A modular food holding bin has multiple food holding units or bins, which can be connected and disconnected from each other in multiple different configurations. Each bin can be set to its own temperature, independently of the others. The modular holding bin includes a power recover mode.

A protective cover member is a four-walled shield which would serve as a wind blocker, preventing gusts of wind from extinguishing Sternos heaters which are heating a chafing dish. At the same time, the protective cover member would keep the Sterno flames contained within the unit, reducing the risk of fire while also allowing for more effective food warming. In addition, convenient handles would permit users to attend to the Sternos without fear of burning their hands.

A cubby unit includes a plurality of cubbies and one or more processing circuits. Each of the plurality of cubbies includes a cubby housing defining an internal compartment, a light disposed within the internal compartment, and a door. The door facilitates accessing the internal compartment of the cubby housing. At least a portion of the door is transparent. The one or more processing circuits are configured to to acquire access information, determine whether the access information is associated with a respective order within a respective cubby of the plurality of cubbies, and activate the light of the respective cubby in response to the access information being associated with the respective order such that light emitted by the light shines through the portion of the door that is transparent of the respective cubby to indicate in which one of the plurality of cubbies the respective order is located.

A modular food holding system includes a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another. Each of the food holding chambers includes a food holding cavity and at least one of a heating element and/or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity. A chamber base is physically and communicatively removably connected to one of the food holding chambers and operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base.

A modular holding cabinet is provided. The cabinet includes a housing defining an internal volume and an open front providing access into the internal volume. The housing supports at least one plate therewithin. The housing supports one or more end walls that are each aligned spaced outboard from an end face of a plate such that an air gap is established therebetween. The internal volume defines a plurality of discrete heating zones located above each of the one or more plates, each discrete heating zone receives heat from a first heater disposed within the respective plate and a plurality of second heaters disposed above the respective plate. The housing includes a plurality of displays and a plurality of inputs, with one of the plurality of displays and one of the plurality of inputs associated with each discrete heating zone.

A method of using a storage and cooking device having multiple thermal containers includes disposing a first food item in a first thermal container, a second food item in a second thermal container, and a third food item in a third thermal container. A volume of fluid is cooled and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy from at least one of the first, second, or third food item is transferred to the cooled fluid. The device is transitioned from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in response to a criterion being satisfied. When in the second configuration, the volume of fluid is heated and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy is transferred from the volume of fluid to at least one of the first, second, or third food item.

A food holding pan communication system includes a food holding pan having a pan identifier and configured to receive food items. A pan identification station includes a pan receiving area, a pan identifier reader, and at least one sensor directed at the pan receiving area and configured to acquire data regarding a food item received by the food holding pan. A processor is communicatively connected to the at least one sensor to receive signals from the at least one sensor. The processor is configured to determine a type of food item in the food holding pan.

A food holding and warming cabinet has a user-operated humidity management system. It has a hybrid heating system with both a hot air convection heating component and a radiant heating component. The humidity management system enables a user to manually control the introduction of humidity into the cabinet holding environment or the reduction or mitigation of the humidity within the cabinet holding environment.

A system to store food products within a heated compartment is provided. The system includes an enclosure that receives stacked trays, and an elevator to lift trays to a position to receive a plurality of food products from a conveyor or another source. A fork may be provided that receives a cooked food product thereon and rotates to allow the cooked food product to fall into the positioned tray while being maintained in a horizontal manner. A shuttle moves a full tray into a heated compartment, which moves trays therewithin to organize them for future use within a restaurant operation.

Food preparation apparatus and associated appliance modules and methods. Appliances modules can be selectively docked at docks of an appliance interface of a base. An appliance module includes a food container support surface movable between cooking and holding positions. An appliance module includes a receptacle having a holding well that can be selectively configured in a generally horizontal position or an inclined position.