Choosing the Right Heated Food Display for Aged Care
Maintaining food at the correct temperature while presenting meals attractively is an important part of modern food service in aged care environments. Beyond food safety requirements, the way meals are displayed and served can significantly influence the overall dining experience for residents.
With the introduction of Standard 6: Food and Nutrition under the Australian Aged Care Quality Standards, providers are placing greater emphasis on resident engagement, choice and quality dining environments. Equipment used within the servery plays an important role in achieving these outcomes.
This article explores different hot food display options and highlights how modern ceramic heating technology is supporting aged care providers in improving both safety and presentation during meal service.
Supporting Resident Engagement During Meal Service
A calm and engaging food service environment is essential for resident well-being. Serving meals directly from the servery allows residents to see and smell the food being prepared, which can stimulate appetite and encourage social interaction between residents and staff.
A recent upgrade at Bass Care Canterbury demonstrates how thoughtful food service design can support these goals. Working alongside catering professionals and contractors, the facility introduced a new servery fitted with Cossiga ceramic heating systems, integrated into newly constructed stone counters.
According to the Bass Care team, the new setup has helped create a more relaxed and engaging service environment. Please watch the video and experience the benefits for yourself.
As one team member explained during service:
“Holding food at the correct temperature in Cossiga ceramic heaters really assists with service because staff can take their time engaging with residents.”
Residents have also responded positively to the improved presentation and visibility of meals, noting that the new servery feels clean, organised and visually appealing.
Why Traditional Bain-Maries Are Being Reconsidered
For decades, Bain-Maries have been widely used in food service environments to keep food warm. However, many catering teams are now reassessing their suitability, particularly in aged care settings.
Water-filled bain-maries require staff to handle GN pans close to very hot water or steam, which increases the risk of burns during operation and cleaning.
Industry safety data highlights the potential impact of such incidents. According to Safe Work Australia, burn injuries resulted in an average compensation cost of $3,664 per claim and approximately 18 days away from work in 2023.
Beyond safety concerns, bain-maries also present practical challenges:
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They require significant amounts of water, often exceeding 80 litres.
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Tanks can become contaminated with food residue.
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Cleaning and maintenance can be time consuming.
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Food must typically be served in stainless steel GN pans, limiting presentation options.
As a result, many food service operators are exploring newer technologies that offer improved safety and flexibility.
Understanding the Limitations of Induction for Food Holding
Induction heating is widely recognised as an efficient cooking method. However, when used for hot food holding and display, it can introduce several limitations.
Induction systems require electromagnetic-compatible cookware, which restricts the range of materials that can be used for food presentation. More decorative options such as earthenware, porcelain or glass are often unsuitable.
Induction chafing systems also typically rely on lids to retain heat, which can obscure the food from view and reduce the sensory experience created by the sight and aroma of freshly prepared meals.
Additionally, induction systems rely on specific activation zones, meaning portions of the display surface may remain unheated. In contrast, ceramic heated surfaces provide consistent heat across the entire glass platform, allowing smaller pots and dishes to be positioned freely.
The Advantages of Ceramic Heated Displays
Ceramic heated displays are becoming an increasingly popular solution for food service environments across multiple sectors, including aged care.
Unlike water-based systems, ceramic heating eliminates the need for hot water or steam, reducing the risk of burns and simplifying cleaning procedures.
Ceramic glass surfaces also offer greater flexibility for chefs and catering teams. A wide range of heat-resistant materials can be used for food presentation, including:
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glass
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earthenware
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porcelain
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cast iron
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copper
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stone platters
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tagines and specialty cookware
This flexibility allows catering teams to create more visually appealing and varied food displays, contributing to a dining environment that feels less institutional and more welcoming.
The Importance of Reserve Heating
When maintaining safe food temperatures, having sufficient heating capacity is essential.
Reserve heating ensures temperature stability during service, particularly when food is frequently accessed or exposed to cooler ambient air.
Modern ceramic display systems often combine heated glass surfaces with adjustable overhead heaters. This approach helps maintain food temperature while also enhancing visibility through integrated lighting.
Well-designed systems also include insulated construction to protect surrounding joinery and maintain safe operating conditions within the servery environment.
Supporting Modern Aged Care Food Service
As aged care providers continue to adapt to evolving care standards, dining environments are increasingly being designed to prioritise resident experience alongside operational efficiency.
Food display technology that supports safe service, flexible presentation and improved visibility can play an important role in this shift.
At Cossiga, we work closely with catering professionals and aged care providers to develop hot food display solutions that support modern food service environments.
Our ceramic heated display systems are available across Australia through catering equipment distributors and can be viewed by appointment at our Noble Park showroom.