Cooking plate with temperature sensing element

An apparatus comprising:

• a first metal plate comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface, and the first surface comprises a cooking surface upon which food to be cooked will be in contact with;
• a first channel, formed in the first metal plate between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first channel comprises a first opening and a second opening;
• a first portion of a second channel, formed in the first metal plate between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first portion of the second channel comprises a first portion of a third opening and a first portion of a fourth opening;
• a heating element, in the first channel, wherein the heating element comprises a first end comprising a first plug extending from the first opening and a second end comprising a second plug extending from the second opening, and the first and second plugs are positioned to be accessed from a first side edge of the first metal plate;
• a temperature sensing element, in the first portion the second channel, wherein temperature sensing element comprises a third end comprising a third plug extending from the third opening and a fourth end comprising a fourth plug extending from the fourth opening, the third and fourth plugs are positioned to be accessed from the first side edge of the first metal plate, and the third and fourth plugs are positioned between the first and second plugs;
• and
• a second metal plate, coupled to the second surface of the first metal plate, wherein the second metal plate comprises a second portion of the second channel, which mates with the first portion of the second channel to form a complete second channel, and the metal plate couples the temperature sensing element to the first metal plate.