A device for cooking food is disclosed. The device has an elongated body for containing the food to be cooked with a heater at one end and a simmer temperature sensor at the other end. The heater initially brings the substance contained in the elongated member to a boil which is sensed by a boiling sensor. The boiling temperature sensor may be integral with the heater. Once a controller connected to the heater receives a signal from the boiling sensor indicating that the substance is boiling, the controller alternates the power to the heater between a simmer power level and a non-simmer power level which is lower than the simmer power level. The controller controls the power level of the heater in response to a signal from the simmer temperature sensor. The simmer temperature sensor sends a signal to the controller when the temperature of the substance at the end remote from the heater falls below a predetermined simmer temperature. In response to receiving the simmer signal, the controller sends the simmer power level so that the heater will heat the substance at the simmer power level. When the simmer temperature sensor senses that the temperature of the substance has risen above the simmer temperature, the simmer temperature sensor will discontinue sending the simmer signal. In response to the discontinuance of receiving the simmer signal to the controller, the controller will send a power level signal to the heater to apply a non-simmer power level to the heater which is lower than the simmer power level. The device is particularly well suited for cooking pasta because the elongated shape of some pasta is easily accommodated in the elongated body, but the elongated body can be used to cook any other types of foods including vegetables and soups.