I have never own a rice cooker before this , however , I have cook lot of rice over the year . its a inexpensive rice cooker and if you follow the direction , it 'll do fine . since move to the mountain of Colorado , its take I year to adjust to the lower the boiling point due to the higher elevation -lrb- 8300 ' -rrb- ... it take more time -lrb- add ~ 10-20min -rrb- and the dry climate mean use more water -lrb- for a 1 cup of dry rice , take ~ 2.5 + cup water rather than 2cup -rrb- . still , there have be many time when rice just do not work out the way I want . so I mention that it would be nice to have a rice cooker and let it deal with the cook time . of course I have do some research , and when this come in the mail as a present , I be a little nervous since Oster 's seem to get so-so review . well , I cook my typical basmatus rice , a 1\/2 cup dry and add my typical 1c water plus extra , put lid on , press the button and go to do something else . a lot of reviewer mention how the rice on the bottom get over-cooked , sometimes brown or burnt . some reviewer like the crunchiness , some hate it . well , the direction tell you to stir the rice - especially the bottom of the cooker after 15 minute . sure enough , the rice at the bottom be start to stick . I scrape it all loose , add another 1\/4 cup water , chop it up a little , put the lid on , and let fate take its course . would the rice by a burnt mess ? 20 minute later we have the best sticky rice we have ever have ! plus it seem to cook faster . and I really like that it go to ` warm ' mode automatically . one major drawback : it spew hot sticky water up under the lid and through the vent all over the kitchen but once we wipe the lid off -lrb- without pick up the lid -rrb- , it settle down . if you be a neat freak or want a set-and-forgot , this rice cooker be not for you . and for I , I 'll come up with a little steam catcher helmet and deal with the mess . for the price , its a good buy . and , I love the red color too ! -lrb- find this cool tip from Spyce : to help keep the starch from bubble up and spray out of the vent hole , rinse the rice thoroughly and drain . heat a small amount of olive oil in the rice bowl , once the oil be heat , carefully add the rice and saute it for 3 to 4 minute . add the water and continue cooking . -rrb- I be go to try this tip next time ! BTW , this cooker seem like a knock-off of the similar rival rice cooker -lrb- both own by Jarden -rrb-