several year ago , I own a large Zojirushi rice cooker , and it be a fine product . more recently , I buy the low-end model of Zojirushi rice cooker and vegetable steamer , and it work wonderfully for a cooker in its price range . I leave that model with a friend who be host a asian exchange student , and she use it to provide she guest with the same quality cook rice he be use to at home . I need a first-rate rice cooker , and again go with Zojirushi . I have now cook white rice , brown rice and make porridge , and I love this machine ! as always , two point : First , measure precisely . second , use the best rice you can afford to buy -- new crop rice from my local asian supermarket work particularly well . do these two thing , and you will have consistently excellent rice every time . I expect to get year of service out of this little cooker ; it perform as well as its big brother -lrb- at a much lower price -rrb- and take up about the same counter space as a toaster . altogether , a excellent deal !