Pasta cooking appliance (1) comprising: a self-supporting cabinet (2)； an open-top cooking basin (3) which is recessed on the top of the cabinet (2) and is dimensioned to contain several liters of water； heating device (4) which is adapted to selectively heat up the water contained in the cooking basin (3) so as to bring the same water to boil； an overflow drain line (15) which is structured to drain out of the cooking basin (3) the water exceeding a given maximum level (l) inside the cooking basin (3)； a sensor device (20) capable of determining when a boil-over phenomenon is taking place in the cooking basin (3)； and an electronic control unit (21) which communicates with said sensor device (20) and is adapted to control the heating device (4) for selectively reducing the heat-output of the same heating device (4) when a boil-over phenomenon is taking place in the cooking basin (3).
