A gas-fired kitchen appliance, comprises (a) a food preparation zone (10); (b) a burner nozzle (12) for supplying heat to said food preparation zone (10); (c) an electromagnetic valve (16) which when energized allows gas to be supplied to the burner nozzle (12) and which when deenergized blocks the gas supply to the burner nozzle; (d) a thermocouple (32) located in proximity of the burner nozzle (12), the thermocouple when heated energizing the electromagnetic valve (16); (e) a cover element (36) associated to said food preparation zone (10), said cover element being movable between a first position which allows normal operation of said food preparation zone and at least one second position in which said food preparation zone is non-operable or idling; and (f) a switching element (34) associated to said cover element (36) and arranged to interrupt the supply of electric energy from the thermocouple (32) to the electromagnetic valve (16) when the cover element (36) is in said second position.