Rethermalizing apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for and methods of rethermalizing a package of refrigerated or frozen food are disclosed. In general, heating mechanisms are brought into conductive heat transfer contact with the package of food and operated for a duration of rethermalization time to rethermalize the package of food by heating the food to a rethermalized temperature, and then, if desired, to hold the rethermalized package of food at a desired holding temperature for a duration of holding time. The rethermalization time can be relatively short (e.g., thirty minutes or less), and the holding time can range from a very short period of time to a very long period of time (e.g., four, six, eight or more hours) without significant loss of food quality. Other features of the apparatus and methods are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of rethermalizing a package of refrigerated or frozen food and then holding the package of food 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 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 bringing opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second opposite surfaces of the package when the package is between the first and second heating mechanisms, and 
 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, 
 after the food has reached said rethermalized temperature, operating the first and second heating mechanisms in a holding mode while the heating mechanisms are in conductive heat transfer contact with said first and second opposite surfaces of the package to hold the food at a selected holding temperature for a duration of holding time, and 
 operating an electrical input/output device to display information relating to the operation of the heating mechanisms in said rethermalizing and holding modes. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displayed information comprises a decreasing count of time remaining in said duration of rethermalizing time and an increasing count of time in said duration of holding time. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising audibly or visually signaling the end of said duration of rethermalizing time. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising audibly or visually signaling the end of said duration of holding time. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operating at least one of the first and second heating mechanisms during an interval of said rethermalizing mode at a temperature above a softening temperature of said flexible packaging material. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operating at least one of the first and second heating mechanisms during an interval of said rethermalizing mode at a temperature at least 20% higher than said holding temperature. 
     
     
       7. 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 configured for conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second opposite surfaces of the package when the package is between the first and second heating mechanisms, 
 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 said first and second opposite surfaces of 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. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said input/output device comprises a display device that displays a decreasing count of time remaining in said duration of rethermalizing time and an increasing count of time in said duration of holding time. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said input/output device comprises an audible or visual signal that signals the end of said duration of rethermalizing time. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said input/output device comprises an audible or visual signal that signals the end of said duration of holding time. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium has instructions for operating the first and second heating mechanisms for an interval during said rethermalizing mode at a temperature above a softening temperature of said flexible packaging material. 
     
     
       12. 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 bringing opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package when the package is between the first and second heating mechanisms, 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. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising continuing to operate the first and second heating mechanisms after the food in the package has reached said rethermalized temperature to hold the food in the package at a selected holding temperature for a duration of holding time. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first rethermalizing temperature is at least 10 degrees F. greater than said softening temperature. 
     
     
       15. 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 configured for conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package when the package is between the first and second heating mechanisms, 
 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. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said instructions further comprise operating the first and second heating mechanisms to hold the food in the package at a selected holding temperature for a duration of holding time after the food in the package has reached said rethermalized temperature. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said first rethermalizing temperature is at least 10 degrees F. greater than said softening temperature. 
     
     
       18. 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 bringing opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package when the package is between the first and second heating mechanisms, 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. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said packaging material is a thermoplastic synthetic resin material. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said packaging material is a thermoset synthetic resin material. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said packaging material is a metal foil. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 1 wherein bringing the opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second opposite surfaces of the package comprises moving the first heating mechanism toward the second heating mechanism. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 1 wherein bringing the opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second opposite surfaces of the package comprises moving the first heating mechanism away from the second heating mechanism.  
     
     
       24. The method of claim 1 wherein bringing the opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second opposite surfaces of the package comprises placing said package between said opposing first and second heating mechanisms in a compartment bounded by at least an upper surface and a bottom surface, and wherein said package is in the compartment while operating the first and second heating mechanisms in said rethermalizing mode and while operating the first and second heating mechanisms in said holding mode.  
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first heating mechanism is movable toward the second heating mechanism for bringing the first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second opposite surfaces of the package.  
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first heating mechanism is movable away from the second heating mechanism for bringing the first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second opposite surfaces of the package.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said opposing first and second heating mechanisms are in a compartment bounded by at least an upper surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium has instructions for operating the first and second heating mechanisms in said rethermalizing mode and said holding mode while the package of food is in the compartment.  
     
     
       28. The method of claim 12 wherein bringing the opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second surfaces of the package comprises moving one of the first and second heating mechanisms toward the other of the first and second heating mechanisms.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 12 wherein bringing the opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second surfaces of the package comprises moving one of the first and second heating mechanisms away from the other of the first and second heating mechanisms.  
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein one of the first and second heating mechanisms is movable toward the other of the first and second heating mechanisms for bringing the first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second surfaces of the package.  
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein one of the first and second heating mechanisms is movable away from the other of the first and second heating mechanisms for bringing the first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second surfaces of the package.  
     
     
       32. The method of claim 18 wherein bringing the opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second surfaces of the package comprises moving one of the first and second heating mechanisms toward the other of the first and second heating mechanisms.  
     
     
       33. The method of claim 18 wherein bringing the opposing first and second heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with the respective first and second surfaces of the package comprises moving one of the first and second heating mechanisms away from the other of the first and second heating mechanisms.  
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 15 in combination with the package of refrigerated or frozen food comprising the portion of food contained in the flexible synthetic resin packaging material having the softening temperature, the package being between and in conductive heat transfer contact with the first and second heating mechanisms for rethermalizing the portion of food during said first and second rethermalizing intervals.  
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium has instructions for operating at least one of the first and second heating mechanisms for an interval during said rethermalizing mode at a temperature at least 20% higher than said holding temperature.  
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium has instructions for operating at least one of first and second heating mechanisms for the interval during said rethermalizing mode at a temperature in a range of 215-400 degrees F.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 5 wherein operating at least one of the first and second heating mechanisms during the interval of said rethermalizing mode at the temperature above the softening temperature of said flexible packaging material comprises operating at least one of the first and second heating mechanisms during said interval at a temperature in a range of 215-400 degrees F.  
     
     
       38. The method of claim 6 wherein operating at least one of the first and second heating mechanisms during the interval of said rethermalizing mode at the temperature at least 20% higher than said holding temperature comprises operating at least one of the first and second heating mechanisms during said interval at a temperature in a range of 215-400 degrees F.  
     
     
       39. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium has instructions for operating the first and second heating mechanisms for the interval during said rethermalizing mode at a temperature in a range of 215-400 degrees F.  
     
     
       40. The method of claim 12 wherein said first rethermalizing temperature is in a range of 215-400 degrees F.  
     
     
       41. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first rethermalizing temperature is in a range of 215-400 degrees F.  
     
     
       42. The method of claim 18 wherein said first rethermalizing temperature is in a range of 215-400 degrees F.