Instant Pot Zest 8 Cup One Touch Rice Cooker, From the Makers of Instant Pot, Steamer, Cooks Rice, Grains, Quinoa and Oatmeal, 8-cup cooked/4-cup uncooked, No Pressure Cooking Functionality

The reviews say this item is returned a lot due to size. People must have huge families because it makes enough rice to feed 8 people when I cook Asian meals that require rice. I tried this brand because consumer reports listed it is as the best brand under $200. They were right. I get perfect rice every time. The auto warmer keeps it warm for up to 10 hours and it doesn't get sticky or dry while in the warming setting. As someone who cooks from scratch and had never used a rice cooker before, I am blown away. It makes rice better than I do. The instructions could not be simpler. Push the button for the food you are cooking, and it already knows the time needed. The machine has no odor and is small enough to fit on the counter and out of the way while I'm cooking the rest of the meal.

I mean this in the most complimentary way, it does its job well and its durable! It doesnt have a lot of frills but it will feed ur family for years

I bought this 4 years ago and it is still working great! It is the perfect size for the 2 of us. So easy to use and simple to clean. I never made rice at home before this purchase and now it’s a staple. Rinse my rice, add my liquid of choice and seasonings and push start. We have perfect rice every single time. It really couldn’t be more simple. I have even added a can of cooked meat (chicken or spam), can of drained beans and even frozen vegetables for a one pot meal. If it were to fail I would purchase another asap.

I absolutely love this little appliance. I put in a mix of grains (rinsed) including brown rice, quinoa and buckwheat together, added two cups of water for each cup of grain, closed the lid, pushed the brown rice button. It cooked it all perfectly. Then, I brought in some fresh greens from my greenhouse, washed them, put them in the steamer basket and a cup of water in the bottom of the insert, closed the lid, pushed "steam" and they cooked perfectly. It's so easy to use and easy to clean.

First I have owned at 3qt Instant Pot for 4 years. I recently had to purchase a new cord (think I got it wet) but no other issues. I have never used it as a pressure cooker but use it weekly to cook lentils or braise chicken. I love I can sear & then braise skinless boneless chicken using the slow cooker function in 35-45 mins. I am not using the oven & I don't have to babysit the stovetop & my chicken comes out flavorful and juicy. After much research and based on my Instant Pot experience, I decided to give the Zest a try. I bought this Instant Zest to replace a Green Life 4 cup Rice & Grain Cooker, which worked great & I gave to family. I need to make more than 4 cups for meal prep most weeks and I was tired of making multiple batches of rice. On the negative side, I was disappointed in the Steamer Tray. I use only Stainless Steel, Cast Iron or Ceramic Coated Cook/Bakeware. Why give me a Ceramic Coated Bowl when you also give me a Plastic Steamer Tray? The Plastic Steamer Tray was left in the original box along with the Plastic Rice Paddle. On the positive side, I made a small rice test batch first. I used Basmati Rice, rinsed it til clear water & then let it soak in clean cool water 20-30 min. I used "2 rice cooker cups" (each equals 3/4 cup in US measurement) or 3/4+3/4 = 1 1/2 cups of uncooked rice. I added 1 1/4 cup of water for each 3/4 cup of uncooked rice. So added 2 1/2 total cups total of water. I did bloom Saffron in some of the water I added. I added the Rice then Water into the pot & stirred. Plugged it in & turned on machine by pushing 'White Rice' button. My old Green Life always gave me great fluffy rice in 25 mins for the same amount of rice. The Zest was over 30 minutes, so not bad. I did like how there was a countdown starting at the 10 min mark. Opened lid when beeped. Perfect, fluffy rice with no burning or stickiness. That little amount of rice had separated & fluffed up to 3/4 of the pot. I could have used a paper towel to wipe down the clean bowl but I did a hand wash. I loved my Green Life but this 1st try in the Zest was better. The rice was very tender and absorbed the Saffron evenly. I could have eaten the rice straight out of the machine but I spooned it into a bowl added Chicken Chunks & some Veggies & a quickly put together Asian style Sauce. I put less rice in my dinner bowl than usual but I felt I had eaten more. Dinner made for several more meal times. I gave 4 Stars because of the PLASTIC Steamer Tray. Also, this was my 1st time using the Instant Zest. I will probably Update this post once I have used it for a while. I still need to try my generic Long Grain Rice, Oatmeal & Sushi Rice in the Zest. Again, best Basmati Rice I have ever made, all fluffy & tender. And I did not have any water leaked on my counter - all dry below.

