Cozy Wintertime Meals Made with the Umami® Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10/18

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Happy New Year! We are so excited to cook our favorite wintertime meals this January as we cozy up to the colder weather. With Zojirushi’s versatile new Umami® Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10/18, we’re able to make so much more than white rice with just a single appliance, from soup, congee, and more. The exclusive Umami setting on this Zojirushi rice cooker is also great for cooking a variety of rice grains as well, as it extends soaking and steaming to make your rice fluffier, sweeter, and more delicious. Today, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite rice based dishes we’ll be preparing in January with the help of our Umami® Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10/18.

Zojirushi’s Umami® Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10/18Before we dive into the recipes, let’s get to know our rice cooker a little better. The Umami® Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10/18 is an elegant appliance that comes in a stylish Metallic Black color, with two sizes available to accommodate various household sizes: 5.5 and 10 cups. What makes this rice cooker unique is its advanced micro computerized fuzzy logic technology that allows it to offer a long list of menu settings including Zojirushi’s special Umami setting, that will help you whip up a variety of tasty dishes.

Menu settings include:

White
Umami
Mixed
sushi/sweet
Jasmine
Porridge
Congee
Brown
GABA brown
Quick white
Quick Jasmine
Steam
Slow cook

It features an easy-to-read LCD control panel, clock and delay timer, nonstick coated inner cooking pan, and all food contact surfaces are BPA free. The inner lid is detachable for easy cleaning, and the rice cooker also comes with additional accessories such as a steaming basket, rice spatula, and measuring cup. To see this rice cooker in action, visit our product video here.

Now that we’ve been properly introduced to our Umami® Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10/18, let’s dive into our dishes!

Rice Dishes:

Jambalaya

We love Jambalaya because it combines many great flavors into one delicious bowl. This hearty meal features shrimp, sausage, and a hint of chili flakes that will warm you right up.

Shiitake-Gohan

This classic Japanese rice dish is simple to make using the convenient mixed setting for an easy meal that will keep you satisfied with its umami-rich flavor from the shiitake mushrooms.

Soups:

Vegetable Brown Rice Zosui (Japanese Rice Soup)

Zosui is traditional Japanese comfort food that combines rice, chicken broth, and seasonal vegetables. This simple yet satisfying soup can be made from scratch or from leftover nabe base if you have it. Perfect for lunch or dinner on a cold day!

Keihan (Japanese Chicken Soup with Rice)

Keihan is another traditional Japanese dish that hails from the southern islands of Japan. This dish features shiitake mushrooms, chicken breasts, and egg crepes. Yum!

Casseroles:

Baked Rice Casserole with Artichokes and Mushrooms

Our baked rice casserole dish is excellent for mushroom lovers and is a gluten-free alternative to other traditional casseroles. Combine all ingredients into a casserole or ceramic bowl and bake until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.

Japanese Style Curry Doria

This Japanese-inspired doria is a wonderful way to make use of leftover curry and rice and turn them into the ultimate comfort meal. This dish comes sizzling out of the oven ready to eat, featuring mozzarella cheese, parsley, and butter.

What are your favorite dishes to enjoy in the wintertime? Do you have any favorite recipes that you plan to try from this blog? Be sure to share your experience with us on social by tagging your photos on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! #Zojirushi #ZoFan

Celebrate the Holidays with Japanese Flavor

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Are you excited for the holidays? In addition to going all out with festive decorations, Japanese people love to celebrate this time of year with popular American foods seasoned with a Japanese twist. For those who want to add a twist to their holiday dinner, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite Japanese and American holiday recipes that are guaranteed to delight and impress – all of which can be made easily with the help of the new Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-DCC10/18.

Introducing The Rice Cooker That Does It All

The newest addition to our rice cooker lineup is the Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-DCC10/18. It comes in 5.5 or 10 cup capacities and in a beautiful Pearl Beige color. What’s unique about this appliance is that it is built with advanced micro computerized Fuzzy Logic technology, meaning that the rice cooker can automatically adjust cooking temperatures and cooking time to cook your rice (or cake!) perfectly every time.

It also includes a wide variety of settings which include: White, Long Grain White, Sushi, Congee, Brown, GABA Brown, Jasmine, Steel Cut Oatmeal, Quinoa, Quick White, and Cake.

Choose from convenient features like automatic keep warm, extended keep warm, reheat, and delay timer functions on the rice cooker’s easy-to-read LCD control panel, so you can cook your dishes whenever you please.

In addition, the appliance comes with an easy-to-clean detachable and washable inner lid, detachable power cord, and extra-large steam vent cap for high-powered cooking. The Menu

Now that we’re thoroughly acquainted with the Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-DCC10/18, let’s get to cooking!

First Bite

If you’re hosting a holiday get-together, it’s important to make a great first impression. Not only are these dishes visually attractive, but they’re also easily shareable and super tasty.

