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About Trays

If you think about the hardest working items in your home, trays will be somewhere near the top of that list. They are so versatile and you can literally use them for anything. Let it be to serve food and drinks, arrange items on the table, or as a decorative element. The only limit you have is your imagination and creativity.

Trays basically provide you bigger hands. They give you a larger platform to carry glasses and course safely and comfortably to the table. Besides, you can also use them to organise your things. And if the tray is large enough, you can use it as a substitute for a magazine holder. In short, you can use them in so many different ways. But before you start shopping for them, make sure to read this article to know more about them. Although platters are pretty simple by definition, there are a lot of things to look for when you shop. Having a better understanding of them will help you make better choices.

Different types of serving platters that you will need

Serving plates is something everyone must have in their kitchens. They are incredibly versatile and are also available in a wide variety of designs. Typically, the major distinguishing feature between different types of platters is the material. Besides that, they also differ in their sizes and functionality. In order to know which one is the most suitable for your needs, you should first understand what the pros and cons of each of them are. This article will tell you about the different types of serving trays.

Plastic serving trays

Plastic trays are the cheapest and most versatile type of trays. They are ubiquitous in all kitchens and are available in many different sizes, styles, colours and designs. You will come across regular plastic trays and disposable trays. The former is usually made of good quality hard plastic while the latter is cheaper low quality plastic. Disposable plastic trays will only last for a few uses and then they start to break. You can throw them away after a few uses. Such trays are ideal for one-off events like weddings or other celebrations. Hard plastic trays are what you need for your home kitchen.

Tea serving trays

In this case the name might be slightly misleading. Even though people call it tea trays, you can serve coffee or other drinks on it. The most distinguishing mark of a tea serving tray is its elaborate decoration. These trays always use metals. Although stainless steel is the most popular material because of its durability and relatively low cost, some use brass as well. As you can imagine brass trays are more expensive but offer a superior finish. Another choice is a wooden tray. Wooden and metal ones are strikingly different in their appearance and level of decoration.

Appetiser trays

This is another of those kitchen utensils that is a must have. Appetizer trays make it easier to serve small courses. You can serve snacks and fruit slices on them when you are hosting dinners. That’s not to say that they are not useful for everyday use. THese trays are available in a lot of different forms. Most common ones are made of glass. It is easy to tell these apart from regular serving trays as they have compartments. You can use the compartments to separate different courses. That’s not all. They are great for serving chips and other snacks on the coffee table.

Fast food serving trays

These are more common in restaurants. They are rectangular in shape and are quite larger than other types of serving trays. Fast food trays are not the most attractive trays to look at but they are highly functional and durable. They won't break even if you drop them several times. In order to keep the food from sticking to the surface of the tray, you will have to use a paper placeholder when you serve on it. Most fast food trays look the same and are available in only a few colours. But that’s okay because you are probably buying it for its durability and functionality.

Tips on how to buy the right type of kitchen tray online

Choosing a tray might seem like a pretty simple task at first. But in fact, there are quite a lot of things that go into it. If you want your tray to be attractive and useful, you have to look at a few criteria. Although selecting a tray out of hundreds and thousands different models can be overwhelming, it gets easier if you know the things you have to consider. Here are a few tips that you can follow when you shop for them.

Material - First thing to consider when you are shopping for trays is the material. The material will dictate the finish and durability of the tray. The decor of the tray has to go well with the material, be it wood or metal. You can also try to match it with other utensils in your kitchen as well.
Design - Trays are more than just a functional piece of item to have in your kitchen. Rather, they can often serve as a statement piece on a table. Therefore, you should make sure that tray has an elegant design. It also should complement the design of the glasses and other serveware that you put along with the tray.
Handles - You can't overlook the handles when you choose the trays. Handles play a huge role in the usability of the tray. The size and location of the tray handles vary widely between models. For instance, handles of a tea serving tray are raised on both sides. Besides, they also have an additional handle for better support. On the other hand, trays that carry food have no handle at all.
Size - This one is pretty obvious. As the main purpose of a tray is to carry jars, plates, and glasses, the size matters a lot. Instead of looking for the largest tray outside, consider your requirements and ease of use. Remember that the larger a tray gets, the heavier it will be. Heavy trays are difficult to carry. Therefore, you have to strike a balance between the usability and size.

Apart from these, you can also look for handy features in a tray. Non stick coating on trays will make it easier for you to clean the trays. Therefore, look for non stick coating when you shop for trays. There are also trays with compartments. Such compartments, similar to appetiser trays, help you separate between dishes. These trays are usually meant for serving food on it directly. Therefore, make sure that the material is food safe. Also, don't forget to check out products from the Home & Living category.

Question & Answer

How to carry a serving tray?

Carrying a serving tray is an art. Therefore it is impossible to learn the technique without actually doing it. But here are some tips that will make it easier for you to learn. First thing to keep in mind is to never hold the tray full of plates. directly in front of your or by your side. Instead, hold it up over your shoulder. That way you will be able to balance the weight without much effort. But if you are serving tea or any other drinks, then it is perfectly okay for you to hold it in front of you. In this case it is not a problem as it will be relatively lighter than plates with food on them.

How to clean wooden platters?

Wooden platters are a bit trickier to clean than stainless steel ones. That’s because it has many tiny pores in them that will trap food particles. But on the other hand, they are durable and are resistant to soaps and dishwashers. First of all, wash the platter using warm, soapy water. Be careful not to use water that is too hot because this can create cracks in the wood. Too much heat can cause the wood to bend as well. After that, sanitise the platter using a mixture of vinegar and water. Make sure that you remove any traces of food from the platter.

Do you really need a serving tray at home?

Serving trays serve more use than just serving food. While it is true that the primary purpose of platters is to serve food and drinks, they do function as a decorative item on the table. You can add a bouquet on top of it along with what you are serving if you want to make it even more attractive. They are also useful for organising the items on your dressing table. You can keep your books, glasses, bottles and other things on the tray instead of letting them sit carelessly on the table. It will also make it easier to find them in the dark.

Where to buy serving trays online in the uae?

Trays are an inevitable part of every kitchen. And if you are looking to buy serving trays online in the UAE, look no further as you are in the right place. You will find anything from cheap serving trays to best bed serving trays online on Shops.ae. All you have to do is to look for them using the product search engine. This will let you compare the prices and features of different trays and find out the best one among them. There are more than 500 shops and brands offering serving trays here on Shops.ae. These include some of the popular brands like Elite d'Art, San Miguel, Home Centre, HomeBox, Bloomingville, DOIY Design, and Goutal.