Magnetic induction heating with spacer

A device for heating a heat-retaining object adapted to be heated by magnetic induction and used to itself heat or keep warm a food product, wherein the device comprises:

• a spacer interposed between the heat-retaining object and a support underneath, whereby the spacer has a thermal conductivity (λ) lower than that of the support,
• an inductor placed under the support, to create an electromagnetic field around the heat-retaining object, whereby the spacer limits an amount of heat transfer from the heat-retaining object towards the support,
• a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the support during the induction heating,
• control means of the inductor such that the electromagnetic field is induced according to the temperature detections of the temperature sensor and a setpoint set by a user of the device, by limiting the magnitude of the electromagnetic field induced when the temperature detected reaches a predetermined threshold lower than a degradation temperature of the support.

A process for heating a heat-retaining object adapted to be heated by magnetic induction and used to itself heat or keep warm a food product, wherein the process comprises steps whereby:

• a spacer is interposed between the heat-retaining object and a support underneath, whereby the spacer has a thermal conductivity (A) lower than that of the support,
• an inductor is placed under the support, to create an electromagnetic field around the heat-retaining object, whereby the spacer limits an amount of heat transfer from the heat-retaining object towards the support,
• during such induction heating, the temperature of the support is detected by a temperature sensor,
• the inductor is controlled such that the electromagnetic field is induced according to the temperature detections of the sensor and a setpoint set by the user, by limiting the magnitude of the electromagnetic field induced when the temperature detected reaches a predetermined threshold lower than a degradation temperature of the support.