A cooking appliance for heating an item used in food preparation or food serving or cooking, the appliance including: a portable enclosure having an upper flat cooking surface for supporting the item in use; an induction element located below the cooking surface; a temperature sensor assembly (20, 25, 200) having a temperature sensing element; the temperature sensing element providing a temperature signal indicative of a current temperature of the item; a user interface (14, 115, 130) for enabling a user to pre-select a desired temperature of the item in use, and to indicate a heating rate associated with reaching the desired temperature; and a processor module (26, 27, 28) that receives the temperature signal and controls power to the induction element for providing the desired temperature and controlling the heating rate characterised in that the appliance also includes a cooling assembly within the enclosure, the cooling assembly including: a housing (826, 836, 846) that defines a first cooling region about the induction element and a substantially separate second cooling region about electronic elements (837, 838); a first fan (825, 835, 845) for providing airflow about the induction element and exposing the temperature sensing assembly (20, 25, 200) to a fan cooling path such that the temperature sensing element is selectively cooled from below; and a second fan for providing airflow about the electronic elements (837, 838). a portable enclosure having an upper flat cooking surface for supporting the item in use; an induction element located below the cooking surface; a temperature sensor assembly (20, 25, 200) having a temperature sensing element; the temperature sensing element providing a temperature signal indicative of a current temperature of the item; a user interface (14, 115, 130) for enabling a user to pre-select a desired temperature of the item in use, and to indicate a heating rate associated with reaching the desired temperature; and a processor module (26, 27, 28) that receives the temperature signal and controls power to the induction element for providing the desired temperature and controlling the heating rate characterised in that the appliance also includes a cooling assembly within the enclosure, the cooling assembly including: a housing (826, 836, 846) that defines a first cooling region about the induction element and a substantially separate second cooling region about electronic elements (837, 838); a first fan (825, 835, 845) for providing airflow about the induction element and exposing the temperature sensing assembly (20, 25, 200) to a fan cooling path such that the temperature sensing element is selectively cooled from below; and a second fan for providing airflow about the electronic elements (837, 838). a housing (826, 836, 846) that defines a first cooling region about the induction element and a substantially separate second cooling region about electronic elements (837, 838); a first fan (825, 835, 845) for providing airflow about the induction element and exposing the temperature sensing assembly (20, 25, 200) to a fan cooling path such that the temperature sensing element is selectively cooled from below; and a second fan for providing airflow about the electronic elements (837, 838).