Rethermalizing apparatus

Apparatus for rethermalizing a package of refrigerated or frozen food and then holding the food in the package at a selected holding temperature for a duration of holding time, said package of food comprising a portion of food contained in a flexible packaging material, the apparatus comprising

• opposing first and second heating mechanisms, the first heating mechanism being movable toward the second heating mechanism to bring the heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package,
• an electrical device for operating the first and second heating mechanisms,
• a tangible computer-readable storage medium having instructions for operating the first and second heating mechanisms in a rethermalizing mode for a duration of rethermalizing time during which the food is heated to a rethermalized temperature, and then in a holding mode while the heating mechanisms are in conductive heat transfer contact with the package to hold the food at a selected holding temperature for a duration of holding time,
• a controller connected to said storage medium for executing the instructions and connected to the electrical device for controlling the electrical device, and
• an input/output device for inputting and displaying information relating to the operation of the heating mechanisms in said rethermalizing and holding modes.

A method of rethermalizing a package of refrigerated or frozen food, said package of food comprising a portion of food contained in a flexible synthetic resin packaging material having a softening temperature, the method comprising

• placing said package of food between opposing first and second heating mechanisms,
• moving the first heating mechanism toward the second heating mechanism to bring the heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package, and
• operating the first and second heating mechanisms for a duration of rethermalizing time during which the food is heated to a rethermalized temperature,
• said duration of rethermalizing time comprising a first interval during which the first heating mechanism is heated to a first rethermalizing temperature greater than said softening temperature and a second interval following the first interval during which the first heating mechanism is heated to a second rethermalizing temperature less than said softening temperature but greater than said rethermalized temperature.

Apparatus for rethermalizing a package of refrigerated or frozen food, said package of food comprising a portion of food contained in a flexible synthetic resin packaging material having a softening temperature, said apparatus comprising

• opposing first and second heating mechanisms, the first heating mechanism being movable toward the second heating mechanism to bring the heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package,
• an electrical device for operating the first and second heating mechanisms,
• a tangible computer-readable storage medium having instructions for operating the first and second heating mechanisms for a duration of rethermalizing time during which the food is heated to a rethermalized temperature,
• said duration of rethermalizing time comprising a first interval during which the first heating mechanism is heated to a first rethermalizing temperature greater than said softening temperature and a second interval following the first interval during which the first heating mechanism is heated to a second rethermalizing temperature less than said softening temperature but greater than said rethermalized temperature, and
• a controller connected to said storage medium for executing the instructions and connected to the electrical device for controlling the electrical device.

A method of rethermalizing a package of refrigerated or frozen food, said package of food comprising a portion of food contained in a packaging material, the method comprising

• placing said package of food between opposing first and second heating mechanisms,
• moving the first heating mechanism toward the second heating mechanism to bring the heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package, and
• operating the first and second heating mechanisms for a duration of rethermalizing time during which the food is heated to a rethermalized temperature,
• said duration of rethermalizing time comprising a first interval during which the first heating mechanism is heated to a first rethermalizing temperature at least 20% greater than said rethermalized temperature, and a second interval following the first interval during which the first heating mechanism is heated to a second rethermalizing temperature less than said first rethermalizing temperature but greater than said rethermalized temperature.