Patent ID: 8667807

Claim:
A method of refrigerating food in a food holding cabinet comprised of a plurality of tray-receiving members, the method comprising the steps of: configuring a tray-receiving member to have a substantially horizontal bottom with upper and lower surfaces, the bottom being able to support a food holding tray; configuring the tray-receiving member to have first and second substantially vertical and opposing side walls extending upwardly from the bottom; and, configuring the tray-receiving member to have first and second opposing open ends through which a food holding tray can pass and be placed onto the top surface of the bottom the tray-receiving member, the substantially horizontal bottom being able to make thermal contact with a food holding tray placed on the top surface of the bottom of the tray-receiving member; attaching a liquid phase/vapor phase heat-absorbing refrigeration coil to the lower surface of the horizontal bottom of the tray-receiving member; providing a pressurized gaseous refrigerated working fluid to the refrigeration coil; sensing the temperature of the tray-receiving member using a semiconductor temperature sensor mechanically and thermally coupled to the tray-receiving member and which outputs an electrical signal, corresponding to the tray-receiving member temperature; and in response to the electrical signal performing at least one of: actuating a refrigeration system; and de-actuating the refrigeration system.