For those needing to prepare large quantities of rice with ease, the Zojirushi 20-Cup (Uncooked) Commercial Rice Cooker and Warmer promises both capacity and convenience. Designed for catering, large families, or commercial use, this rice cooker aims to deliver consistent, great-tasting rice without the fuss. In this review, we’ll explore its features, benefits, and potential drawbacks to help you decide if it’s the right addition to your kitchen arsenal.
Key Features
The standout feature of the Zojirushi 20-Cup Rice Cooker is its impressive capacity—it can cook up to 20 cups of uncooked rice, yielding about 40 servings. This makes it ideal for catering events, big families, or institutions where volume is key. The stainless-steel exterior gives it a sleek, professional appearance while enhancing durability, suitable for commercial environments.
One of the practical touches is the rice cooker’s automatic switch to “keep warm” mode once cooking is complete. This function maintains the rice at an ideal serving temperature without overcooking or drying it out, a feature appreciated for keeping food ready throughout the day.
Inside, the nonstick coated inner pan simplifies cleaning and prevents rice from sticking—a common annoyance with many rice cookers. The inclusion of a water-measuring line ensures accurate water-to-rice ratios, improving cooking consistency. Additionally, the unit comes with an extra-large rice spatula, perfect for stirring and serving large batches.
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Powered by 1300 watts, the cooker measures 17-1/4 by 17-1/4 by 13-1/2 inches, making it compact enough for commercial kitchens yet robust enough to handle frequent use.
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Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Large Capacity: Many users praise the ability to cook large batches in one go, making it highly efficient for catering or big meals.
- Ease of Cleanup: The nonstick inner pan is highlighted as a major convenience, with customers finding it easy to clean after use.
- Keep Warm Functionality: For some, the automatic keep-warm mode effectively maintains the ideal serving temperature throughout the day.
- Helpful Cooking Tips: Included guidance and measurement lines assist users in achieving perfectly cooked rice consistently.
Cons:
- Mixed Build Quality: While some customers find the stainless-steel construction sturdy, others report receiving defective units, raising quality control concerns.
- Functionality Issues: A number of reviewers mention malfunctions, such as the cooker stopping working after just one use.
- Inconsistent Keep Warm Performance: Although some users praise the warming feature, others note that it fails to maintain heat effectively.
- Price Point: At $338.93, it is a significant investment compared to smaller or less commercial-grade models.
These mixed reviews suggest that while the Zojirushi 20-Cup Rice Cooker performs extraordinarily for many, there are occasional reliability issues to consider.
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Who Is It For?
The Zojirushi 20-Cup Commercial Rice Cooker is tailored for professional kitchens, caterers, restaurants, large families, or anyone regularly preparing rice in bulk. If you need a reliable appliance that can consistently cook large quantities and keep rice warm for extended periods, this model is a strong contender. However, if you’re an occasional rice eater or have limited kitchen space, a smaller model might be more suitable and cost-effective.
Final Thoughts
With a solid 4.2 out of 5 stars from over 120 reviews, the Zojirushi 20-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer offers compelling benefits for those requiring volume and convenience. Its large capacity, nonstick inner pan, and automatic keep-warm features make cooking and serving rice easier, especially in commercial or large-family settings. However, potential buyers should weigh the mixed feedback on build quality and reliability against their specific needs. If you prioritize large batch cooking and ease of cleanup and are prepared for the higher price point, this rice cooker could be a valuable kitchen companion that delivers perfectly cooked rice every time—most of the time.
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