Question: When working with electronics, it is quite easy to regulate current with a resistor, potentiometer, switcher, etc.

But take a simple high power application such as an electric stove. What method is used to control the current through the burners. They couldn't possibly use a variable resistor because the heat generated would be on par with the burner. 

It is clear however that the controls are disipating very little heat and they certainly aren't using any electronic devices. So how do they do it?

Answer: 
simple electric ovens use simple temperature control usually using something like a bimetallic strip (you can here them click in and out) where the dial is used to set the point of electrical contact that will then provide electrical power to the heating elements.

the result is more of a hysteric control with a very long duty cycle (where the duty is governed by the thermal characteristics of the oven - ie how long to cool) and the lower band to-do with specific characteristics of the thermistor/bimetalic strip.

More modern electronic controllers do a similar thing but use thermalcouples/RTD to measure the temp and then semiconductors to switch the power (SCR's)
For my practical testing, I use a high power resistor. 
Something like these. However this is only for output loads.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/NE7OJ.jpg)

But, when it comes to applications to minimize losses. You can use a High Power MOSFET or transistor for switching(with Heat sinks).

The control circuitry is usually away from the high current & voltage, but is used only for controlling the devices which are in a high current path(like FET's). This way, they are away and safe from High power.