IDDSI Level 6: What Does “Soft and Bite-Sized” Actually Look Like in the Kitchen?
When a speech pathologist writes “IDDSI Level 6 – Soft and Bite-Sized” in a care plan, the instruction often lands in the kitchen.
And that’s usually where the real questions begin.
Because for a chef, IDDSI Level 6 is not just a label on paper.
It’s something that has to be prepared, plated, and served safely.
In many aged care kitchens, the team will ask questions like:
How big should the food pieces actually be?
How soft is soft enough for IDDSI Level 6?
Is chopping food enough, or does it need testing?
Do we have the right tools to check the texture?
These are very practical questions and help the catering team prepare IDDSI level 6 soft and bite sized foods as per the IDDSI framework.
What IDDSI Level 6 Means for the Kitchen
For people with swallowing or chewing difficulties, IDDSI Level 6 – Soft and Bite-Sized foods are designed to be easier to chew and no biting is required.
But the texture still needs to meet specific criteria.
For adults, food pieces should be:
15 mm x 15 mm or smaller
The food should also be soft enough to break apart easily when pressure is applied.
In other words, the food should not require strong chewing or hard biting.
This is why IDDSI testing methods are recommended, even in the kitchen.
How Hospitality in healthcare team Can Check IDDSI Level 6
The good news is that checking IDDSI Level 6 doesn’t require complicated equipment.
There are several simple tests that kitchen teams can use.
Appearance check
The first step is visual.
Food should be cut into bite-sized pieces (about 15 mm) and should not have separate thin liquid.
Fork pressure test
Using a fork or spoon, press down on a piece of food with enough pressure that your thumbnail turns white.
If the food squashes easily and does not spring back, it is likely soft enough for IDDSI Level 6.
Food should also be able to break apart easily with the side of a fork or spoon.
Why the IDDSI Audit Tool Can Help Kitchens
One tool that many kitchens find useful is the IDDSI audit tool.
This tool acts like a simple checklist to confirm whether a meal meets the criteria for IDDSI Level 6.
It prompts staff to check things like:
food size
softness
moisture
ability to break apart
overall compliance with the IDDSI level
Instead of guessing, the audit tool gives kitchens a clear step-by-step way to check texture consistency.
This can be especially helpful in larger kitchens where multiple staff prepare meals.
Why Getting IDDSI Level 6 Right Matters
In aged care, mealtimes should be enjoyable — but they also need to be safe.
When food is too hard, too dry, or cut too large, it can increase the risk of:
choking
swallowing difficulty
aspiration
This is why IDDSI Level 6 is not just about chopping food smaller.
It’s about ensuring the food matches the person’s chewing and swallowing ability.
And that only works when clinical teams and kitchen teams understand the same framework.
Supporting Chefs and Kitchen Teams for IDDSI training and Dysphagia Education
In my experience working with aged care homes, most kitchen teams genuinely want to do the right thing.
But often they simply haven’t been given:
practical IDDSI training
time to practise the testing methods
clear tools like the IDDSI audit checklist
Once those pieces are in place, IDDSI Level 6 becomes much easier to implement consistently.
And when the kitchen understands the testing methods, everyone gains more confidence that meals are safe.
A question for chefs and food service teams in aged care:
Do your kitchens regularly test foods using the IDDSI Level 6 testing methods, or are meals mostly prepared based on visual judgement?
If you'd like to learn more about implementing IDDSI safely in aged care kitchens, If you'd like to learn more about implementing IDDSI safely in aged care kitchens, enroll our online training today.
