man get it together
I just realized my awesome rice cooker from Zojirushi uses Non-Stick Coating. I have only used it a few times and love it but cannot use it any longer conscientiously due to the potential health risks. I agree with all the other comments about offering a non-stick coating option and a replacement pan for those who already purchased the Non-Stick version. I know it may seem trivial to many but the science is pretty well established and strong enough to pay heed and is very concerning. Please come up with a healthy solution for your awesome rice cooker, please!
Thank you for your comment, Curt, we’ll pass it along to our product R&D team!
Dear Zojirushi,
Judging from this thread, you’ve been saying you’ll “pass it on” to R&D for years, yet nothing has happened. Citing the FDA doesn’t help, because U.S. regulatory agencies have failed to act on fluorocarbons even after the dangers were clear and people were dying. How hard is it to design a ceramic or stainless replacement pot? I love my Zojirushi rice cooker, but can no longer bring myself to use it.
Hello Mark, thank you for providing us with your feedback. We forward all the suggestions and feedback we receive to our research and development in Japan for future consideration. Testing has shown that a stainless steel cooking pan is not a good heat conductor for cooking rice and would cause the rice to be difficult to remove after cooking has completed. Please rest assured that we only choose high-quality materials that are completely safe to use with food and beverages for our products.
We are not concerned about the rice being difficult to remove from the pan. We are trying to take all of the precautions we can to ensure our health is in good order.
Please tell R&D we don’t care about rice being hard to clean off.
Hello Ms, thank you for your feedback. We will be sure to forward it to them!
Hi I was given a zojirushi rice cooker years ago and love it. However, I just realized it contains non stick coating a couple years ago and now it is peeling off. I’m in the market for a new rice cooker and was checking out Cuckoo after knowing Zojirushi rice cooker contains non stick. Unfortunately you and Cuckoo both uses PTFE and I will not be buying neither. I was also looking for the water boiler from you and those contains non stick coating too!! I just don’t understand why they need them when it’s only water sitting in there!! I will be getting an instant pot to cook my rice now until you or Cuckoo figured out how to better serve the customers who are willing to pay for quality products.
Hi Angie, we appreciate you sharing your feedback with us!
The nonstick coating makes it easy to clean the pan after use. Overtime and use the nonstick coating will experience wear and can be replaced when needed.
The inner pan has a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use (FDA approved). Because this nonstick coating comes into contact with food or beverage, we carefully screen and select all materials we use. The nonstick coating used on our products may be safely used as components in food equipment and are safely designed to come into contact with food, in compliance with FDA regulation.
Please let us know if you have any other questions, thank you!
Hi, I really like your water boilers however I want to stay away from non-stick coatings (PTFE) – will you replace the non-stick inner pot with a pure stainless steel one?
Hi Phuong, please take a look at the model CD-WHC40, which does not have a nonstick coating.
Hope this helps!
We have a new model rice cooker, NP-HCC10, purchased in May of 2020. The cooking liner has already started blistering. I was very disappointed when your company would not replace it, due to its failure within six months of use.. In looking at this blog stream, I am now very concerned about the potentially dangerous lining material you are using. In researching this issue I learned that it is also “typical” for this kind of lining material to fail at 200 uses. However I did find there is a new material relcently introduced, TETRAN that has shown resilience to 1200 cooking cycles before the coating is compromised. It is made by Whitford, a subsidiary of PPG. We love your rice cooker, it is our second one. But I join those above in saying GET A DIFFERENT SOLUTION to lining the cooking surface of these products. I don’t like the health risk of the materials you are using. Also I’m VERY DISAPPOINTED that I have to replace a major component of the Expensive cooker I bought within six months! Going forward, that gives me an annual cost of $150\year “maintenance cost, as well as the health concerns. I will not buy another product of yours, and I cannot recommend your product to others, until you take consumer safety and your product resilience/quality more seriously.
