Boiling water without burning it

I am sure that they come in bells-and-whistles and just plain standard. I have the just plain standard type (a bit like a crock pot, with an aluminum pot for the rice to go in, a glass lid, and an optional vegetable steamer tray that you can put on top between the pot and the lid, which is not standard but not terribly frilly) and it is really right spiffy.

You might even be able to get one used at a thrift store; it is not like there is much on them that could be screwed up by a previous owner.