Self callibrating adaptive predictive temperature control for an electric water heating vessel or kettle

A kettle comprises an adaptive self-calibrating temperature sensor 5. A heating plate 3 and temperature sensor 5 are arranged in thermal contact with water, or with a vessel containing water. Electronic control means (not shown) and computing means (not shown) calibrate the temperature sensor 5, and derive the heat transfer functions between the heating plate, the temperature sensor, and the quantity of water to be heated (i.e., determine how much power is required and for how long). A non-volatile memory means (not shown) retains the calibration and heat-transfer functions even when power is removed from the kettle.