Call my Asian brothers and sisters! I'll start at the beginning. I've had this rice cooker for years, more than a decade for sure. I bought this somewhere in Chinatown, maybe hing wah imports, and went with the extra-legit rose pattern. 5.5 cup in case I have a party. Figured that's what old Chinese grandmothers would choose, and they are what I aspire to be. In the beginning, it was a simpler time, and I was happy.
These days, the little cup that catches the runoff doesn't stay put, so I use a veggie elastic (pictured) to hold it in place. That's no biggie. The problem I find is that I'm getting a pretty firm crust of gunk in the bottom of the pot every time I use it. I've tried rinsing the rice, using more water, less water, different rice, and so far, none of it makes any damned difference.
So, what's the deal? The pot doesn't seem scratched or damaged, what could be causing the difference in outcome? Do I need to improve my technique? Do I need a new cooker? What, in short, the fuck, is up?