Hi Denise, we are sorry to hear of your experience. Our customer service representative is currently assisting you with your inquiry and has attempted to contact you by phone and email. Please reach out to Zojirushi Customer Service by calling 1-800-733-6270 dial 3 or replying to the email response received.
The inner pan has a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use. All materials used in our products have been deemed safe by the FDA. Because this nonstick coating comes into contact with food or beverage, we carefully screen and select all materials we use. The nonstick coating used on our products may be safely used as components in food equipment and are safely designed to come into contact with food, in compliance with FDA regulation 21 CFR 177.1550 (perfluorocarbon resins). As a basic rule, the nonstick coating to be used on a product is tested before a new model is designed and manufactured.
We appreciate your feedback on the materials used with our pans and will be forwarding them to our research and development team for future use. Thank you!
My family is thinking about a zojirushi rice cooker purchase in the near future. We’re wondering if your rice cooker are free from toxin. We are worried about chemical in our rice. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Joey, we carefully select and test all the materials we use to manufacture our products. All product materials used by Zojirushi America products are approved by the FDA for food and beverage contact. Any materials coming in contact with food and beverages are BPA free and are safe and hygienic. Please let us know if you have any questions!
I really like Zojirushi slicksteel products. Does Zojirushi make any rice cooker with an inner pot that is free of PTFE (toxin)? I understand that it is FDA approved but I’m not comfortable with cooking with this type of material/component.
Hello LZilla, currently we do not have a rice cooker with a stainless steel cooking pan. The materials we choose for our products are carefully selected and are completely safe to come into contact with food. Our EL-CAC60 multicooker has a stainless steel pan and a rice cooking setting. If you would like to find out more about this product please visit: https://www.zojirushi.com/app/product/elcac
We hope this helps!
Do you offer rice cookers with SlickSteel inner pans or at least not a non-stick coating? I would like to replace the nonstick one that I have.
Hi Julis! Currently, we do not offer a cooking pan with a SlickSteel finish. Our rice cooker’s inner cooking pans have a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use (FDA approved). We hope this helps!
Hi. I have had a travel flask for a number of years and it is excellent. However, the outside coating has scratched a fair bit and I wondered if you did a version that didn’t scratch as much?
Hi Ian, the outside paint coating will experience some wear and tear over time and use. This is true for all of the vacuum mugs. Scratches may be less noticeable on our stainless color mugs since they have a clear coat over the stainless mug without any color. Please let me know if you have any questions!
I see people have been leaving comments for years now asking for a stainless steel inner pot for Zojirushi rice cookers. I too no longer want to cook with PTFE coated cookware, particularly after my doctor warned of the dangers during pregnancy. I love my rice cooker, but I am alarmed by the amount of research coming out now showing the horrifying negative impacts on fetal development resulting from exposure to these chemicals. I am also surprised that Zojurishi continues to use these products despite government and industry wide efforts to phase them out. You make such wonderful products – why use these horrible chemicals and endanger customers? Trust me, people will be happy with stainless steel inner pots. You claim your customers want ease of cleaning – what is easier than putting a stainless steel pan in a dishwasher? Particularly when a non-stick pot can’t go in the dishwasher?? I have treated my rice cooker with the utmost care, washed it by hand, only used the included rice paddle, and yet still there are visible scratches and abrasions after about 3 years of use. If you will not provide an option for a stainless steel inner pot, then I am sad to say I will have to switch brands. And I say this with deep regret, because I truly love the way my Zojirushi rice cooker prepares rice. So how about it Zojirushii? Are you finally providing a stainless steel inner pot and making consumer safety a priority, or no?
Hi Stephanie, currently a stainless steel cooking pan is not available for our rice cookers. The inner pan has a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use (FDA approved). As a basic rule, the nonstick coating to be used on a product is tested before a new model is designed and manufactured. When products are manufactured, either at our own factories, our quality control personnel are there to inspect the process and ensure that the appropriate materials and parts are used.
We sincerely appreciate your feedback on our rice cooker’s cooking pans and have forwarded it to our research and development team for future use.
