Instant™ Zest™ 8 Rice and Grain Cooker

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I never knew I would use a rice maker so much until I got this one. Because I love my Instant Pot pressure cooker, I decided to try their Instant Zest. I chose the 8 cup version, which has been perfect so far. The first time I used this appliance, I wasn't sure how much rice or water to use. The included instruction booklet has a loose guideline, but defers users to follow the instructions on their rice packaging. I wanted a stickier Basmati rice, so I used slightly less water than the rice package called for, but slightly more than the Zest's guidelines. And then I nervously waited to see how it turned out (hungry family of 5 waiting). The rice came out perfectly! My husband was especially thrilled because he's not a fan of the instant rice I usually make. This was actually EASIER than making instant rice! I put the rice and water in the pot, close it, and push the button for white rice. With that method, there is no option to control time or temperature. But it comes out perfectly every time. I don't have to wait for water to boil before adding rice, and I don't worry about rice sticking to the bottom of the pan or any boiling over. I don't think we'll have instant rice very often, if ever, at our house again. The inner pot is non-stick, and I've not had anything stick to it yet, but the instructions say a little bit of oil can be used if wanted (I have not used oil). It has the little cup attached to the back to catch condensation (like on the pressure cooker), and the lid is attached to the unit, which I really like. It comes with a plastic utensil that won't scratch the pot, a steamer tray, and a measuring cup. Although I haven't used the saute feature, I'm assuming it works similarly to that feature on their pressure cooker, which I do use frequently and find to work quite well. I do use the Keep Warm feature, and even after 90 minutes past cooking completion, my rice is not over-cooked or dried out. I would highly recommend this product, and it will continue to get a lot of use in our family.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Absolutely love this product!!! Love the size doesn't take up so much space on my counter... able to pour rice , add water and forget until completely perfect and fluffy . So convenient for a busy mother & school teacher with nightly duties