Abstract: A rethermalization cart having top and bottom sides connected together by at least two side walls. Attached to the side walls at a plurality of vertically spaced positions are a plurality of tray supports. Attached adjacent and below the tray supports and in a cantilevered out position are a plurality of heating pads at each tray support location. Each of the pads is secured so that it can be individually disconnected, removed and replaced as needed. Switches within each individual heating pad are activated by covers that are positioned over the food. The use of the covers provides a positive indication whether the food is being heating since the switches are magnetic and the covers contain corresponding magnets. Thus, by leaving the cover off there is a positive assurance that the food will remain cold.

Abstract: A rethermalization system for rethermalizing food includes (a) a food service tray having a hot dish through-opening and the through-opening having a through-opening top edge, (b) a rethermalization cart including a cart frame, a plurality of heating pads supported within the cart frame, and a plurality of vertically spaced tray supports attached to the cart frame for supporting the food service tray at a plurality of alternative vertically spaced shelf locations, and in a tray support position such that the hot dish through-opening is disposed above one of the heating pads, and (c) a food service dish positionable in the hot dish through-opening of the food service tray.

Abstract: A food service rethermalization process including a tray having first and second receiving hot dish receiving areas, at least one cold dish receiving area and an end wing area for holding eating utensils, napkins and the like. First and second selector or actuator knobs are mounted in the tray adjacent to the first and second hot dish receiving areas, respectively, and can be separately turned to on or off positions. When the tray is inserted in a rethermalization cart and the first and second heating pods of the cart are at the first and second areas respectively, the heating pods whose associated knobs are in the "on" position are switched on and the food at the associated areas thereby heated in a programmed manner. After the knobs have been turned as needed and before the tray is inserted in the cart, an over-all insulated cover is secured to and on top of the tray. The cover thermally separates and covers the different areas including the wing area.