I am shocked after reading this thread, which is mainly comprised of well-written and research-based information about the potential dangers, and seeing the company’s same vanilla and unhelpful response/excuse over and over. I look forward to returning my rice cooker that I just purchased tomorrow. Nobody with health concerns cares about a pot with rice stuck to it. We care about a company not willing to look out for its customers best interests. Can’t believe you won’t just capitulate and make a stainless steal pot that fits into the cooker. We’d be willing to pay for it! Speechless.
I’m switching away from zojirushi products and I am telling all my friends to not buy zojirushi products. This is because the company is obvioulsy more interested in money and not the heatlh of their customers. I a few of my friends have already thrown away their zojirushi products bcs of the non-stick teflon coating. I have thrown my rice cooker to the recycling dept. Until zojirushi changes their ways and build products with out non-stick teflon, I will continue to tell everyone to NOT BUY ANY zojiruchi products.
The nonstick coating (PTFE) that is used with our products is commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use. PTFE has been the subject of extensive laboratory testing to examine its safety and durability. The results of this testing have been reviewed by such regulatory agencies as the FDA which has concluded that fluoropolymer non-stick coatings for cookware are safe for conventional kitchen use.
As a basic rule, the nonstick coating to be used on a product is tested before a new model is designed and manufactured. As products are manufactured in our factories, our quality control personnel are there to inspect the process and ensure that the appropriate materials and parts are used.
For further assistance, please reach out to our Customer Service Team by emailing support@zojirushi.com
Keep in mind that offering a stainless steal pot would have kept you a lot of customers who are looking out for their health. You could have charged a lot for it and even included statements on the product that the rice may stick to it. Good luck with your future products and I hope you act on your concerned community soon.
Hi David, thank you for voicing your concerns to us. We have forwarded them to our research and development team for future use. Please rest assured that we carefully select and test the materials we use to ensure the highest quality and safety. Unfortunately, at this time we don’t have an alternative pan available without any nonstick coating and apologize that at this time we are unable to offer an alternative to match your needs.
What’s the difference between the SM-S series and the SM-T series?
Hi Mike, the difference between these models are the shape and color. The SM-SHE model has a Slick Steel interior while the other SM-S series have a nonstick coated interior. Most of our customers will choose a mug based on their preference in interior finishes and color. All of them will keep your beverage hot or cold for many hours! Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Thanks for the info. Maybe I didn’t make myself clear – I meant SM-SG or SM-SE when I said SM-S series, and SM-TA for SM-T series. Both of these two series have nonstick coating.
Hi Mike, the main differences are the shape, colors, and sizes available. The SM-TA has an optional screw-on lid that can be purchased as an accessory if you wanted to switch lids from flip-open. The SM-SG or any of the SM-S series mugs only have a flip-open lid available. The performance on the heat retention is the same between these models in the same sizes. Hope this helps!
I, too, am very concerned about the potential health impacts of the non-stick coating in your rice cooker inner pans. Consequently, I have just returned the unit I just bought through Amazon. Apart from the formulaic answers to all similar concerns expressed in this thread, I offer the following for other readers.
In response to consumers’ questions above and on Amazon, you typically respond as follows:
“ The inner pan has a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use (FDA approved).”
Regarding California’s Prop 65 warnings, you have also said this: “In regards to Prop 65, the packaging material contains Styrene and the power cord contains BPA (neither of these would come in to direct contact with food or beverage). The nonstick coating on the inner cooking pan is N-Methyl Pyrrolidone [i.e. NMP]. For further information, please go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.”
The USA Environmental Protection Agency advises as follows: “In the December 2020 final risk evaluation, EPA reviewed the exposures and hazards of NMP uses and made the following final risk findings on this chemical.” (https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/final-risk-evaluation-n-methylpyrrolidone-nmp)
EPA found unreasonable risks to human health from 26 out of 37 conditions of use of NMP.
