Review on Tiger JAX-T10U-K 5.5-Cup (Uncooked) Micom Stainless Steel Black Rice Cooker with Food Steamer & Slow Cooker by Tutan Hesch

First let me say this is a great rice cooker. In the past I have always used and bought cheaper rice cookers from Wal-Mart or elsewhere and have been reluctant to spend that much. My mother insisted it was worth it and I had to agree. Rice comes out much better than my previous rice cooker which was a cheap model (probably Panasonic). I didn't know what was wrong until I ate rice cooked in this oven. There are many other reviews detailing the pros and cons, but I will list a few that influenced my decision. Plus points + Made in Japan is a subjective perception of quality. + Adjustable Cooking Time - The Zojirushi model I compared didn't have a timer, which was a plus for me. It is, but after reading the Tiger manual it says the battery lasts about 5 years and they recommend an "authorized dealer" to replace it for you. I expect it to last more than 5 years and don't know what I will do when the battery wears out as I don't know where to get a replacement battery. I'll probably try it myself first, but if I knew beforehand I'd check other options) - No condensate collector. Every rice cooker I've seen or used has always had a small catch pan for water condensing on top of the lid, but this one doesn't! When the rice cooks, it gets a little moister than I'd like, but if you let it sit on the keep warm setting, it gets to the perfect point. in addition, some residual water drips when opening the lid, which is annoying. This missing distributor may be intentional, but it surprises me a little. Summary All in all, this is a great rice cooker and I would recommend it to anyone who needs less rice.