Get to know the different types of serving trays so you’ll know the right ones to use for breakfasts in bed, formal dinner parties, and other occasions and functions.
The Etruscan tray, an Etruscan black earthenware dated 7th or 6th century B.C.E., is the oldest serving tray in existence. It suggests that a tray was used as early as the ancient times.
Flat trays without handles also known as salver in the 17th century England were used to serve food for the royalty after a small portion of the food had been tested for poison. It came from the Latin salvare which means “to save.”
Papier-maché trays became popular in Asia and Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries while Russian artists painted folk art on lacquered metal trays around the same time.
Modern, durable, and waterproof melamine trays took over from the 1940s to the 1960s in the U.S. In recent years, serving trays can be found in a variety of materials including plastic, acrylic, teak wood, bamboo, and rattan.
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1. Fast Food Serving Trays
One of the most common types of serving trays that you will see on a regular basis will be fast food serving trays. If you eat inside of a fast food restaurant, then you will see that your food is served on one of these trays. They are generally going to be made out of plastic and will be very durable. Dropping one of these trays won’t cause it to break, and it can stand up to a significant amount of punishment.
2. Serving Trays with Compartments
Serving trays with compartments are actually pretty common as well. It is possible that you may have some of these in your home that you use on a regular basis. They are very popular among children, as they are helpful when it comes to getting kids to eat meals while remaining very fun. Sometimes these serving trays will even feature popular cartoon characters or designs to further appeal to your children.
If you are looking for a more standard serving tray with compartments, then they are certainly readily available. You probably used serving trays like this when you were in school. These trays help to keep different foods separate on your plate. There will be a spot that is meant for the main course, a spot that is meant for vegetables, and another that is meant for snacks.
3. Appetizer Serving Trays
Appetizer serving trays are specifically meant for serving smaller courses. People will often bring out these types of serving trays at parties. You can place various types of snacks and goodies on this type of tray, and people will be able to grab food on their own. These trays are also popular for carrying around at catered events where guests are being offered things such as finger foods.
The tray that is being used as an example here is rather simple. This is an attractive glass platter with several sections that can separate different appetizers. You will be able to place many types of foods on this platter that will help your party to go off without a hitch. A good serving tray like this is ideal when you want to use many types of appetizers to give people a choice.
These trays are great for when you are having company over for the big game. You can place chips and other types of snacks on these trays for people to grab. It will be a good experience and you’ll be glad that you have it around. This tray is a bit on the expensive side despite looking subdued, but it is very high-quality. If you need a good serving tray that is easy to clean and looks nice, then this should work out well.
4. Tea Serving Trays
Tea serving trays have been important for a very long time. North American culture isn’t as enamored with tea as much of Europe is, but it is still quite popular. When people want to be able to serve tea in the traditional way, they will need to own one of these tea serving trays. Using a tea serving tray like this one is something that will give you a very traditional feeling.
Many of the most sought-after tea serving trays will be very elegant in appearance. They can be made out of various different materials, but the common ones are wood and metal. This one that is being shown here is made out of metal and is very ornate. It has two handles that make carrying the tray as convenient as possible, too.
5. Plastic Serving Trays
Plastic serving trays can come in various different shapes and sizes. Some of them will be meant to be used time and time again. Others will be meant to be thrown out after several uses. In modern times, many people are avoiding the plastic disposable trays due to environmental concerns. Regardless, these trays are still very common, and people make use of them when they need to serve many foods at a party.
A good plastic serving tray is going to be quite useful for serving many things. These are popularly used to help serve and display desserts. If you need a serving tray for your cake or for other special baked goods, then something like this will work nicely. It is actually a very affordable option despite having an upscale look.
This plastic serving tray is going to work well for your needs. It is round in shape and will make serving various types of food or drinks a breeze. It is rigid enough to hold many types of foods, but you will want to use common sense about how much weight you are putting on the serving tray. For a plastic serving tray, this is going to be a very desirable option that will meet your expectations.