Baked Mac and Cheese Style Brown Rice: A fun twist on mac and cheese, this dish combines brown rice with a medley of cheeses and tomatoes.

Gomoku Sushi: This is a beautifully garnished rice bowl that features seasonal vegetables and seafood on top of sushi rice. Because it can be prepared in advance, it’s the perfect appetizer for events or large gatherings.

Prosciutto Rice Balls: These bite-size rice balls combine Japanese culinary techniques with Italian style. The prosciutto pairs perfectly with the rice, and the basil adds a fresh zing. Pro rice tip: Always rinse the rice before cooking, even brown rice. Milling leaves a lot of starch on the surface of the rice, and if not removed the rice becomes gummy. We recommend to rinse it 3 to 4 times to remove the excess starch. Remember to work quickly to prevent the rice from absorbing starchy water as much as possible. Watch this video to learn more.

Main Course:

Did you know that Christmas Eve and Christmas are widely celebrated with a bucket of KFC fried chicken in Japan? Because turkey is not readily available in the country, this craze has endured throughout the holidays for decades. Here are two dishes that you can make to celebrate just like the Japanese, with chicken as a star ingredient.

Karaage is Japanese-style fried chicken that is fried to crispy deliciousness in small, bite-sized pieces served with rice. It is sure to be a favorite during the holidays.

Curry Doria is a mix between a casserole and Japanese curry. Add generous amounts of mozzarella, and add your protein of choice to your liking (in this case, chicken!). Pro rice tip: Remember to use your measuring cup to measure out your rice and use the water measuring lines on the pan to measure the water. We cook and test tons and tons of rice every year, so our rice cookers can cook the best-tasting rice for you consistently. It’s scientific. It’s precise. Trust us, and use the rice measuring cup in conjunction with the water measure lines. It will yield a perfect result. Every. Single. Time.

A Sweet Ending

One of the biggest highlights of a Japanese Christmas is the decorative cakes that look like works of art — they are almost too pretty to eat! In Japan, people especially love enjoying strawberry shortcake on this holiday. Below are fruit-forward cake options that you can make straight out of your rice cooker.

Layered Trifle Tower: This fluffy sponge cake is layered beautifully with marsala sherry, raspberry jam, custard, and fruit. Serve in a clear vessel to show off the beautiful interior.

Whole Wheat Sponge Cake: This whole wheat cake only requires seven ingredients (plus the fruit) and is easily baked at the touch of a button. Top with whipped cream, enjoy, repeat.

How are you going to spend the holidays this year? Are you planning on trying any of these recipes or tips we shared today? Be sure to share your experience with us on social by tagging your photos on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! #Zojirushi #ZoFan

Meet the Newest Member of the Zo’ Family: Umami Rice Cooker NL-GAC 10/18

Posted on May 2, 2021 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Happy May, Zo’ Fans!

We are so excited to introduce the latest addition to our rice cooker lineup, the Umami Rice Cooker NL-GAC10/18.

This versatile, multitasking machine makes the perfect rice or one-pot meal with its advanced Fuzzy Logic technology and has the most cooking settings in the Micom category, it’s truly one of the most industrious rice cookers we’ve ever made. Are you ready to learn all about this rice cooker’s impressive features and why it may be the perfect rice cooker for you? Let’s get to it.

The Umami Rice Cooker At-a-Glance

The Umami Rice Cooker NL-GAC10/18 comes in two sizes, 5.5 cups or 10 cups capacities. Both sizes come in a sleek metallic black exterior that adds a unique touch to any kitchen, and its modern profile and upgraded settings make it truly best-in-class. This rice cooker also features an easy-to-read LCD screen with pre-programmed settings like a delay timer, auto keep warm, extended keep warm, and reheat.

Perfectly Paired: More on Parts and Accessories

The Umami Rice Cooker NL-GAC10/18 is easy to store and clean with its detachable power cord. The appliance features a removable and washable inner lid, 1.5 mm thick nonstick coated inner cooking pan, and a clear-coated stainless-steel lid, making cooking and cleaning a breeze. Like the rest of our products, customers can rest assured knowing that all of the food-facing parts are BPA-free. Additional accessories that come with this rice cooker include a steaming basket, rice spatula, spatula holder, and measuring cup, so you’ll be fully prepared to make the perfect rice (or meal) every time.

Settings

This machine’s versatility is unmatched. Our Umami Rice Cooker’s intelligent micro computerized technology enables multiple menu settings and cooking functions, allowing users to make several varieties of rice – and access functions, like slow cook and steam.

Even though there are so many settings and menu options, this machine is designed to be easy and user-friendly. All you have to do is click the setting you want, and the rice cooker will do the hard work for you.

