Sensor and control systems for food preparation

A temperature-regulating unit comprising:

• a base configured to support a pan;
• a resonant tank positioned within the base, the resonant tank including an inductive heating coil and a capacitor, the inductive heating coil positioned to thermally regulate the pan, the resonant tank having a resonant frequency that is affected by a material of the pan and a temperature of the pan;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a temperature setting;
• monitor the resonant frequency of the resonant tank;
• and
• adaptively control the inductive heating coil based on the resonant frequency and the temperature setting.

A temperature-regulating unit comprising:

• a base;
• a resonant tank positioned within the base, the resonant tank including a coil and a capacitor;
• a trivet that is selectively positionable between a surface of the base and a pan, wherein the trivet is configured to insulate the surface from the pan, wherein a resonant frequency of the resonant tank is affected by a presence of the trivet and a position of the trivet relative to a central axis of the coil;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• detect the presence of the trivet;
• detect the position of the trivet relative to the central axis of the coil;
• and
• provide at least one of a visual indication or an audible indication to a user to assist the user in centering the trivet relative to the central axis of the coil.