When I got this I was looking for a faster cooking rice maker. I didn't read completely and this is not it. However, I am not going to complain because my rice came out fine. I have an Instant Pot and I try to make rice in it and always fail and burn things. So I was a little hesitant to get this Zest by Instant Pot cause why on earth do I need more than one kinf od Instant Pot. Well it works pretty good. I added my rice and waited for the timer to go off....which was about 20 minutes or so. I didn't really time it but that is about the timeframe. I did 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of water, though I think the instructions said something about 1 1/4. It didn't stick to the pot, like my Instant Pot had done previously. The rice itself was a little over cooked, but I think maybe adding less water ..just a smidge would have fixed that. I mean I didn't measure 100% accurately so that could have made the difference. I did wash my rice before hand which truthfully I rarely ever do. I didn't have the spewing at the top like others have said. I even put a paper towel down just in case. There was nothing on it. The whole system cleaned super easy as well. So I would for sure by it again. I have used it about 5 times now for different things...rice, oatmeal, quinoa, and even made a sauce in it. I got the 8cup which is really 4 cups dry rice. It was smaller than I thought it would be but actually works out because my family eats way to much rice. The keep warm setting though I don't think you should use for long periods cause it will keep cooking the items in the pot, so be careful with that.

With all that's going on, we've been cooking at home a lot more. In the past, we used the instant rice pouches. After watching a few online recipe videos, it became clear we needed a rice cooker. This one has been fantastic. We've used it probably 30 times and rice has been great every time. We typically make 1-3 servings, so the smaller size is exactly what we need. This unit may be too small for a larger family, but I would think you could get at least 6 servings of rice out of this without too much trouble. Never having owned a rice cooker before, I didn't realize how inexpensive rice is when you don't buy in the pouch. Instead of $1.50 or $2 for a single-use pouch, it's now $1-$2 for a bag that will last ~10 meals. And the rice tastes better. Usage couldn't be easier. Follow the recommended water/rice ratio provided with the cooker, hit the button an just wait. The only downside is that there isn't a timer from the beginning of the cycle, though a countdown time kicks in at some point through the process. What I have done is time how long it takes to make 1 portion and 2 portion of rice so I can now plan the rest of the meal accordingly. It takes about 22-24 minutes to make really tasty rice. And with the warming function, you don't need to be all that precise in timing out your meals. The rice can sit in the cooker for a while without any negative effect. Lastly, clean up is easy with the non-stick interior bowl. I've been hand-washing the bowl to avoid potential damage to the non-stick surface in the dishwasher, but cleaning that takes all of 10 seconds. A serving spoon, that works well with rice, steaming basket (haven't used it) and measuring cup also come with the cooker. The measuring cup uses the term "cup" but it isn't a true 8oz cup. It's more of a generic unit for measuring rice and water in the correct ratio, so don't lose the included cup.

I recently took the plunge into the mystical world of the Instant Pot Rice Cooker, and let me tell you, my skepticism was diced finer than finely chopped onions. But oh, how wrong I was! This contraption is like having a rice wizard in my kitchen, casting flavorful spells with every grain. At first, I couldn't believe that a kitchen appliance could make such a difference in the rice game. I mean, come on, it's just rice, right? Wrong! From the very first batch, I knew this Instant Pot had some serious culinary sorcery up its sleeve. The rice that emerged from this magical metal cauldron wasn't just rice; it was an experience. Each subsequent batch somehow managed to outshine its predecessor. It's like the Instant Pot whispers ancient rice wisdom to each grain, urging them to reach their full potential. But wait, there's more! This pot doesn't just cook rice; it turns your kitchen into a flavor battleground. It forces broth flavors into the rice like a seasoned general leading an army into tasty victory. The rice becomes a canvas, soaking up all the savory goodness, turning even the most basic grains into culinary masterpieces. And let me tell you about the basmati rice—I summoned the most amazing basmati dish that would make Aladdin jealous. The Instant Pot coaxed out the fragrant aroma and delicate texture of the basmati, transforming my kitchen into a Persian spice bazaar. I half-expected a magic carpet to appear, carrying my taste buds on a flavorful journey. In conclusion, I went from rice skeptic to Instant Pot disciple in a flash. The Instant Pot Rice Cooker is no mere kitchen appliance; it's a rice alchemist, a flavor enchanter, a grain guru. If you're still cooking rice the old-fashioned way, it's time to level up and let the Instant Pot weave its rice magic. You'll never look at a grain of rice the same way again!