I use to cook my rice in a pot , but it always bubble over and make a mess . so , I decide to buy this one because it have good review and look similar to the one my roommate buy from Japan . I love it ! it be be about 6 month since I buy it and it have work well . I find that Jasmine rice work best and I do have to experiment a bit with the water to rice ratio before perfect it . it steam my dumpling and veggy very well . I do have issue with the rice be too hard if I leave it in the pot on `` warm . '' but that be no biggie . my advice be to clean it immediately after all the rice have be remove . wipe down the top and empty the condensation catcher .