A Guide to the Umami’s 12 Settings:

The quick white and quick Jasmine features reduced cooking time for dinner in a snap
The GABA brown rice setting activates the rice for increased nutritional value
The steam setting cooks meats and vegetables without the need for added fats or oils for a nutritious and delicious meal
The slow cook setting to whip up soups, stews, and one-pot meals you can savor later
Perhaps one of the most exciting settings of this machine is the namesake Umami feature, which makes sweet, soft, fluffy, and flavorful rice through extended soaking and steaming
Other settings include white, brown, mixed, sushi/sweet, porridge, and congee

Tips and Tricks for Your Umami Rice Cooker NL-GAC 10/18

Can you guess how long you should keep your rice warm in your rice cooker? Some customers will keep their rice for 4-5 days, but we recommend keeping your rice for only 12 hours to maximize taste. Not to worry, with this machine’s Extended Keep Warm feature, you can keep your rice up to 24 hours, as well as reheat the rice at the touch of a button with the Reheat feature.

Instead of keeping your rice in the rice cooker for days, refrigerate or freeze your leftover rice to enjoy later. Store leftover rice in a container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap to retain moisture. When you’re ready to eat it, microwave it and use it for fried rice or rice salad!

With the new steam feature, you’ll be able to cook your favorite flavorful meals without the guilt. Pack the steaming basket like the image below after adding water to the pan and select the steam menu setting for perfectly cooked vegetables. Did you know, meats and fish can also be steamed?

Looking for more recipe ideas? Zojirushi.com has plenty of exciting recipes you can cook in your Umami rice cooker. Try our Chesapeake Crab Carrot Rice on the Jasmine setting for a fun dish that is effortless to make. Remember, when using our recipes, to note the product the recipe was designed for and adjust accordingly.

Which exciting feature are you looking forward to using on your new Umami Rice Cooker? Be sure to share your dishes with us on social by tagging your photos on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! #Zojirushi #ZoFan

Making the Most of your Single Lid Stainless Mugs

Posted on April 24, 2021 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Hi Zo’ Fans! Our product of the month for April is our SM-ZA and SM-ZP Stainless Mugs with a one-piece lid. This Stainless Mug actually comes in two models because it comes in multiple sizes, with 8 uplifting colors that are perfect for the season.

The SM-ZA line is simple and sleek, holding up to 20 oz. of your favorite hot or cold beverages or foods. The Pale Orchid and Mint Blue colors add a pretty pop of springtime color, while the Slate Black and Pale White are sophisticated for every occasion.

The SM-ZP line is the smaller, more expressive sibling, topping off at 8 oz. and labeled with cheerful quotes and sketches that take you to relaxing scenes in nature. It’s there to remind you to breathe, take it easy, and enjoy life, as you should! In addition to these graphics, the SM-ZP mugs come in four 2-tone colors, which are Latte Beige (-TZ), Dusty Blue (-AZ), Ash Green (-GZ), and Smokey Pink (-PZ). Cute and stylish, this stainless mug is a great companion to take on-the-go because of its compact design and eye-grabbing colors.

What makes these SM-ZA and SM-ZP Stainless Mugs so unique is that they have a gasket-free, one-piece lid that is easy to clean and prevents the loss of parts. The wide opening makes the drinking experience more like drinking from a regular cup, and the wide opening also accommodates full-size ice cubes for easy filling.

Made with BPA-free plastic and stainless steel, the mugs feature an easy-to-clean nonstick coated interior that is easy to clean in a snap. A special manufacturing technique also ensures that these mugs are ultra-lightweight!

Looking for delicious recipe ideas to carry around in your Stainless Steel mug? Keep scrolling for our suggestions to quench your thirst.

Green Tea White Virgin Sangria

Try this fruit-packed refresher that uses cucumbers, lemon & lime, apples, kiwifruit, as well as green tea, grape juice, and cinnamon. You can use your Zojirushi VE Hybrid Water Boiler & Warmer (CV-DCC40/50) for the boiled water or go old school on the stove.

Zo tip: Have you owned your water boiler for a year? If so, then it’s time to inspect the inner lid gasket and lid for signs of wear. The inner lid gasket or lid should be replaced when it’s becoming rigid, cracking, or experiencing discoloration. Replacement parts for water boilers are available on our Parts & Accessories page.

Oh So Soy Latte

This warm pick-me-up is also a delicious dairy-free treat, combining soy milk, espresso and sugar to your taste. If you like your coffee hot, it’s a good idea to preheat your mug by pouring warm water from a Micom Water Boiler & Warmer (CD-NAC40/50); this ensures that the heat from your drink is not absorbed by the mug and stays in your drink instead.

Zo tip: When warming water in your Zojirushi Water Boiler, don’t put it in the sink when filling: Water boilers have important electric components on the base, and if placed in the sink, they may get wet and damage them. The best way to fill the water boiler is to use a container like a pitcher and fill it. Doing so will ensure all electronic parts are safe and dry.