Consumers: EPA found an unreasonable risk to consumers from one consumer use of NMP (in adhesives and sealants). Risks to consumers can come from short-term inhalation, direct dermal exposure (through the skin) and vapor-through-skin exposure.”
Can you please at least tell us whether the NMP contained in your non-stick coatings are captured by this recent final risk finding from the EPA?
Hello Martyn Brown, thank you for your letting us know of your concerns and feed back regarding our nonstick coated cooking pans. We carefully select the materials we use for our products to ensure their quality and safety. As mentioned the nonstick coating we use on our products has been tested and approved for use in cookware. It is safe for use. The documentation in the EPA report that was linked, is largely regarding Industrial/commercial uses of adhesives, adhesive removers, lubricants, paint additives to name a few. As for consumer uses is in regards to paints, glues, adhesive removers, arts & craft paints, cleaning products, automotive care products, and lubricants. Within the 26 conditions, the study does not mention cooking or using nonstick coated cookware.
Any nonstick coating may deteriorate when exposed to extremely high heat sources and will emit fumes. We do not recommend exposing the rice cooking pans to a heat higher than about 500F. The rice cookers will never reach such a high temperature so it is completely safe to use as indicated and not exposed to an open flame, placed in an oven, or microwave.
We hope this helps!
when is there/will there be a stainless inner pot available for the rice cooker or mulitcooker?
Hi JMB, we do have a multicooker available that has a stainless steel cooking pan and can cook rice. If you would like to take a look please visit: https://shop.zojirushi.com/collections/other-electric-products/products/elcac
At this time there aren’t any plans for a stainless steel inner pan for our rice cookers. We will be sure to pass along your request to our Research and Development Team for future consideration. Please let us know if you have any more questions!
Thanks this was a helpful post. Your transparency is appreciated and I feel confident in choosing your rice maker for our family
Does Zojirushi coating contains perfluoroalkyls (PFAS)?
Hi Marco, thank you for your question! Here at Zojirushi, we carefully select all the materials we use to ensure their high quality and safety. They are thoroughly tested to make sure they are completely safe to use with foods and beverages. The nonstick coating we use is PTFE which is commonly used in cookware and is PFOA free. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Hi, for multiple years customers have posted requests for a safer alternative to the inner pots used in Zojirushi’s rice cookers (stainless steel, aluminum, SlickSteel, ceramic coating, etc.) According to the feedback this has been ‘passed along to the R&D team’ many, many times now.
Could you provide us with an update on 1) what work has been done over the years to address this, 2) what the current status is, and 3) when we can expect this type of product?
Hello AHasel, thank you for following up with this request. Unfortunately, at this time we are not developing a rice cooker cooking pan without nonstick coating. Our Multicooker EL-CAC60 has a stainless steel pan (no coating of any kind) and has settings for cooking white rice, brown rice, and quinoa. This is an alternative to a rice cooker if you would like a stainless steel pan without a nonstick coating. As for the requests, we forward them to our R&D as we receive them for new product development in the future. We hope this helps!
Hi, so to summarize:
1) what work has been done over the years to address this
> Nothing
2) what the current status is
> There is no ongoing development for a rice cooker cooking pan without nonstick coating
3) when we can expect this type of product?
> Not planned to be developed
Is this correct?
Hello AHasel, we appreciate you following up with this request. At this time there are no plans for developing a stainless steel cooking pan for rice cookers. However, an alternative we offer is our Multicooker EL-CAC60 which has a stainless steel cooking pan and setting for cooking rice.
Your feedback and suggestions are sincerely appreciated and we always forward it to our R&D team for future use. Thank you!
Wow this is so incredibly messed up. We want a rice cooker that has a stainless steel pan without PFAS OR PFTE. Period. We are willing to pay for it. Develop it already!
We appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the material and your request for an alternative. Currently we don’t have any plans to create a cooking pan with different materials. However, we always forward these requests to our headquarters in Japan and hopefully they will develop one in the future. We apologize for the inconvenience.
