Trays: materials, shapes and designs

The most popular and important attribute in every home is a tray. This accessory is also widely used in food service establishments, so it can often be found in canteens and cafes. In addition, many hostesses prefer to use the tray as a decorative element that originally complements not only the design of the kitchen, but also the living room, hallway or bedroom.

Trays are a universal device with a flat surface and special sides (raised edges), which greatly simplifies the transportation of various types of dishes and protects them from falling.

Today the market is represented by a huge assortment of trays. They can differ in size, shape, design, price, but they are united by certain functions.

• With the help of this product, table setting with devices and dishes is greatly simplified. In this case, the tray can be either round with a lid, or mirrored with handles, or just plastic.
• Allows you to bring ready meals to the table in a more presentable manner. For this, the serving type of the product is usually used. A silver oval or rectangular painted wooden tray looks beautiful. They are often used to effectively serve various desserts, fruit and berry cuts, pastries and cakes.
• Thanks to this device, when removing from the table, you can bring a lot of dishes to the sink at one time.
• Ideal for organizing breakfasts, light dinners right in bed. Not a single coffee and tea ceremony is complete without this product.You can also compactly arrange various snacks and snacks on it and lie comfortably on the couch watching your favorite movies.
• An original addition to the interior of any room. Thanks to their chic design and a huge selection of models, the trays easily cope with the decorative function. High-sided gadgets can be placed in your home library, study, and on a coffee table in your living room for neat storage of letters and other correspondence. In the hallway, it is useful for storing such trifles as a notebook with a pen, keys, and more. These things will always be in one place and will not get lost.

In addition to all of the above, many housewives use the tray as beautiful stands for flower pots. You can place not only indoor plants on them, but also independently create unusual compositions from candles and dried inflorescences.

Trays must meet the following requirements: be hygienic, functional and ergonomic. Their decor also plays a huge role, allowing you to add a special color and an unusual atmosphere to the house. If the tray meets all of the above characteristics, then it will become the most useful thing in the house and will never be able to lie on the shelves of the cabinet.

Every hostess knows that it is not enough to cook a delicious and luxurious dish; it must still be beautifully served to guests. A device such as a tray can help with this.

These "kitchen tools" are conventionally divided into two main types.

• Trays for household use. Bypassing invited guests and serving drinks and snacks cannot be done without using this device. For these purposes, light, roomy and comfortable models are usually purchased. Too small and large trays are not suitable for everyday life. If the devices are inconvenient to hold in your hands, then everything will simply roll off or fall off them.

• Trays used as decorative ornaments. They can be in various fancy shapes and hang on the wall or stand on a dresser. Traditionally, in every home you can find a wicker, metal (stainless steel) or wooden tray with a painting (khokhloma). A tray-plate on a soft pillow, Gzhel and a rotating (rotating) version looks unusual in the interior of the room. Extravagant are square and octagonal trays or combined models, as well as painted and decorated with fancy patterns.

These kitchen appliances differ not only in shape, but also in size.

A classic and versatile tray up to 35 cm in diameter is perfect for slicing, baking and meat dishes. If a special reception is planned and many guests are invited to it, then a large oval tray will come to the rescue. Even the simplest dishes will look amazing on it.

These devices can be produced with or without handles. So, for example, in classic coffee and tea trays, handles are provided. They allow you to comfortably and effectively serve guests with hot drinks.

As for the material of manufacture, the trays can be presented from various materials.

This tradition has been preserved in our time in those countries where monarchs rule. For daily use, a plastic tray is usually purchased, although it is in many ways inferior to stainless steel products.Aluminum models have proven themselves well, they have many shapes, are characterized by durability, wear resistance and are not negatively affected by high temperatures.

Products made of plywood and wood are no less popular., they are especially appreciated among lovers of folk and ethnic styles. Wooden trays will not only elegantly decorate the kitchen, but also add a certain national flavor to the feast.

Typically, trays are made from specific types of wood.

• Oak. He is considered a real king, since he has no equal. Oak trays can be used for a long time, they are not afraid of cuts with sharp objects and are resistant to humidity and temperature extremes.

• Hevea. People have learned not only to extract rubber from wood, but also to make stylish trays. Its wood is characterized by low moisture content, which does not exceed 10%, and a smooth, even surface of a warm shade. Hevea products have increased durability and serve for a long time. In addition, such trays are pleasant to the touch, do not absorb foreign food odors and moisture, and are not afraid of high temperatures.

• Bamboo. It is one of the most durable materials used in the manufacture of boards. Bamboo trays are lightweight, anti-microbial and will not absorb food odors.

• Acacia. It is an exquisite tree that is native to the southern countries. It is characterized by a delicate aroma and delicate warm color. Acacia trays are often decorated with paintings.

• Ash. Has an original texture and deep saturated color. Ash is used to make not only trays, but also plates, cutting boards, tables.

Wooden trays are usually used to serve those products that only benefit from being adjacent to wood. Fish, leafy salads, cheese cuts, pickles, spices, desserts and fruits are perfect for this. Since products made from natural materials are expensive, trays made from high quality durable plastic are available as an alternative. Although they are cheap, according to external data they are in no way inferior to stylish solid wood products.

They can also be found in fast food chains. These trays have their own advantages.

• Low thermal conductivity. Thanks to this property, food placed on the tray does not lose its serving temperature, which is important especially in the cold season. Therefore, plastic products are generally recommended for serving hot food and drinks.
• Original design. Since plastic can take on various forms, it can be painted in any color. Tray manufacturers often apply floral designs and beautiful ornaments to their surfaces, which cannot be done with metal products (they need to be covered with a thick layer of paint, and such decor will last only a few weeks). You cannot decorate aluminum trays in this way, since after painting, problems of permanent oxidation are possible. Plastic trays open up ample opportunities for the implementation of any design idea.

Before purchasing such an important kitchen accessory as a tray, there are many things to consider.

Going to buy a tray, you should pay attention to certain indicators.

• The size. To choose it correctly, you need to take into account not only the category of guests that you plan to serve, but also the overall design of the dining room or kitchen. In addition, the kitchen accessory should fit easily into the cupboard while taking up little space.It is important that after purchasing this product it is possible to place it in the dishwasher or on the drying rack.
• Appearance. Various models can be selected depending on the purpose of the tray. So, for example, for elementary schools, hospitals and other institutions, models with sections are excellent, they provide for the division of dishes into portions. If you plan to serve many different dishes laid out on plates, then it is best to give preference to flat models. Many restaurants serve in such a way that the dining table is filled with dishes as much as possible, while having enough free space. For this, trapezoidal models are used, which can be purchased for hotels, schools, hospitals and small restaurants.

For convenient transportation of dishes, special trays are used, which have several cells.

For cooling dishes with their subsequent serving on the table, it is recommended to purchase trays-inserts. Taking into account the appearance of the product, you should pay attention to its design, which should be in harmony with the general atmosphere in the room.

• Manufacturing material. It is advisable to choose models from high-quality, durable and ecological raw materials. For example, wood and fiberglass products have proven themselves well. The only thing is that, compared to plastic trays, they are limited in color and have only a trapezoidal and flat shape. If the service life of the product is important, then it is best to opt for metal accessories.
• Colour. When choosing this indicator, one should take into account the style of the kitchen, dining room and personal preferences. Today, trays of all colors and shades are on sale. It is advisable to buy products that match the general style of the room.

See below for an overview of the plastic tray.