Trays: materials, shapes and design

The tray is considered the most popular and important attribute in every home. This accessory is also widely used in public catering, so it can often be found in dining rooms and cafes. In addition, many hostesses prefer to use a tray in the form of 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 may differ in size, shape, design, price, but they share certain functions.

• Using this product table setting is greatly simplified with appliances and utensils. In this case, the tray can be either round with a lid, a mirror with handles, or just plastic.
• Allows you to more presentably present ready meals to the table. For this, a serving type of product is usually used. A silver oval or rectangular painted tray made of wood looks beautiful. They are often used to effectively serve various desserts, fruit, berry slices, pastries and cakes.
• Thanks to this device, when removing from the table, you can bring a lot of dishes to the sink at a time.
• Ideal for organizing breakfasts, light dinners right in bed. Not a single coffee and tea ceremony can do without this product.On it, you can also compactly arrange various sweets, snacks and lie comfortably on the couch while watching your favorite movies.
• An original addition to the interior of any room. Thanks to their chic design and a huge selection of models, trays can easily cope with a decorative function. Devices with high sides can be placed in the home library, study and on the coffee table in the 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 coasters for flower pots. They can accommodate not only indoor plants, but also independently create unusual compositions from candles and dried inflorescences.

Trays must meet the following requirements: be hygienic, functional and ergonomic. A huge role is also played by their decor, which allows you to add a special flavor and 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 can never lie on the shelves of the cabinet.

Each hostess knows that it is not enough to cook a tasty and luxurious dish, it must be served beautifully to the guests. A device such as a tray can help with this.

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

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

• Trays used as decorative ornaments. They can have various bizarre shapes and hang on the wall or stand on a chest of drawers. Traditionally, in every house you can find wicker, metal (stainless steel) or a wooden tray with painting (Khokhloma). The tray-plate on a soft pillow, gzhel and a rotating (spinning) option look unusual in the interior of the room. Extravagant are considered square and octagonal trays or combined models, as well as painted and decorated with bizarre patterns.

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

Classic and versatile is a tray with a diameter of up to 35 cm. It 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-shaped tray will come to the rescue. On it, even the simplest dishes will look amazing.

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 hot drinks to guests.

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

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

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

Typically, trays are made from certain types of wood.

• Oak. It is considered the 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. From wood, people learned not only to get rubber, but also to make stylish trays. Its wood is characterized by low humidity, which does not exceed 10%, and a smooth, even surface with a warm shade. Hevea products are highly durable and last a long time. In addition, such trays are pleasant to the touch, do not absorb extraneous odors of food and moisture, are not afraid of high temperature.

• Bamboo. This is one of the most durable materials used in the manufacture of boards. Bamboo trays are light in weight, have antimicrobial properties and do not absorb food odors.

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

• Ash. It has an original texture and deep saturated color. Not only trays are made of ash, but also plates, cutting boards, tables.

Wooden trays are usually used to serve those products that benefit from the proximity to wood. Fish, leafy salads, cheese slices, pickles, spices, desserts and fruits are perfect for this. Since products made of natural material are expensive, trays made of high-quality durable plastic can be purchased as an alternative. Although they are cheap, but according to external data they are in no way inferior to stylish array products.

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

• Low thermal conductivity. Due to this property, food placed on a tray does not lose its serving temperature, which is important especially in the cold season. Therefore, plastic products are mainly recommended for serving hot dishes and drinks.
• The original design. Since plastic can take on a different look, it can be painted in any color. Often manufacturers of trays apply floral patterns and beautiful ornaments to their surface, 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 can not decorate aluminum trays in this way, since after painting there may be problems of constant oxidation. Plastic trays, however, open up wide possibilities for the implementation of any design idea.

Before you purchase such an important kitchen accessory as a tray, you need to consider many features.

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 in the cabinet, taking up little space.It is important that after purchasing this product it is possible to place it in a dishwasher or on a drying stand.
• Appearance. Depending on the purpose of the tray, you can choose a variety of models. 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, 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 bought for hotels, schools, hospitals and small restaurants.

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

To cool dishes with their subsequent serving, it is recommended to purchase tray-inserts. Given the appearance of the product, you should pay attention to its design, which should be harmoniously combined with the general situation in the room.

• The material of manufacture. It is advisable to choose models from high-quality, durable and environmentally friendly raw materials. For example, wood products and fiberglass have proven themselves well. The only thing is that, in comparison with plastic trays, they are limited in color and have only a trapezoid and flat shape. If the product’s service life is important, it is best to opt for metal accessories.
• Color. Choosing this indicator, you should consider the style of the kitchen, dining room and personal preferences. To date, trays of all colors and shades are on sale. It is advisable to buy products that are combined with the general style of the room.

See the plastic tray overview below.