I’m throwing my zojirushi product in the trash, due to the nonstick coated pan! Goodbye Zojirushi!
Hi Dave, we appreciate your feedback on the cooking pan. All the materials we use for our products are carefully selected and tested and are completely safe to come in contact with food. The inner pan has a non-stick coating containing PTFE- a material commonly used for non-stick coating in cookware for conventional kitchen use (FDA approved). We hope this helps!
I would love to buy one of your rice cookers but do not want to use one with Teflon or PTFE. Do you have a rice cooker with a plain, stainless steel cookpot?
Hi Jayney, at this time we don’t have a stainless steel cooking pan for our rice cookers. We appreciate the request and will be forwarding it for future product development.
Agreed! Please make one!
PTFE gives off toxic gasses which *kill* our pet birds (parrots, cockatiels, budgies, etc.). Please STOP using PTFE on Zojirushi products. Please.
Hi Patsy, we have thoroughly tested the materials we use for their safety and high quality. The nonstick coating has been approved by the FDA and is completely safe to use in our products. If you have any questions please reach out to our Customer Service Team and they will be happy to assist you.
Hello,
Do you offer any rice cookers without the PTFE coating? Also, would you consider making a rice cooker utilizing a nontoxic ceramic coating that is naturally nonstick? (ie brands like Caraway & Greenpan)
Hi Hassan, unfortunately we don’t manufacture a cooking pan without any nonstick coating. We carefully select the materials we use for our products and test them to ensure their safety and quality. Please rest assured that our products are safe for use. Hope this helps!
Wow. Many customers. Requesting products without PTFE. Much dislike.
Company says safe. Here is brick. Build bridge. Get over it, customers.
Hi! We appreciate your feedback and all of our other customer’s who have voiced their concerns. We take safety very seriously and we ensure that all materials we use are of the highest quality and that they are completely safe to come in contact with food. The nonstick coating we use is completely nontoxic, safe to use for cooking rice, and makes cleaning the rice cooker easier. We always forward all your feedback to our research and development team to take into account in future rice cooker development.
Hi Zojirushi,
Do you have any rice cooker model that is completely PTFE/PFOA/Teflon free?
Thanks!!
Hi OM, at this time we don’t offer a rice cooker without a nonstick coated pan. An alternative would be our Multicooker EL-CAC60 which is has setting for cooking rice and the cooking pan is made of stainless steel. Hope this helps!
I’ll elaborate a bit more on this to give some more context and insight on why there are so many requests for PTFE/PFOA/Teflon/nonstick free.
Many pet bird owners have a real problem finding PTFE/PFOA/Teflon free appliances. For many a rice cooker is a much-needed staple. It is a pity it is so hard to find any decent rice cooker without PTFE. And it is not even about the safety to humans (which is nonetheless also important), but to birds – a parrot can die within a couple of hours or get seriously sick even from the slightest traces of fumes from any kind of this group of chemicals. I don’t know any pet bird owner who would agree to knowingly take the risk of losing a feathered friend (and for many a parrot is a life-long companion) due to something like this.
Yes, there are fewer pet bird owners than owners of other types of pets, but we still deserve to have nice safe appliances and some peace of mind.
So please please please make a rice cooker without the nonstick coating.
Thanks!
Hi OM, we understand the concerns people may have about PTFE or nonstick coating. According to testing, nonstick coating will create fumes only when exposed to a temperature higher than 500°F, which our rice cookers will never reach and could only be accomplished by exposing the pan to an open flame. If used as instructed in the manual, the nonstick coating is completely safe for use and to be in contact with food. We carefully choose the materials we use with our product to ensure they are of the highest quality to bear the Zojirushi name. We always welcome feedback on our products and is always forwarded to our research and development team in Japan to take into consideration when developing new products.
We do offer an alternative product, our Multicooker EL-CAC60, that can cook rice and has a stainless steel cooking pan. Please keep in mind that the pan will be a bit more difficult to clean since it doesn’t have an coating. We hope this helps!
