Heat from an external source will damage the appliance. Never use the appliance on a stovetop. Do not place the appliance on or in close proximity to a hot gas or electric burner or a heated oven.
The Instant Zest automatically perfectly cooks a variety of grains.
Before using the Zest, verify that all parts are accounted for.
Illustrations are for reference only and may differ from the actual product.
Illustrations are for reference only and may differ from the actual product.
Your Zest features an intuitive control panel with status indicators and an LED display to help make cooking quick and easy.
Standby Mode
When the rice and grain cooker is plugged in, the display shows OFF to indicate that it is in Standby mode.
You may select a Smart Program when in Standby mode.
Cancel
Press Cancel to stop a Smart Program at any time. The rice and grain cooker returns to Standby mode and the display indicates OFF. −/+ Buttons
Use to increase or decrease the cooking time or Delay Start time.
Smart Programs
For the cooking time and temperature associated with each Smart Program, see Smart Programs and Cooking Ratios.
Adjust and Save Cooking Time
Select a Smart Program, then use the −/+ buttons to adjust the cooking time in increments of 10 minutes. The adjusted cooking time is saved when the Smart Program begins.
Only applicable to Oatmeal and Steam Smart Programs.
Adjust and Save Cooking Temperature
With the Smart Program selected, press the Smart Program button again to toggle between HI (High) and LO (Low). The adjusted cooking temperature is saved when the Smart Program begins.
Only applicable to Sauté and Keep Warm Smart Programs.
Keep Warm
Press Keep Warm to toggle the setting on or off at any time. Keep Warm has 2 modes:
Delay Start
After selecting a Smart Program and adjusting the cooking time and temperature, press Delay Start, then use the −/+ buttons to adjust the Delay Start time in increments of 10 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours.
Not applicable to the Sauté Smart Program.
Reset Individual Smart Program
With the cooker in Standby mode, press and hold the Smart Program button you wish to reset for 5 seconds. The cooker beeps to indicate that it has been restored to the factory default settings.
Reset All Smart Programs
With the cooker in Standby mode, press and hold Cancel for 5 seconds. The cooker will beep once to indicate that all Smart Programs have been restored to the factory default settings.
 | Indicates that no Smart Program is running and the cooker is in Standby mode. |
 | Indicates that a Smart Program has been selected but not yet started. |
 | Indicates that a Smart Program is running. Display reads On when the White Rice, Brown Rice, Quinoa, and Mixed Grains Smart Programs are running. Display changes to MM:SS when less than 10 minutes of cooking time remains. |
 | Indicates the time remaining in the Delay Start cycle, or Smart Program cooking time remaining when using the Oatmeal, Steam or Sauté Smart Programs. Display changes to MM:SS when less than 1 hour remains until Delay Start or Smart Program completion. |
 | Indicates that the selected Smart Program is set to LO (Low). |
 | Indicates that the selected Smart Program is set to HI (High). |
 | Indicates that the Smart Program has ended. |
For the cooking time and temperature associated with each Smart Program, see Smart Programs and Cooking Ratios.
The Zest features Smart Programs for one-touch cooking of popular rice and grains. For best results, follow grain-to-water ratios as described in Smart Programs and Cooking Ratios.
These Smart Programs detect the volume of ingredients in the inner pot and control cooking times and temperatures automatically:
| White Rice | Brown Rice | Oatmeal |
| Quinoa | Mixed Grains (Zest 20 only) | |
The Zest also features Smart Programs for other cooking methods:
Steam
Sauté
Cooking times and temperatures for these Smart Programs are adjustable.
The Steam Smart Program uses steam (212°F / 100°C) to cook food.
Zest 20C only
The Sauté Smart Program lightly fries/browns foods using a small amount of oil in the inner pot.
The Zest also offers the Keep Warm Smart Program to keep any food warm for up to 10 hours.
Adjustments to cooking time and temperature may only be made when using Keep Warm as a standalone Smart Program. Any adjustments made do not affect the Keep Warm setting when it is used in conjunction with other Smart Programs.
The cooking times and temperatures for all Smart Programs are controlled automatically (according to the volume of ingredients to be cooked) and are not user-adjustable.
| Smart Program | Grain to Liquid Ratios | Cooking Time | Cooking Time Adjustment | Cooking Temperature |
| White Rice | 1:1.5 | Automatic 25–60 min per vol | N/A | 212°F / 100°C Not user-adjustable |
| Brown Rice | 1:2 | Automatic 40–90 min per vol | ||
| Quinoa | 1:1.5 | Automatic 3 –60 min per vol | ||
| Mixed Grains * | 1:2 | Automatic 40–90 min per vol | ||
| Steam | N/A | Default: 10 min | User-adjustable Range: 5–60 min | 212°F / 100°C Not user-adjustable |
| Sauté * | N/A | Default: HI, 30 min | User-adjustable Range: 1–30 min | User-adjustable LO: 221°F / 105°C HI: 320°F / 160°C |
| Oatmeal | 1:3 | Default: 50 min | User-adjustable Range: 20–60 min | 212°F / 100°C Not user-adjustable |
| Auto Keep Warm | N/A | Default/Max: 12 hrs | N/A | User-adjustable LO: 149°F / 65°C HI: 176°F / 80°C |
| Keep Warm | N/A | Default/Max: 10 hrs | User-adjustable ** Range: 1hr–10 hrs | User-adjustable LO: 149°F / 65°C HI: 176°F / 80°C |
* Zest 20 Cup model ONLY.
** Keep Warm cooking time is NOT user-adjustable when used in conjunction with Smart Programs for Automatic Cooking.
Follow these steps to familiarize yourself with the Zest, and to ensure your cooker is operating properly.
The cooker may be hot during and after cooking. Do not touch hot surfaces.
Clean the cooker after each use.
Always unplug the cooker and let it cool to room temperature before cleaning. Never use harsh chemical detergents, scouring pads, or powders to clean any part of the cooker.
Allow the cooker to dry completely before further use or storage.
Empty and rinse the condensation collector after each use.
Clean accessories after use.
Always ensure the inner pot is dry on the outside before inserting into the cooker base.
Ensure all grease and food debris is fully removed.
Optionally, spray with non-stick cooking spray before adding food.
Clean after each use.
Wipe with a soft, damp cloth or sponge.
If wet food or grease enters the cooker base, wipe clean with a soft, damp cloth or sponge.
Clean the exterior with a soft, damp cloth or sponge, and wipe dry to avoid streaking.
How-to Videos and Recipes available online at instantappliances.com
| Do not immerse the appliance in water. Do not rinse the appliance under a tap. Do not wet the prongs of the power cord. | Without proper cleaning, food may build up around the steam release. | If you smell smoke, press Cancel and unplug the appliance. Once cool, remove the inner pot and check for foreign objects between the inner pot and heating element. |
Contact Customer Care:
1-800-828-7280
support@instantappliances.com
instantappliances.com/#Chat
Any other servicing should be performed by an authorized service representative.
Do not attempt to service the appliance yourself.
Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.
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