Cook top having at least one cooking zone and method for operating a cook top

A method for operating a cooking zone of a cooktop, with the cooking zone being formed from at least two cooking sub-zones and each cooking sub-zone being heatable by at least one heating unit, wherein the heating unit of one cooking sub-zone and the heating unit of another cooking sub-zone are disposed adjacent to one another without overlapping, such that a cohesive heatable surface is formed during joint operation of the cooking sub-zones, said method comprising:

• operating the cooking sub-zones as a single cooking zone in a first operating mode;
• and
• detecting occupancy of a cooking sub-zone by at least one food preparation vessel in the first operating mode,
• wherein a selection of the first operating mode involves starting a first occupancy detection phase and heating of only a cooking sub-zone on which a food preparation vessel is detected,
• after the first occupancy detection phase has elapsed, execution of a subsequent further occupancy detection phase is started in a user-defined manner only, and
• the first occupancy detection phase lasts between 5 and 10 seconds.

A cooktop, comprising:

• at least one cooking zone having at least two cooking sub-zones;
• heating units for heating the cooking sub-zones, respectively, said heating units disposed adjacent to one another without overlapping such that a cohesive heatable surface is formed during joint operation of the cooking sub-zones;
• a control unit for operating the cooking sub-zones as a single cooking zone in a first operating mode;
• an apparatus for detecting the occupancy of the cooking sub-zones by at least one food preparation vessel and allowing execution in the first operating mode detection of the occupancy of a cooking sub-zone;
• and
• an input element configured to enable activation of an occupancy detection phase in a user-defined manner,
• wherein a selection of the first operating mode involves starting a first occupancy detection phase and heating of only a cooking sub-zone, on which a food preparation vessel is detected,
• after the first occupancy detection phase has elapsed, execution of a subsequent further occupancy detection phase is started in a user-defined manner only.