Abstract: A plastic skirt (3) surrounding a metal pan (1) is employed for external heat-insulation of electrically-heated cooking appliances and in particular deep fryers. The skirt (3) is of plastic material which does not continuously withstand the temperature of the pan wall (1a, 1b) and is separated from this wall by an air space (4) of sufficient width to limit the temperature of the skirt (3). The skirt is completely free with respect to the pan (1) with the exception of a ring (5) which joins the top edge (3a) of the skirt to the top edge (1c) of the pan and to which this latter is attached. The ring (5) is of heat-insulating material which affords continuous resistance to the temperature of the top edge (1c) of the pan (1).