time pad 91 the user can either increase through manipulation of slew button 98 or decrease through manipulation of slew button 99 the amount of time of the initial power level after the desired time duration has been programmed into controller 58 and after a pause for a predetermined time period for example 3 seconds power level display section 77 will begin to flash at this point in the operation the user is presented with the option of selecting a second or final power level for the associated heating element in accordance with the most preferred form of the invention the user has the option of selecting a lower power level such that the final part of the cooking operation will be performed at a lower power setting accordingly manipulation of slew button 99 will lower the power level displayed in section 77 to a desired second level the option of operating the heating element at a second higher level is in the most preferred embodiment of the invention not available in further accordance with the invention failure to select a second power level will cause controller 58 to default to a predetermined lower power level e g a level 1 or 2 setting if at any point during the cooking operation the user desires to alter the current power setting manipulation of either slew button 98 or 99 will cause the present power level to increase or decrease correspondingly finally controller 58 will terminate operation of the heating element after a predetermined time period for example 4 u2013 6 hours if the user either fails or neglects.