ChoJiah Self Cooking Electric Lunch Box, Mini Rice Cooker, Multi-function Cooking Steaming Lunch Box for Home Office School Cook Raw Food, 1.5L/110V/ Purple

Update to my prior review below = I received an email from the company after my review. They sent me a new cooker without returning the original. They really back up their product and felt I got a defective one. New one has not had any problems, so I moved my rating up to 5 as it deserves.I continue to use this almost daily. I've now made rice in it - which came out perfect. The only items that can be a little harder to clean are cheesy foods, and open eggs - I have attempted to make a version of poached eggs by steaming in water [broken open first] that I've done in a no stick pan prior. It doesn't work perfectly in either situation, so it ws an experiment where timing is unknown. Still turned out some edible eggs, but not quite as hoped.Prior review - I so want to give this a 5. But the little handles are very light on this, and one on the top unit that locks the box in place popped off immediately and no matter how I have tried, can not get it back on. So if using this for a carry to work lunchbox, it would be a total mess and the stars would be zero.The other issues - but one I had a clue about pre-purchase from watching videos online on similar cookers - is not having a proper instruction booklet. I don't mean recipes per se, but an idea of how much water is right to use if you want the unit to turn off by itself. It runs until the water is all steamed away, so if too much water it will keep cooking.So far for my purposes the only issue is losing a little steam and this making a small puddle on the kitchen counter. I bought right before going into the hospital for knee replacement surgery, and home about a week. So far I have only heated up very cold precooked food and added some fresh vegetables to another layer, which is helping me figure out how much water to use. For reheating it is a very small amount. So I get an idea for frozen foods or for rice more is needed... an estimate what it might be, but will need to keep experimenting.So far it has been lifesaver. I wish I'd had one before when I was already in pain for years. To reheat food it takes only a tiny bit of water and a few minutes, and keeps things hot a good deal. You need to be careful not to open too soon after it shuts off, or you shut it off manually, to prevent a steam burn. It gets very hot. You can hear it bubbling.I have reheated so far - soup, lasagna, beef stew, and store bought mini-quiche which fit right in its own pan. All turned out brilliantly and I did not have to stand and watch them. Once cooked the foods all poured out easily, nothing sticking to the stainless pans. So light and easy to clean. I have stick-free pans of good quality, but they are heavy and though clean up very well, still stick sometimes, even using butter or oil. With the cooker bowls, I have had to do no heavy lifting, no scrubbing, just rinse and then a once over soap wash. Could go in dishwasher, but I'm using it daily now.Since being home the only thing I've cooked on my stove in a pan is scrambled eggs.As for the cooker, bowls are more than enough to feed one person oversized with the big bowl... or two people proper size servings. You could eat out of them, but they do get very hot to remove easily.I specifically chose this model to have the two layers, to make rice in the bottom and other food up top - or two items below, but have not yet had the energy or appetite to do this. Looking forward to that.However, if you are looking for a size large enough for a lunch at work, especially to reheat from other large cookings you do, the basic sized cookers are more than enough. I would then consider other brands where the handle may be stronger, and some even include a carry bag.*Came back to add - now have cooked from frozen. Of course, you do have to defrost the item enough to remove from any plastic container first. It was then just as easy, took about twice the water of unfrozen, and maybe twice the time. But honestly, I've been walking away, not noticing times. Just start whatever I am cooking before I go do something like my PT exercises, or read emails, and then come back to check.

I’m thrilled with my electric lunchbox! It works like advertised. I can now eat freshly-cooked lunch at work. No more microwave reheating for me. The shut-off safety feature works great. When there’s no water in the plastic bottom chamber it won’t turn on. Be aware that it cooks with steam - very hot steam - and the surrounding area may get some of the condensation. However, it will be minimal because the cooking period is so short. Most foods will be ready in 20-30 minutes. Because there’s a lot of steam circulating inside, things like rice will come out nice and fluffy using no more than a 1:1 water ratio. No oil needed; a bit of sea salt goes a long way. It’s a bit tricky to get the plastic parts to fit together; they don’t just fall in place. Make sure they sit well and then secure with the plastic clamps. These clamps do need some pushing until they click shut. The electric cord is heavy duty, very appropriate for the job. The pans feel substantial and are made of nice quality stainless steel. Everything is easy to wash. My first dish (pictured) consisted of 8 or 9 raw shrimps (large - 30-40 size), onions, crushed garlic, tomato paste, ginger juice and soy sauce topped with broccoli florets on the deep bottom pan; and 1/3 cup rice, rinsed and well drained. The bottom pan is covered with the plastic lid that comes with the cooker; and the flatter top pan fits inside a sandwich-size Ziploc. I put it all together the night before, placing both pans in the fridge until I leave for work. An hour before lunchtime, I uncover the pans, pour water inside the bottom chamber and 1/3 cups on top of the rice, close the lunchbox, plug it in, turn it on and let it steam away. when the light goes off, let it sit for 5-10 minutes and carefully remove the food and serve. The pans will not be terribly hot, so maybe use a small cloth, paper towel or napkin to help you grab them while emptying into your plate. For firmer veggies, I should have added them halfway into the cooking; but it’s more hassle and they did not turn out bad. I guess the trick is to place things that take longer to cook on the bottom pan. Rice takes longer than veggies, but rinsing them ahead of time makes them cook faster than cooking rice right out of their package before cooking. Common sense and a bit of planning ahead your meal pays off. And have fun while you practice!

This is a great little appliance to have to be able to safely., without the harmful affects of a microwave, warm your food up. It takes about 30 min and it’s done. But if you are at work and cant eat your lunch in exactly 30 min that’s alright! It will keep your food warm for even a few hours after that. My food is always super hot when I take it out. I usually start cooking my food at 5pm then take my lunch break at 6pm. My lunch is always still piping hot. The only down side I experienced was when I was going to put it away after cleaning it. After putting all the stackable parts back together I picked it up by the handles on top and apparently I didn’t have one of the side locks down very well and it fell dropped to the floor and broke off one of the locking mechanisms. I couldn’t get it back on because it broke a piece off that it needed to snap it back in. I found putting each stackable piece back on when putting it back together takes a few minutes to get lined up in order to lick it down. But I don’t find this a big deal. Even though on of the snap down locks broke off it still works to heat my food. That part is great! I have used it to heat up my eat, fit, go meals and some soups I have brought to eat. Works great!

I bought this electric cooker to make healthy fresh meals at lunch while at work. It’s fast and works great. I wish it came with a receipt book

It is so easy to prepare meals in this that can easily feed 2 people. I use it for lunch and dinner. Saves time and money. No extra pans to wash, saving on the water and power bill. I get home from work. Load it up. Jump in the shower. When I'm done, the food is done. Perfect.

Being a single guy, cooking was never a joy! With this amazing product I am whipping up healthy and fun meals! Amazed at how everything gets cooked and those steamed Veggies never tasted so good!!!! Worth the money, no issues to report.

I’m loving it. I’m using it for 3weeks already and so far it’s working perfectly. It’s easy to use and very convenient. The product exceeds my expectation. It keeps my food warm.

Not bad