I am lazy. I boil water than add the rice or pasta. Otherwise there is just too much stirring involved. Starting pasta in cold water also makes it pasty. I boil water, dump in rice, cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring, then put on a tight lid, turn off the stove and let it sit 5 minutes. Perfect for instant brown rice. I do not use a cozy, but if I were to go out in really cold weather I would. This post-boil "cooking" really saves fuel.