recently remarry , my new spouse and I each have rice pot and could not agree on how to consolidate duplicate small appliance into we small kitchen . for example , we each have a rice pot , and do not have room or need for both . my husband find the Zojirushi lac05 and we be able to solve we multus rice pot delimna by replace both pot with this new one . although I be initially skeptical , it turn out to be a really good choice ! the lac05 do not spit or spatter at all - it be completely self contain and have only a steam release . the internal cooking bowl be engarave with cooking measurement , and be coat ; wash up easily with no sticking . clean the outside with damp cloth . it have a small , contain footprint - it be compact and have no external dust catcher . it also sing - play different tune for start up and ! ready now , come eat ! . have a warmer that also let you know it be still on . it have different setting for white , brown , mixed rice , also do porridge -lrb- e.g. oatmeal . -rrb- we sometimes cook lentil or seaweed with we rice and it handle all that on the `` mixed '' setting . the Zojirushi lac05 model make 3 cup and it be fine for the two of we . for a few $ $ more you can get a 5.5 cup size -lrb- I assume you can make less than a full pot -rrb- . only drawback at all -lrb- if it be one -rrb- be that it be not fast . different rice take different time of course , but the point be , this cooker take about the same time as stovetop , do not reduce cooking time . but with the preset timer option , time be not a factor if you can plan ahead . I would recommend this product to anyone ! it be far superior to any of the other rice cooker that either of we have use over the year . you may think the price be a bit steep for a rice cooker , but do not be deter , it be worth the price many time over in convenience , reduce clean up and perfect rice every time !