Tilting Boiling Pans & Braising Pans (Australia): Productivity, Safety & FSANZ Compliance Guide
Search intent: informational → commercial investigation. This page explains what tilting boiling pans and tilting braising pans (bratt pans) actually do in a busy Australian kitchen, which menus they excel at, which venues benefit most, and exactly how to run them in line with FSANZ temperature rules, AS 4674 fit‑out guidance, AS/NZS 5601/60335 installation safety and AS 1668.2 ventilation. It includes a capacity calculator, checklists, case study, FAQs and product shortlists.
- Output with fewer hands: one operator can batch‑cook 50–200 L safely and decant without heavy lifts.
- Uniform heating: steam‑jacketed pans distribute heat evenly for sauces, soups and braises with less scorching risk.
- From cook to chill fast: controlled tilting makes it easy to move hot product into shallow GN pans for rapid cooling to ≤ 5 °C in line with FSANZ.
- Evidence wins inspections: keep cooling logs, thermometer (± 1 °C) checks, cleaning schedules and commissioning certificates together.
What they are (and how they differ): tilting boiling vs tilting braising pans
Tilting boiling pan (kettle)
- Best at: liquids and semi‑liquids that benefit from even, gentle heating — stocks, broths, soups, curries, stews, sauces, gravies, béchamel, jam/preserves, porridge/congee, pasta/rice batches.
- How: a steam jacket surrounds the inner vessel, spreading heat across a large surface to reduce hot spots and burning.
- Why tilt: decant to GN pans, trolleys or filling stations without lifting — safer and faster.
Tilting braising pan (bratt pan / tilt skillet)
- Best at: high‑surface‑area cooks — searing, shallow frying, braising, sautéing, reduction, pancake/omelette runs — then tilting to transfer.
- How: a flat, heated base acts like a giant sauté pan with high sides; some models add mild pressure lids or gentle steam for speed.
- Why tilt: quick pour‑off of sauces, fats or finished product into holding vessels without manual ladling.
What menu items are a perfect fit?
| Item | Use a boiling pan for | Use a braising pan for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soups & broths | ✓ slow, even simmer | — | Minimal scorching risk, easy decant |
| Curries & stews | ✓ hydrate spices & slow braise | ✓ initial sear/reduce, then finish | Sear aromatics in bratt pan → finish in kettle |
| Tomato/cream sauces | ✓ controlled reduction | ✓ fast shallow reduction | Use kettle for set‑and‑forget, bratt for speed |
| Rice/pasta batches | ✓ large volumes | — | Tilt drain to colanders; avoid lifting |
| Porridge/congee | ✓ even heating | — | Starch control with gentle agitation |
| Shallow fry & sear | — | ✓ schnitzels, patties, veg | Uniform browning across the pan |
| Egg & griddle work | — | ✓ omelettes, pancakes | High throughput breakfast service |
Who gets the most value?
| Venue | Why it fits | Typical daily batches |
|---|---|---|
| Schools & universities | Repeatable recipes; allergy controls; safer decanting | Soups, pasta, sauces |
| Hospitals & aged care | Consistency; hygiene; easy cooling to logs | Purees, gravies, stews |
| Central kitchens / cloud kitchens | High throughput; standardisation; low labour | Curries, stocks, sauces |
| Hotels & resorts | Banqueting; breakfast volume; room‑service mise | Congee, oatmeal, béchamel |
| Community & Council venues | Event catering; safety evidence | Soups, braises, bulk sides |
Benefits that show up on your P&L (and in your audits)
Operational & financial
- Productivity: one operator produces 50–200 L with fewer touchpoints.
- Consistency: even heat improves yield and reduces rework.
- Faster changeovers: tilt to decant, quick rinse, and start the next batch.
- Lower injury risk: eliminate heavy pot lifts and awkward pours.
Real‑world savings depend on menu, staffing and line layout — the case study below shows what a staged upgrade achieved.
