Temperature regulation devices for heating food are disclosed. The temperature regulation device is configured to heat food held in a food pan positioned in a well of food service equipment. The temperature regulation device includes a module or housing and heating element, and is configurable in a variety of positions, orientations, locations, or configurations relative to the well and the food pans to accommodate a variety of sizes and configurations of food pans.

A container for holding liquid is described. The container defines an inner region inside which liquid is adapted to be held and includes one or more walls for facilitating heating or cooling of the liquid therethrough, the one or more walls being adapted for invagination by a temperature control probe such that the temperature control probe extends into the container without directly contacting contents of the inner region of the container.

A dish assembly for serving food includes a dish housing that defines a surface, upon which the food can be placed, and an inner compartment, a phase-change material within the inner compartment, and an electrically-conductive element inside the inner compartment and thermally coupled to the phase-change material. In a typical implementation, the phase-change material is adapted to melt in response to the electrically-conductive element being heated by an electromagnetic induction heater. The thus heated dish assembly can facilitate getting hot food to a table while it is still hot, and once at the table, keeping that hot food at least warm for quite some time, while it is consumed.

Thermally convertible food presentation modules are described. A single module may be used for both heating and refrigeration of foodstuffs as desired at any given time. Any well of a module may be switched between heating and cooling of food regardless of the status of any other well of the module.

A portable water bottle has a bottle body, a lid assembly detachably connected to an upper end of the bottle body, a filter mounted in the lid assembly, a base detachably connected to a lower end of the bottle body, a temperature control module mounted in the base, and a power module mounted in the base. Liquid stored in the bottle body can be filtered by the filter when being poured out of the bottle body, so as to allow a user can drink the liquid directly and immediately. Moreover, the temperature control module is capable of heating or cooling down the liquid in the bottle body, so as to provide the user with the liquid having the temperature that is suitable for ambient it temperature or physical conditions of the user.

A food heating device includes a plurality of chambers capable of receiving respective food items. The device further includes a steam generator and a plurality of valves for controlling admittance of steam from said steam generator into said chambers. The device is arranged to operate in at least one mode in which during a first period a first one of said valves is open and at least one of said valves remains closed and wherein said steam generator is operated to produce steam for a time less than said first period.

A defrosting tray includes a metal substrate, a thermal conductive ceramic coating formed on the top surface of the metal substrate, and an inorganic nanocoating formed on a top surface of the thermal conductive ceramic coating. The thermal conductive ceramic coating is configured to enhance a heat transfer capability of the metal substrate. In particular, the first ceramic coating and the first inorganic nanocoating together define a defrosting surface with sub-micron pyramidal arrays.

A defrosting tray includes a metal substrate, a thermal conductive ceramic coating formed on the top surface of the metal substrate, and an inorganic nanocoating formed on a top surface of the thermal conductive ceramic coating. The thermal conductive ceramic coating is configured to enhance a heat transfer capability of the metal substrate. In particular, the first ceramic coating and the first inorganic nanocoating together define a defrosting surface with sub-micron pyramidal arrays.

An electric heater includes a substrate, a first outer pattern part disposed on one surface of the substrate and to connect with a pair of first electrodes, a second outer pattern part to connect with the pair of first electrodes in parallel with the first outer pattern part and to be spaced apart from the first outer pattern part, and an inner pattern part disposed on one surface of the substrate so as to be located such that the first outer pattern part and the second outer pattern part surround the inner pattern part, to be spaced apart from the first outer pattern part and the second outer pattern part, and to connect with a pair of second electrodes spaced apart from the pair of first electrodes.

A monitoring and control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors for obtaining readings associated with food items, such as temperature readings, freshness indications, and the like. The system is scalable and configurable with each sensor being capable of functioning as an individual sensor and/or as part of a grouping of sensors. The system is configured to obtain a variety of information, such as ambient air temperature, dwell time of food items, moisture levels, and the like, thereby enabling the system to recognize current and future concerns. The system provides audio and visual warnings and visual displays. In some embodiments, the system performs one or more physical operation based on one or more detected condition. The system is further configured to distinguish between accurate readings and inaccurate readings and/or to otherwise determine if an obstacle is preventing a sensor from obtaining an accurate reading.