Just pour cold tap water into the reservoir at the bottm of the cooker, place food into the steaming bowls and cover. Plug in the cooker cord, leave on for required amount if time, and voilà!.... Rice, Vegetable, Idllis, Dhoklas, Modhaks, Corns, Fish, Chicken, Prawans, Stuffed tomatoes, DIm Sum, Chocolate Pudding, Bhappa dohi, Caramel Custard... all ready in a jiffy! You'll wonder how you ever did without it!