A temperature sensor (30) for use in a microwave oven includes a metallic housing (52) including a sleeve with a central passage (54), a metallic top plate (56) coupled to the metallic housing to close off a first end of the central passage, and a temperature dependent resistor sensor element (58) thermally coupled with the metallic plate. The sensor element is coupled to a signal transmission cable (62) that passes through a bottom cap (64) which closes off the other end of the central passage. The transmission cable is preferably connected to the bottom cap by soldering around the entire interface of the cable with the bottom cap. The cable includes at least 90% shielding and plastic insulation sufficient to resist temperatures up to 200 degrees centigrade. The sleeve is preferably filled with an epoxy cement that surrounds the sensor element.