Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence and/or the size of a cooking vessel (6) on an electrically heatable hotplate, having a resistance heating element (1) which is disposed under the hotplate and which is connected to an electrical heating voltage supply, wherein the resistance heating element (1) is used as a capacitive sensor for pot detection. The capacitance of the resistance heating element (1) in relation to a reference potential, preferably earth, is connected into an electrical resonant circuit whose resonance frequency can be detected by an evaluation unit, whereby it is possible to ascertain the presence and/or the size of a cooking vessel (6) on the hotplate. The resistance heating element (1) is connected to the heating voltage supply by way of electrical switching means, preferably inductors (DR1, DR2), and is connected into the resonant circuit by way of a further electrical switching means, preferably a separating capacitor (CN).