Abstract: An electric cooking appliance has a base which removably supports a lower cooking element in its open top. The appliance has a cover which is removably hinged to the base. This cover contains an upper cooking element provided with a depending rib which contains a heating element and interfits with a provided channel in the lower cooking element when the cover is closed against the base. The lower cooking element has a handle and is provided with apertures through which fluids from the cooking food can drain into the base. The base and cover also have recessed handles which engage about the handle of the lower cooking element and a bail is provided which releaseably locks the handles together to assure an effective transfer of heat through the conductive metal of the rib to the two cooking elements such that a hamburger or other food positioned between the two cooking elements can be simultaneously heated from both sides by the one heating element with the cover closed against the base.