Does the Electric Griddle EA-DCC10 also include a PTFE non stick coating?
Hi Gregory, the EA-DCC10 does have a PTFE nonstick coating that helps food not to stick and makes cleaning easy. Hope this helps!
Does the gourmet sizzler use PFAS coatings?
Hi Greg, all of our PTFE nonstick coated products are BPA free and PFOA free. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
I’m considering your CV-WFF30. Does the inner coating of the product contain PTFE?
Hi Bwosyn, all areas that come into contact with food or beverages are BPA-free on all of our products. The inner liner, coated or uncoated, will be BPA-free. The model CV-WFF30 appears to be a foreign Zojirushi products, so if you reside in the US or Canada please note that we don’t recommend using foreign models here. Usually they can experience a malfunction due to the voltage difference and replacement parts would be unavailable in the event that they are needed. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service team and they will be happy to help: https://www.zojirushi.com/app/customer_service/entry
The interior PTFE coating of my SM-SC36-AV thermo is starting to peel off in flakes. Is it safe for me to use it?
Hello Chun Yu, the interior coating on the vacuum insulated mugs may peel if the bottle is cleaned with a brush or a cleaner tool that can scratch the surface of the interior. The coating itself is nontoxic and if ingested by accident, it will pass your system without being absorbed. I hope this helps!
If you would forward this information to your R&D team, I would appreciate it.
There is no need to develop or sell a new rice cooker, only to offer an “upgrade” option for those who wish to have a more durable or plastic-free pot. This pot could be offered at a reasonable premium add-on cost, since Zojirushi customers tend to fall in the luxury market. Depending on the material, you can advertise it as a “highly durable heirloom pan” for the upgrade, thus avoiding any “negative advertisement” in your standard product literature/packaging: you don’t need to mention PTFE or any health concerns, since this segment of your customer base is already aware of them, and you can continue to sell your normal product line.
Options:
*Aluminum or Copper with a coating (maintains heat-transfer coefficient).
**Optional coatings are:
***Titanium-Nitride (“gold”, probably the easiest to manufacture with a simple PVD coating process, very durable, high heat conductivity, non-stick, almost a drop-in replacement for Teflon in this application. No re-tooling necessary. High “customer attraction” with the luxurious gold color as well, will easily command a premium price for customers. Highly recommended)
***Enamel (non-stick, durable, well-known manufacturing process)
***Ceramic or Porcelain layer (less durable, but easily manufactured as a spray dispersal coating. May be sticky without additional polishing)
***Borosilicate Glass (less durable, tests need to be made to ensure no change to heating coefficient)
*Titanium (satin polish): More expensive as a raw material, but has advantages in very similar heat coefficients, very high durability, lightweight, naturally nonstick, does not corrode in kitchen environments, can be made very thin like the current rice pots. Your fellow Japanese manufacturer, Snow-Peak, makes a series of titanium pots for outdoor camping and hiking, which you could reverse-engineer or collaborate with them for no equipment costs to yourselves.
*Stainless steel with SlickSteel treatment (with warnings that rice may stick). – This may not be a direct replacement because of the heat transfer coefficient differences, probably the worst option given the desired engineering properties of the rice cooker, but keep in mind some of your customers are making single-issue buy/no-buy decisions based on PTFE alone. The advantage is no additional tooling costs.
I hope this helps to expand the options for your team, so that this issue can be resolved in a healthy and profitable manner. Thank you for forwarding this.
I too purchased your best and most expensive rice maker, but I am concerned about previously unknown health risks with PTFE, and would prefer to replace the pan. I am personally willing to spend anywhere from $50-200 for this upgrade on the pan alone, separate from the rice-cooker. Even if you coated it in 14k gold or Sterling silver, I would consider it.
