Zojirushi NL-EAC18 vs. NS-ZCC10 vs. NS-TSC10: Which Micom Wins?

Comparing the Zojirushi NL-EAC18 vs. NS-ZCC10 vs. NS-TSC10 comes down to how the cooker lives in my kitchen: I chose the Zojirushi NL-EAC10 / NL-EAC18BA because mine stays on the counter and I wanted the 11-menu panel (including Jasmine, Quinoa, GABA Brown, Congee, Sushi, and Cake) in a matte-black body. If I needed Made-in-Japan assembly, a carry handle, and a retractable cord, I would pick the NS-ZCC10 / NS-ZCC18. If I wanted an included drop-in steaming basket, I would look at the NS-TSC10 / NS-TSC18.

3-Way Specification & Hardware Matrix

Every number below comes from Zojirushi America's manuals (`nleac`, `nszcc`, and `nstsc`).

Feature	Zojirushi NL-EAC10 (5.5-Cup) & NL-EAC18BA (10-Cup)	Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 (5.5-Cup) & NS-ZCC18 (10-Cup)	Zojirushi NS-TSC10 (5.5-Cup) & NS-TSC18 (10-Cup)
Photo
5.5-Cup Size & Power	NL-EAC10 (5.5-Cup): 663W	NS-ZCC10 (5.5-Cup): 680W	NS-TSC10 (5.5-Cup): 610W
10-Cup Size & Power	NL-EAC18BA (10-Cup): 901W	NS-ZCC18 (10-Cup): 1,000W	NS-TSC18 (10-Cup): 820W
Made In	China	Japan	China
Exterior Finish	Matte-rough black (zaratsuita) or white flat-top	Glossy white (tsurutsuru) classic body	Clear-coated stainless gray
Lid-Release Button	On top flat panel	Front latch button	Front latch button
Top Carry Handle	No (4 feet on bottom for lifting)	Yes (Fold-down handle)	Yes (Fold-down handle)
Power Cord Type	Detachable	Retractable reel	Retractable reel
Total Menu Settings	11 Settings	10 Settings	8 Settings
Jasmine & Quinoa Presets?	Yes (Both included)	No	No
GABA Brown & Steel Cut Oats?	Yes (Both included)	No (Has Semi-Brown & Rinse-Free)	No
Cake Setting?	Yes	No	Yes
Included Steaming Basket?	No	No	Yes (BPA-free basket + Steam timer)
Stay-Cool Inner Pan Handles?	No	Yes	No
Check Price	Check NL-EAC Price →	Check NS-ZCC Price →	Check NS-TSC Price →

Reviewer's note: Living with the NL-EAC18BA every day:

I fell in love at first sight with the black Zojirushi NL-EAC18BA design. The surface isn't slick and glossy (tsurutsuru / ツルツル), but a little rough (zaratsuita / ざらついた), so it blends into the kitchen. Having the lid-release button on top makes it very easy to use, and the black inner pot makes the water-level marks stand out clearly. I leave mine in the kitchen all the time, so the lack of a carry handle isn't a problem, and lifting it from the bottom where the four small feet sit isn't heavy.

Which One Would I Order?

• I ordered the NL-EAC10 or NL-EAC18BA because my cooker lives on the counter and I wanted Jasmine, Quinoa, Sushi, Brown, and Oatmeal presets in a flat-top matte-black design.
• I would pick the NS-ZCC10 or NS-ZCC18 if I moved my cooker into a cabinet after every meal (where the carry handle and retractable cord help) or specifically wanted Made-in-Japan assembly.
• I would pick the NS-TSC10 or NS-TSC18 if I wanted a carry handle plus a drop-in basket for steaming vegetables and dumplings.