A cooking apparatus, comprising: a food vessel, comprising: a receptacle for holding food; a stored identity for the food vessel; and a program module adapted to transmit the stored identity, the program module further comprising: a first pin extending outward from the program module; a second pin extending outward from the program module; and a resistor electrically connected to the first pin and the second pin; and a base unit, comprising: a thermal element; a controller electrically connected to the thermal element; a plurality of stored operating parameters, at least one of the plurality of stored operating parameters assigned to the stored identity; and a vessel ID receiver electrically connected to the controller; wherein, when the food vessel is attached to the base unit, the vessel ID receiver is adapted to receive the stored identity continuously from the program module and the base unit is adapted to select at least one of the plurality of stored operating parameters assigned to the stored identity and control the thermal element according to the selected operating parameter, and wherein the stored identity corresponds to a value of the resistor and the controller is adapted to select operating parameters assigned to the stored identity for the thermal element. a food vessel, comprising: a receptacle for holding food; a stored identity for the food vessel; and a program module adapted to transmit the stored identity, the program module further comprising: a first pin extending outward from the program module; a second pin extending outward from the program module; and a resistor electrically connected to the first pin and the second pin; and a receptacle for holding food; a stored identity for the food vessel; and a program module adapted to transmit the stored identity, the program module further comprising: a first pin extending outward from the program module; a second pin extending outward from the program module; and a resistor electrically connected to the first pin and the second pin; and a first pin extending outward from the program module; a second pin extending outward from the program module; and a resistor electrically connected to the first pin and the second pin; and a base unit, comprising: a thermal element; a controller electrically connected to the thermal element; a plurality of stored operating parameters, at least one of the plurality of stored operating parameters assigned to the stored identity; and a vessel ID receiver electrically connected to the controller; a thermal element; a controller electrically connected to the thermal element; a plurality of stored operating parameters, at least one of the plurality of stored operating parameters assigned to the stored identity; and a vessel ID receiver electrically connected to the controller; wherein, when the food vessel is attached to the base unit, the vessel ID receiver is adapted to receive the stored identity continuously from the program module and the base unit is adapted to select at least one of the plurality of stored operating parameters assigned to the stored identity and control the thermal element according to the selected operating parameter, and wherein the stored identity corresponds to a value of the resistor and the controller is adapted to select operating parameters assigned to the stored identity for the thermal element.