Apparatus for providing visual indication in an electric cooking appliance

A visual indication is provided in a heater of an electric cooking appliance which incorporates a user-operable multi-position switch for switching the heater from one power output to another. The heater incorporates at least one heating element which is capable of emitting a significant amount of visible radiation, the at least one heating element being de-energized and subsequently re-energized as the heater is switched from one power output to another. Such a heater is of particular value where the heating element is capable of emitting fewer distinct levels of visible radiation than the number of distinct heat settings of the heater selectable from the multi-position switch. The heating element may be de-energized and subsequently re-energized only between adjacent heat settings in which there is no substantial change in the level of visible radiation.