Temperature mimic probe for food products

A rapid chillable thermal mimicking probe (TMP) device for mimicking a perishable product, comprising:

• a non-perishable, substantially solid material formed into a predetermined mass or shape, wherein the non-perishable material, in combination with the predetermined mass or size, has a temperature retention property similar to a perishable product;
• a protective covering sealing an entirety of the formed material to form a core;
• a cavity in a sensor side of the core capable of housing a temperature sensor;
• a first insulating layer that covers a sensor-side of the core, having a data port on an exterior side of the first insulating layer, wherein the first insulating layer and core form an integrated core assembly, configured as a removable lid;
• a carrying handle attached to the core assembly;
• an enclosure of a second insulating layer that covers remaining sides of the core assembly, wherein when mated with the core assembly, forms a TMP;
• and
• external latches on the TMP extending from either the core assembly or second insulating layer across to the opposite second insulating layer or core assembly, to secure together the core assembly and second insulating layer, wherein the latches provide easy detachment of the core assembly from the second insulating layer, wherein the core assembly can be quickly chilled via easy removal from the second insulating layer and placement into a chiller, and
• wherein a change in temperature of a perishable product is substantially mimicked by temperature sensor readings.

A method for fabricating a thermal mimicking probe (TMP) to mimic a thermal profile of a perishable product, comprising:

• inserting a temperature probe into a container of a perishable product;
• measuring a first ambient temperature and first thermal response of the perishable product over a first period of time;
• forming a non-perishable, substantially solid material into a predetermined mass or shape, wherein the non-perishable material, in combination with the predetermined mass or size, has a thermal response profile similar to the perishable product;
• sealing an entirety of the formed material with a protective covering to form a core;
• placing a temperature sensor into a sensor side of the core;
• placing a first insulating layer on the sensor side of the core, the first insulating layer and core forming an integrated core assembly, configured as a removable lid;
• forming a carrying handle on the core assembly;
• forming an enclosure of a second insulating layer that covers remaining sides of the core assembly, wherein the core assembly and enclosure of the second insulating layer, when joined together form a TMP unit;
• external latches spanning the core assembly and the enclosure of the second insulating layer, securing the core assembly and the enclosure of the second insulating layer together, wherein the latches provide easy detachment of the core assembly from the enclosure of the second insulating layer so the core assembly can be quickly chilled via easy removal from the second insulating layer and placement into a chiller;
• measuring a thermal performance of the TMP unit as compared to a second ambient temperature and second thermal response of the perishable product over a second period of time,
• altering at least one of a size of the core and insulation thickness or R-factor;
• and
• utilizing an offset, if necessary, to bring the thermal performance of the TMP unit to substantially match one of the first and second thermal response of the perishable product.