I would be have trouble with a brown crust form on the rice . then one evening I forget to put salt in the rice . Lo ! the rice cook perfectly , there be no brown crust and the rice be delicious . -lrb- it have the consistency and taste of rice from a good chinese restaurant . -rrb- so I get excellent rice for dinner and low sodium content to boot . other have suggest stir the rice at various stage of the cooking process . that can not hurt -- but I do not stir the rice and there be no problem -- once I leave the salt out . unfortunately , there be no bell or buzzer to let you know when the rice be finish cooking . so you do have to pay attention . but then , this device cost less than $ 20 not over $ 200 . I definitely recommend this rice cooker for small family or singles . it would work very well in a small apartment or anywhere if the cook top space be limit .