US Patent 9717364 Heater

The present application relates to a heater (6) for heating food received in a container (2) to prevent overheating and/or scorching of the food. The heater (6) has a heating element (9) and a control unit configured to initially operate the heating element (9) at a higher initial temperature setting so that, when a container (2) is disposed adjacent to the heating element (9), the temperature of the container is increased rapidly, and to reduce the temperature setting of the heating element (9) to the operating temperature setting when the higher initial temperature setting is reached. The present application also relates to an apparatus for heating food and a method of operating a heater (6) for heating food.