A method is provided for the electrical protection of an electrical household appliance that is used to prepare food. The appliance includes an electric pump which is supplied with alternating current in order to convey a liquid through a conduit, and a heating element to raise the temperature of the liquid. The instantaneous value of the current I supplied to the pump is measured at regular time intervals. The method includes calculating the average value .alpha..sub.n of m current I measurements taken over a pre-determined time period T; comparing the average value .alpha..sub.n with a reference value .alpha..sub.ref calculated as the average value of the current I measurements taken over an earlier period of the same length; and opening the pump's power supply circuit when the difference between the average values .alpha..sub.ref and .alpha..sub.n exceeds a pre-determined threshold value .DELTA..sub.1 for at least two successive time periods T as a result of low average current indicative of dry running.