Abstract: A cover adapted to overlie a food item to be cooked beneath the support, such as on a griddle or grill, carries at least one temperature sensor disposed on the cover to sense an actual temperature of the food item being cooked. An indicator is mounted on the cover and connected to the temperature sensor. There is preferably a respective indicator for each temperature sensor, or at least for each respective food item that can be cooked at one time using the apparatus of the present invention. In a specific implementation, the cover includes a hamburger press and the temperature sensor is mounted on the hamburger press to penetrate a hamburger patty beneath the press so that the internal temperature of the patty is sensed.