Safety & compliance
- Cooling evidence: controlled decant into shallow GN pans makes it easier to hit FSANZ 60→21→≤5 °C targets.
- Cleanability: smooth stainless interiors align with FSANZ 3.2.3 “cleanable, non‑absorbent” expectations.
- Documentation: commissioning records and logs form a strong “audit pack”.
Standards & rules that matter (explained in plain English)
FSANZ temperature control
- Hot food: hold at ≥ 60 °C (bain maries/hot displays).
- Cooling: from 60 °C → ≤ 21 °C within 2 h, then to ≤ 5 °C within a further 4 h.
- Thermometer: accessible probe accurate to ± 1 °C; record the warmest point.
Fit‑out & installation
- AS 4674 (fit‑out guidance): smooth, cleanable, non‑corrosive surfaces; effective drainage.
- AS/NZS 60335 (electrical safety): for electric models; ensure correct isolation and protection.
- AS/NZS 5601 (gas installations): for gas‑fired braising pans; licensed gasfitter, pressure tests and certification.
- AS 1668.2 (ventilation): size hood and make‑up air for capture/containment; coordinate early.
- Cooling failures risk discard orders and corrective action notices.
- Missing certificates can delay insurance, landlord sign‑off or public‑sector procurement.
- Poor ventilation increases heat stress and can compromise capture at the pass.
Inside the machines: engineering features that matter on the line
| Feature | What it does | Why it matters | Compliance link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam jacket (kettle) | Wraps the vessel in indirect heat | Even simmer; low scorch risk | Consistent hot‑holding ≥ 60 °C |
| Tilting mechanism | Manual, electric or hydraulic tilt | Safe decant; quick changeovers | Supports safe work practice |
| Integrated agitator (some models) | Gentle stirring | Uniform results; fewer hotspots | Helps reach safe temps uniformly |
| Accurate thermostat & probe port | Control & independent checks | Repeatability; easy logging | Evidence for FSANZ logs |
| 316/304 stainless | Hygienic, corrosion‑resistant | Easy clean, long life | Aligns with FSANZ 3.2.3 |
| Drain/strainer options | Decant liquids safely | Speed + ergonomics | Reduce splash/burn risk |
How big should you buy? (capacity & turn rate calculator)
Use this simple planner to size a pan/kettle for your menu. It estimates the minimum working volume by portions, portion size and turns, allowing headspace for safe stirring/boiling.
Rule‑of‑thumb
- Allow ~20% headspace for safe mixing/boiling.
- For very thick products, plan smaller layers and more turns or use mechanical agitation.
- If cooling in fridges (not blast chill), plan shallow GN pans and extra trolleys to spread product quickly.
Cool fast, prove it, sleep well — the FSANZ way
1) Cook to safe
Reach target internal temps with steady simmer/heat.
2) Tilt & transfer
Decant into GN 65 mm pans (layers ≤ ~40 mm); avoid deep fills.
3) Airflow
Do not stack pans; keep return air clear; vent steam before lidding.
4) Probe & log
60→≤21 °C within 2 h; 21→≤5 °C within 4 h. Record the warmest point.
5) Lid, label, hold
Once ≤ 5 °C, lid and label; hold in fridges at ≤ 5 °C; hot‑hold at ≥ 60 °C.
Printable cooling log (copy this table)
| Item | Pan & depth | Loaded | ≤ 21 °C at | ≤ 5 °C at | Corrective action | Initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin soup | GN 1/2 × 65 mm | __ : __ | __ : __ | __ : __ | Split / stir / relocate | __ |
Install for success (and easy sign‑off)
Services & layout
- Leave working space around the unit for cleaning and service access.
- Provide floor drainage (AS 3500) and splash protection where decanting occurs.
- Group the unit near your GN pan storage and trolleys to shorten transfer time.
Safety checks
- Electric: isolation and protection to AS/NZS 60335; scheduled test & tag as required.
- Gas: licensed gasfitter under AS/NZS 5601; pressure/leak tests and compliance certificate on file.
