Abstract: A microwave cooking appliance includes a sheathed resistive electric heating element including an outer portion, an inner portion and a cross-over portion electrically interconnecting the outer and inner portions. The heating element is arranged in a cooking chamber of the microwave cooking appliance in a manner which effects an impedance characteristic of the cooking chamber. The cross-over portion is arranged such that the heating element acts like an RF antenna moving a microwave energy field to portions of the cooking chamber in which low electric fields occur. In this manner, the broil element helps increase the operational efficiency of the cooking applaince by minimizing any hot and cold spots within the cooking chamber.