You could cook other stuff in with the rice, Stilly. I don't see why not. Anyway, there is an upper steam tream that you can place above the pot that holds the rice. While the rice cooks in the lower pot (which is heated from underneath by an element) the steam rises through the perforated steam tray and can be used to cook vegetables, meat, whatever...you just have to time it right and not overdo them. The steam tray can be used alone, sitting on top of the empty pot, into which you put sufficient water to provide enough steam. Very easy.

Here's one on Ebay, shown with the steamer tray on top of the pot.


rice cooker