- Ventilation: size canopy and make‑up air to AS 1668.2; avoid cross‑drafts.
Maintenance schedule (pin near the unit)
| Task | Why | Frequency | Initials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean interior and rim | Hygiene; prevent residues | Daily | __ |
| Inspect gaskets & valves | Leak prevention | Weekly | __ |
| Check tilt mechanism | Safe decanting | Weekly | __ |
| Descale (if required) | Heat transfer | As per water quality | __ |
| Electrical/gas service | Reliability & safety | Annually | __ |
Case study — “Hospital prep in 2 turns instead of 3 (and a clean audit)”
Setting: a Queensland hospital serving ~1,200 meals/day. The team used multiple stockpots on open burners for soups and sauces. Cooling logs were difficult to hit on Mondays, and staff reported heavy‑lift strain.
What changed
- Installed a 150 L steam‑jacketed tilting kettle with an optional agitator.
- Replaced two open burners with a tilting braising pan for sear‑and‑reduce items.
- Re‑mapped the cooling step to GN 65 mm pans on trolleys; no stacking during cooling.
- Introduced a one‑page cooling log and weekly probe calibration (ice‑point, ± 1 °C).
Outcomes in 4 weeks
- Soups/sauces consolidated to 2 turns/day instead of 3.
- All batches consistently reached ≤ 21 °C within ~2 h and ≤ 5 °C within the next ~2–3 h.
- Reportable manual‑handling incidents dropped; inspection noted “improved evidence and safer decanting”.
Your numbers will vary by product viscosity, batch size and ambient conditions. The repeatable win is tilt → shallow GN → airflow → logs.
FAQs — what facilities and chefs actually ask
1) Do I need a hood over a tilting pan?
Yes. Treat it as open boiling/frying. Design to AS 1668.2 with capture and make‑up air sized for your line.
2) Can I cool inside the kettle by just waiting?
Not recommended. Large thermal masses cool slowly. Decant into shallow GN pans and move air to meet FSANZ timing.
3) Electric or gas?
Electric kettles and braising pans pair well with modern ventilation and can lower workspace heat; gas models require licensed installation and may carry higher hood loads. Choose by tariff, hood capacity and policy constraints.
4) Can I reheat in the same pan?
Yes if the manufacturer allows and you can rapidly reach ≥ 60 °C throughout. Log temps at the coldest point.
5) What about cleaning chemicals?
Use food‑safe degreasers compatible with 304/316 stainless. Rinse thoroughly and avoid abrasive pads that score the surface.
Shortlists (internal links) — build the whole workflow
Cold‑chain & service
Cooking line (for hybrid kitchens)
Benches & layout
Free “Batch Cooking Audit & FSANZ Cooling Pack” (15‑minute reply)
Send us your menu and a photo of the current setup. We’ll return a one‑page capacity plan (size & turns), a cooling log tuned to your line, and a shortlist of GN pans, holding and cooking gear to fix bottlenecks.
Official sources & further reading (stable links)
- FSANZ — Cooling and reheating food (60→21 °C within 2 h; to ≤ 5 °C within 4 h): https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/cooling-and-reheating-food
- FSANZ — Keeping food at the right temperature (≤ 5 °C / ≥ 60 °C) and thermometers (± 1 °C): https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/keeping-food-at-the-right-temperature
- FSANZ — 2‑hour/4‑hour rule: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/2-hour-4-hour-rule
- AS 4674 — design, construction & fit‑out of food premises (council guideline summaries referencing the standard).
- AS/NZS 60335 — electrical safety for appliances (consult your electrician; manufacturer manuals apply).
- AS/NZS 5601 — gas installations (licensed gasfitter, testing, certification).
- AS 1668.2 — ventilation of commercial kitchens (HVAC engineer to size capture/make‑up air).
- Safe Work Australia — Managing the risks of working in heat.
Last updated: . Always confirm your local council requirements and project‑specific approvals before buying or installing equipment.
