A temperature regulation device for warming or maintaining the temperature of food items includes a food pan configured to hold a food item, an induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, a temperature control system coupled to the induction coil and the temperature sensor. The temperature control system is configured to control the induction coil in response to at least the temperature of the food pan detected by the temperature sensor and initiate a soft start control mode in response to pan placement on the device and detecting the temperature of the food pan below a minimum preset temperature.