Abstract: An element protector control for protecting the electrically powered heating element of a kettle against overheating has primary and secondary (or back-up) modes of operation. The primary protection mode utilizes a dished, snap-acting bimetal which is oriented so that the side of the bimetal which is convex when the blade is cold faces the heating element head, and the bimetal is sprung against a flat rear surface of the element head so that the bimetal in its cold condition flattens against the element head. The bimetal determines the condition of a pair of switching contacts provided in the control.