Overview

This article explains how to identify when meals are ready and safely remove them from the Plated heating unit. Staff should follow these steps each time a meal cycle completes.

⚠️ Safety Notice: Food service containers reach temperatures up to approximately 195°F during heating. Always use proper protective equipment when removing items from the unit.

Step 1 — Identify Completed Meals

Check for the following visual indicators that a meal is fully heated and ready for service:

• Green wavy lines on the unit — appear directly on the physical compartment slot
• Green indicators on the terminal screen — the same compartments are flagged as done on the digital display

Note: Meals still heating will not show green indicators. Do not attempt to remove them early.

Step 2 — Navigate to Meal Assembly on the Terminal

1. On the terminal screen, tap Next Assemble Meals.
2. The terminal will queue up the next completed meal for retrieval.
3. A white arrow indicator will appear pointing to the specific compartment. Confirm the meal name displayed (e.g., Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes).

Step 3 — Remove the Meal

1. Put on heat-resistant gloves or use appropriate protective equipment.
2. Open the compartment door indicated by the white arrow.
3. Carefully remove the food container. The meal is fully cooked and ready to serve immediately.
4. Observe that the compartment lights turn off once the meal is removed — this confirms the section has been cleared.
5. Close the compartment door.

Step 4 — Confirm Removal on the Terminal

1. Tap Done on the terminal screen to close out the current meal entry.
2. The terminal will return to the main screen.
3. If additional completed meals remain, repeat Steps 2–4 for each one.

Step 5 — After All Meals Are Removed

Once all completed meals have been retrieved and confirmed on the terminal:

• The unit will begin powering down the empty heating sections automatically.
• The main screen will reflect only compartments that are still actively heating (if any).
• No additional action is needed for powered-down sections.