I spent so much on your rice maker because I knew it would make the best rice, and have come to love the Umami rice setting it has. I make sure to get the rice that is grown directly in Japan such as Hitomebore from Iwate or Koshihikari, sometimes driving 6 hours and over 500 miles to buy a bag to use in your rice maker. The Zojirushi makes such delicious rice that cannot be made with any other cooker. My friends are all in awe of my delicious rice, every time they come over for dinner, and some of them remember it years later it tasted so good to them. I tell them it is the same way that rice is very carefully made in Japan, and that is why it is so good. Thank you for all of the effort you put into it. I am also delighted that your products continue to be proudly made in Japan, where high quality and precision engineering are important, as it should be. I hope you will consider making an upgrade available for health conscious customers such as myself, who are also always seeking after excellence.
Thank you for your continued pursuit of the perfect bowl of rice, for which the Japanese are well renowned.
Thank you for your thorough research and opinion on the cooking pan Sir Ricealot!! We will pass along to our R&D team!
Hello,
I have a NP-HCC10 which has the PTFE lining. Needless to say I would like to get rid of it. I don’t think they are even allowed to sell it in America anymore. I only bought the rice cooker a few years ago and it is in perfect condition. Are there any stainless steel inner pots that are in stock that would be the proper size replacement? Thanks
Hi Joe, nonstick coated cookware is still safe and is sold in the US and Canada. We ensure to always use the highest quality materials when manufacturing our products and are completely safe to come in contact with food and beverages. We have found that nonstick coated cooking pan are easier to clean and use. At this time we don’t have any plans on manufacturing an alternative pan but will forward your request to our team for future use. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Which models (if any) of rice cooker do not use PTFE? The new NW-JEC10/18 says it has a Platinum/iron non-stick coating. Does this use PTFE? I’m willing to upgrade, which model numbers are the same or better with steel pots?
Hi Joe, all of our rice cooker cooking pans have a nonstick coated surface made of PTFE. At this time we aren’t developing an alternative cooking pot but we will be sure to forward your request to our Research and Development team.
Is there anyway to get a replacement pot for my rice cooker that is stainless steel. I didn’t realize it had Teflon/PTFE for the non stick portion and frankly I am not a fan of Teflon or other non stick materials.
Hi M Moser, we unfortunately do not offer replacement pans without nonstick coating at this time.
Does the Zojirushi plain Stainless Steel Mug, 16-Ounce have a slicksteel interior? (I don’t want to purchase one with a non-stick coating.)
Thanks.
Please make a stainless steel rice cooker! We need you to lead this mission. So many of us are now aware of the health risks and dangers that Teflon, forever chemicals do to our bodies. Please do the right thing. We are counting on you. Thank you!
Has there been any development in creating a stainless steel or other non-PTFE inner pot?
I’m considering a Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy but I’m trying to avoid PTFE materials as much as possible and likely won’t buy one unless a non-PTFE inner pot is available.
Hi John, at this time, we don’t have plans for manufacturing an alternative cooking pan for the rice cookers. We are still sending all the feedback and requests regarding the rice cooking pans to our headquarters in Japan so they can use them in the future. Insofar as an alternative we have is our Multicooker EL-CAC60, that comes with a sturdy stainless steel cooking pan, which in addition to its slow cooker capabilities, can cook rice and other grains.
If you would like to take a look: https://shop.zojirushi.com/products/elcac
Hi, may I know what are the latest models of airpot without Ptfe coating? I really love your brand but would like to avoid the coating
Hi Val, our Air Pots don’t come with a nonstick coating. They are either glass-lined or stainless steel interiors without a nonstick. If you see the interior of the glass-lined Air Pots, it may look metallic, but that is just a sheet of aluminum that is placed between the two glass layers where the vacuum is. This is so that we maximize the heat retention capabilities, and since it’s between the glass, it will not come into contact with the beverage.
If you are referring to our Air Pot water boiler, then at this time, an alternative without a nonstick-coated interior is not available. We do offer a Micom Water Boiler and Warmer that doesn’t have an interior coating. This is our CD-WHC40 and you can take a look at it here: https://www.zojirushi.com/app/product/cdwhc
Please let us know if you have any questions!