Method for controlling a burner of a heat generator, in particular for use in a heating system, during an ignition phase for igniting a burner flame, wherein the burner comprises an ignition electrode which is configured to ignite an air-fuel mixture which can be introduced into a combustion chamber of the burner, and the method has the following steps: generating an electrical ignition voltage at the ignition electrode; introducing an air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber of the burner; detecting a burner flame in the combustion chamber; and controlling the burner during the ignition phase by adjusting a mixing ratio (α), which describes a ratio of fuel quantity to air quantity, of the air-fuel mixture which is introduced into the combustion chamber depending on a detection result, characterized in that the detection of the burner flame in the combustion chamber in turn comprises: - measuring an electrode current (I E) which is present at the ignition electrode; - determining an ionization current (I I) on the basis of the electrode current (I E) which is measured at the ignition electrode; - determining a value of a detection parameter (γ) on the basis of the determined ionization current (I I), wherein the detection parameter (γ) can assume at least a first value or a second value, wherein the first value indicates that no burner flame is detected in the combustion chamber, and the second value indicates that the burner flame is detected in the combustion chamber; wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the first value to the second value if the determined ionization current (I I) exceeds a first ionization current limit value (I 1), and wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the second value to the first value if the determined ionization current (I I) falls below a second ionization current limit value (I 2), wherein the first ionization current limit value (I 1) is greater than the second ionization current limit value (I 2); and - outputting the determined value of the detection parameter (γ) as a detection result. generating an electrical ignition voltage at the ignition electrode; introducing an air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber of the burner; detecting a burner flame in the combustion chamber; and controlling the burner during the ignition phase by adjusting a mixing ratio (α), which describes a ratio of fuel quantity to air quantity, of the air-fuel mixture which is introduced into the combustion chamber depending on a detection result, characterized in that the detection of the burner flame in the combustion chamber in turn comprises: - measuring an electrode current (I E) which is present at the ignition electrode; - determining an ionization current (I I) on the basis of the electrode current (I E) which is measured at the ignition electrode; - determining a value of a detection parameter (γ) on the basis of the determined ionization current (I I), wherein the detection parameter (γ) can assume at least a first value or a second value, wherein the first value indicates that no burner flame is detected in the combustion chamber, and the second value indicates that the burner flame is detected in the combustion chamber; wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the first value to the second value if the determined ionization current (I I) exceeds a first ionization current limit value (I 1), and wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the second value to the first value if the determined ionization current (I I) falls below a second ionization current limit value (I 2), wherein the first ionization current limit value (I 1) is greater than the second ionization current limit value (I 2); and - outputting the determined value of the detection parameter (γ) as a detection result. - measuring an electrode current (I E) which is present at the ignition electrode; - determining an ionization current (I I) on the basis of the electrode current (I E) which is measured at the ignition electrode; - determining a value of a detection parameter (γ) on the basis of the determined ionization current (I I), wherein the detection parameter (γ) can assume at least a first value or a second value, wherein the first value indicates that no burner flame is detected in the combustion chamber, and the second value indicates that the burner flame is detected in the combustion chamber; wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the first value to the second value if the determined ionization current (I I) exceeds a first ionization current limit value (I 1), and wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the second value to the first value if the determined ionization current (I I) falls below a second ionization current limit value (I 2), wherein the first ionization current limit value (I 1) is greater than the second ionization current limit value (I 2); and wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the first value to the second value if the determined ionization current (I I) exceeds a first ionization current limit value (I 1), and wherein a changeover of the value of the detection parameter (γ) from the second value to the first value if the determined ionization current (I I) falls below a second ionization current limit value (I 2), wherein the first ionization current limit value (I 1) is greater than the second ionization current limit value (I 2); and - outputting the determined value of the detection parameter (γ) as a detection result.