The present invention relates to a cooking appliance (10) comprising at least one cooking surface (12, 14). The cooking surface includes a horizontal top side (12) and at least one basin (14) extending downwards from said top side (12). The basin (14) is provided for receiving at least one cooking vessel (22, 24, 26), so that the cooking vessel (22, 24, 26) is at least partially enclosed by the basin (16). The basin (14) includes a horizontal bottom (16) and a side wall (18) enclosing said bottom (16). The top side (12) of the cooking surface encloses an upper edge of the side wall (18) of the basin (14). At least one heating element is arranged below and/or inside the bottom (16) of the basin (14). At least one temperature sensor is arranged inside and/or below the basin (14), so that the temperature sensor is in a direct or indirect thermal contact with a corresponding cooking vessel (22, 24, 26).
