Patent ID: 8258440

Claim:
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 heating mechanisms into conductive heat transfer contact with respective first and second surfaces of the package, 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 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.