Fresh Herb Tea

For a simple and aromatic beverage, this tea will become your go-to. Simply set your Micom Water Boiler & Warmer (CD-WCC30/40) to 208°F, and grab some lemongrass, mint stems, and sage leaves.

Zo tip: Did you know that the water boilers need to be descaled with citric acid at least every 3 months? Minerals like calcium will accumulate on the interior surface and, if not cleaned, will cause dispensing issues and may damage the interior. Careful maintenance of your water boiler will ensure its optimal performance. Take a look at our instructional video for step-by-step instructions on how to clean your water boiler.

Which Stainless Mug is your favorite, and where will it take you? Be sure to share your experience with us on social by tagging your photos on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! #Zojirushi #ZoFan

Do More with Zojirushi Mini Food Jars: Favorite Meals To-Go

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Happy March, Zo’ Fans! As the weather warms up and spring peeks around the corner, we are excited to announce the Stainless Steel Mini Food Jar (SW-EK26H), a colorful and portable delight, as our product of the month. This compact food jar is our smallest member of the Zojirushi food jar family, that can store up to 9 oz of capacity, and comes in two delightfully festive pastel colors, making them the perfect companion for your springtime adventures (even if it’s just to your work-from-home desk set up in the other room!).

If you’re looking for great pack-and-go lunch ideas, look no further – we’ve rounded up some delicious recipes here to get you started. The best part? With our mini food jars, you won’t have to concern yourself about your hot food getting cold or your cold drinks getting warm, and with its portable size and innovative design, you won’t need to worry about spills or leaks making a dent in your busy day. Just fill, pack away, and enjoy. Your mini food jar will keep your goods safe for hours (when used as directed).

Favorite Meals To-Go

Soaking in The Sun

If you’re planning to take your mini food jar outdoors for a picnic or hike, our Wild Rice Salad is a fan favorite that will be perfect as a healthy daytime snack. Using our Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer (NP-NWC10/18) to cook the wild rice and a skillet to prepare the other grains, this fiber-rich and filling meal can be served either warm or cold. It will even keep in the fridge for yummy leftovers!

Expert Tip: Mind the time, March 14 is daylight savings! Don’t forget to spring forward the clocks on your appliances too. On most Zojirushi rice cookers, breadmakers, and coffee makers, pressing one of the TIME SETTING buttons will get the clock blinking, and then you can change the time.

Don’t forget to pack a drink! It’s always important to stay hydrated when venturing outdoors, and our Fresh Fruit Tea will keep you energized and satisfied all day in our mini food jar. After infusing the tea with your fruits, either fill your food jar with the hot tea or chill it in the fridge first for an ice-cold refresher.

Mini Feast in a Jar

Looking to sneak in something a little more decadent for your to-go meal? Our Saucy Pasta will fill your craving with delicious bacon, broccoli, and rich tomato sauce. This recipe is designed for our larger food jars, so make sure to adjust the portions (or save the extra for later!).

Expert Tip: You’ll want to preheat your food jar to make sure the inside stays piping hot. Pour hot water from your water boiler and close the lid to let it warm. Did you know? if you hold down the unlock button, you can turn off the sound or change the melody on your water boiler to a beep. For rice cookers, it’s the TIMER button, and for coffee makers, it’s the CANCEL button.

For a sweet bite to round out your mini feast, indulge in our Red Cranberry Gelatin. Made with fruit juice, fresh berries, and honey, this recipe is light, delectable, and perfect for the kids.

If you want more inspiring recipe ideas for on-the-go, visit our website for a full list of meals specifically tailored for our insulated food jars. What’ll you be making for your mini food jar?

Get to Know the Mini Food Jar (SW-EK26H)

Tiny and Mighty

With a compact design, this mini food jar measures 3 5/8” x 3 5/8” x 4 3/8” (W x D x H), weighs 10 oz, and tops off at 9 oz. Its stainless steel vacuum insulation will keep foods hot or cold for hours and can handle temperatures from 54°F to 122°F. The tight-fitted lid with gasket seals works hard to minimize leaks and maximize heat retention, and the 2-1/2” wide opening makes it easy to fill and easy to clean.

Two Colors

Our product of the month comes in two colors, Pale Orange (-DP) and Pale Blue (-AP), though small, they are bright and eye-catching. Perfect for work lunches, school lunches, family picnics, and more.

Care for Your Food Jar, and it Will Care for You

Make sure to clean your mini food jar and all of your Zojirushi appliances after use, and only use the jar as intended, to store hot or cold food items and beverages. Always be careful when handling hot water, and do not overfill the jar. Did you know you can order replacement parts from

What are your favorite meals to take on the go, and where do you plan to take your new mini food jar? Be sure to share your experience with us on social by tagging your photos on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! #Zojirushi #ZoFan