Abstract: A method for controlling heating of a region to be heated of a household appliance includes: a) activating the heating; b) providing a starting temperature value Cs; c) extrapolating a virtual temperature Cv of the region to be heated over time, beginning from the starting temperature value Cs and based on a characteristic heating curve; d) continuously measuring real temperature values Cm representing the temperature of the region to be heated, using a single temperature sensor; e) continuing with step b) using the current temperature value Cm as the starting temperature value Cs if the difference between two successive temperature values Cm indicates a normal condition of the temperature sensor; and f) deactivating the heating if the difference between the two successive temperature values Cm indicates a fault condition of the temperature sensor and the virtual temperature Cv exceeds a threshold.