The present invention is an apparatus for both securely transporting and hygienically serving warmed food. The instant innovation includes stackable and connectable insulated containers capable of being opened from the top and at least one side. Each insulated container may contain an electrical heating element to warm foodstuffs placed within the container. The instant innovation limits exiting loci for incidents of food-transport related mess, heat loss, and adulteration.

A cooking apparatus includes heating devices and heating regions, the heating regions are provided with a heating device, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: acquiring image information of food in the cooking apparatus; identifying the image information, and acquiring a food type and a cooking doneness of food corresponding to any one of the heating regions; and controlling, according to the food type and the cooking doneness of the food, operation of the heating device in the corresponding heating region. The cooking apparatus controls the heating of food by cooking region based on the food type and the cooking doneness of the food, thereby achieving uniform food heating, providing a consistent overall cooking doneness, preventing parts of the food from being burned or undercooked, and improving cooking performance.

A method of operating a rethermalizing station having an induction coil includes detecting a temperature of a food pan, selecting, based on the temperature of the food pan, a selected mode from a set comprising a low temperature mode, an over temperature mode, and a keep warm mode, and varying, in accordance with the selected mode, an output power of the induction coil by controlling a supply current to the induction coil to vary between a first nonzero current value and a second nonzero current value.

A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by an exterior wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the exterior wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.

A warming apparatus for warming contents of a foodstuff container includes an enclosure defining an interior space for receiving the foodstuff container and a reservoir separate from the interior space for receiving a warming liquid. A heating element is disposed within the enclosure for warming the warming liquid within the reservoir. A conduit is configured to extend between the interior space and the reservoir so that the reservoir is in fluid communication with the interior space. The heating element is adapted to move the warming liquid from the reservoir through the conduit into the interior space as the warming liquid within the reservoir is warmed.

The embodiments disclose a method including warming food in an integral heat tray insert of a food container, generating heat in the food container using electrical impedance of a plurality of heat dispersing elements, using a control printed circuit board assembly coupled to a power button for activating and controlling electrical components including the plurality of heat dispersing elements, adjusting heat temperatures from the plurality of heat dispersing elements for warming food to a comfortable and safe heat level, using at least one rechargeable battery pack coupled to the control printed circuit board assembly with a power button for activating electrical components including the plurality of heat dispersing elements, and transmitting food status information to a user and receiving user instructions from a user digital device using a food warming system application which includes a timer and variable heat control.

A food holding apparatus and associated components and methods. The food holding apparatus includes at least one food receiver and a refrigeration system. First and second cooling conduits are arranged with respect to the receiver and configured to receive refrigerant to refrigerate a tray of food disposed in a cavity of the receiver. A metering valve is fluidly coupled to the second cooling conduit to selectively block and permit flow of refrigerant to the second cooling coil.

A food holding apparatus and associated components and methods. The food holding apparatus includes multiple food receivers configured to be independently controlled to heat or cool food received therein. The food holding apparatus includes a refrigeration system. Components of the refrigeration system are mounted on a sled movable between stowed and access positions to facilitate access to the components. The food holding apparatus can include touch screen controls, serpentine-shaped bar heating elements, and/or other features.

A food holding apparatus and associated components and methods. The food holding apparatus includes multiple food receivers configured to be independently controlled to heat or cool food received therein. The food holding apparatus includes a refrigeration system. Components of the refrigeration system are mounted on a sled movable between stowed and access positions to facilitate access to the components. The food holding apparatus can include touch screen controls, serpentine-shaped bar heating elements, and/or other features.

A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service includes a head portion with a display, and a shaft portion that is coupled to the head portion and is configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff. The probe further includes a sensing unit configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff and a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.