The invention relates to a cooking surface comprising a hotplate (3), beneath which at least one heating element (5) for heating a cooking vessel that can be placed on the hotplate is located and comprising a temperature sensor (29) for detecting the temperature of the hotplate. In the heating element, the temperature sensor senses the temperature of the underside of the hotplate and is connected to a control unit (101) which controls the heat output of the heating element (5). To simplify the assembly of the unit, the temperature sensor (29) is fixed to an element (25) which extends from an area inside the heating element to an area outside said heating element (5) and the element (25) has a receiving section (27) for the temperature sensor (29) inside the heating element and a mounting section (47) for fixing the element, in particular onto the heating element (5) and/or a connecting section (49) for connecting at least one electrical cable (51) situated outside the heating element. The receiving section (27) is radially and laterally offset in relation to the mounting element (47) or connecting element (49).