Cooktop appliance control system

1. A method for operating a cooktop appliance, comprising:

determining a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on a heating element of the cooktop appliance with a cookware temperature sensor, wherein the cookware temperature sensor is attached to the cooking utensil, integrated into the cooking utensil, or contacting the cooking utensil;

determining a temperature of a food in the cooking utensil positioned on the heating element of the cooktop appliance with a food temperature sensor;

calculating a temperature differential between the temperature of the cooking utensil and the temperature of the food in the cooking utensil; and

controlling a heating temperature of the heating element to reduce the temperature differential when the temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

setting the predetermined threshold for the temperature differential based on the food in the cooking utensil.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the temperature of the cooking utensil includes determining a temperature of a bottom surface of the cooking utensil.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the temperature of the cooking utensil includes sensing the temperature of the cooking utensil.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the temperature of the food in the cooking utensil includes sensing the temperature of the food in the cooking utensil or receiving with a wireless receiver a wireless signal from the food temperature sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the temperature of the cooking utensil positioned on the heating element includes receiving with a wireless receiver a wireless signal from the cookware temperature sensor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the heating temperature of the heating element includes reducing a power level of the heating element.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the heating temperature of the heating element includes reducing a power level of the heating element in an amount determined based on a magnitude of the temperature differential.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling a heating temperature of the heating element to reduce the temperature differential when the temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold includes controlling a power level of the heating element using a proportional-integral-derivative control method.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cookware temperature sensor is attached to the cooking utensil or integrated into the cooking utensil.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cookware temperature sensor is integrated within the cooking surface of the cooktop appliance, and wherein the cookware temperature sensor is configured to physically contact a bottom surface of a bottom wall of the cooking utensil when the cooking utensil is placed on the heating element of the cooking surface.

12. A cooktop appliance comprising:

a heating element positioned on a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance; and

a controller operably connected to the heating element, the controller configured to

receive a signal from a cookware temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on the heating element, wherein the cookware temperature sensor is attached to the cooking utensil, integrated into the cooking utensil, or contacting the cooking utensil when the cooking utensil is positioned on the cooktop surface;

receive a signal from a food temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of a food positioned in the cooking utensil positioned on the heating element;

calculate a temperature differential between the temperature of the cooking utensil and the temperature of the food in the cooking utensil; and

control a heating temperature of the heating element to reduce the calculated temperature differential when the calculated temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold.

13. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , further comprising

a wireless receiver operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the cookware temperature sensor using the wireless receiver, and wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the food temperature sensor using the wireless receiver.

14. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , further comprising

a user interface, wherein the controller is further configured to receive through the user interface a user input setting corresponding to a desired predetermined threshold for the temperature differential, and wherein the controller is further configured to set the predetermined threshold for the temperature differential based on the user input setting.

15. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , wherein in controlling the heating temperature of the heating element the controller is configured to reduce a power level of the heating element.

16. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , wherein in controlling the heating temperature of the heating element the controller is configured to reduce a power level of the heating element in an amount determined based on a magnitude of the temperature differential calculated.

17. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , wherein in controlling the heating temperature of the heating element the controller is configured to control a power level of the heating element using a proportional-integral-derivative control method.

18. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , wherein the cookware temperature sensor is attached to the cooking utensil or integrated into the cooking utensil.

19. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , wherein the cookware temperature sensor is integrated within the cooking surface of the cooktop appliance, and wherein the cookware temperature sensor is configured to physically contact a bottom surface of a bottom wall of the cooking utensil when the cooking utensil is placed on the heating element of the cooking surface.