I decided to mount both the stirring motor and the temperature sensor on the lid of the pot. This way, I could avoid drilling any holes in the cooking pot itself.

For accurate readings, I chose a PT1000 sensor—robust, not too expensive, and easy to interface with the ESP32’s ADC. I used a 3-wire PT1000 housed in 4mm 316L stainless steel, with a 1-meter cable.

To mount it securely and make it watertight, I machined a custom holder using my Proxxon PD400 lathe—one of my favorite tools. It belonged to my late father, so using it always reminds me of him.

I started with a M10 stainless steel threaded rod, removing most of the threads except for a small section to allow mounting with two M10 nuts. I then drilled a 4mm hole through the center of the rod and inserted the sensor, sealing it with a bit of PTFE tape to ensure a watertight fit.