Melamine Serving Platters

Melamine Platters: What You Need to Know

Melamine and plastic serving trays provide mid-tier foodservice establishments an attractive way to serve and merchandise large or popular dishes, beyond what simple plates offer. Because these serving trays are only used only once in most table settings, you can be creative without overwhelming your existing aesthetic. The different types of plastic available offer different benefits, which we'll cover below.

Melamine serving trays range from small, single-serving options to large display trays in various styles. Because melamine is so versatile, manufacturers can incorporate shapes and colors into their pieces that stoneware can't match. Melamine also is incredibly easy to maintain and lasts a long time, giving it a remarkably low total cost of ownership. For these reasons, melamine has become one of the most popular materials for commercial dinnerware.

Common Questions About Melamine Trays

What exactly is melamine?

Melamine is an organic plastic made of resin strengthened by organic fibers. The resulting product has the light weight and affordability of plastic, strengthened by the fibers to make a remarkably tough product. Melamine trays are heftier than other plastics and better withstand the rigors of commercial foodservice. This material also presents a finer aesthetic than traditional plastics – rather than light, flimsy dinnerware, melamine feels solid, almost reaching the appeal of stoneware. Using melamine instead of cheaper options will enhance your guests' perceptions of your establishment, which can enable you to charge higher prices for your menu items. Most melamine pieces can be sanitized in high- and low-temperature dishwashers, so it's easy to add these pieces to your existing warewashing procedures.

What style of platter should I choose?

We carry a variety of melamine platters, ranging from traditional white ovals to blue fish-shaped platters. Choosing the right one for your needs can be tricky because of the number of options and styles, but we're here to help. Your first step should be identifying the foods you'll be serving – will you offer entire entrées on your dish, or appetizers? Consider which of our melamine trays fit the aesthetic and style of your menu, as well as which ones can accommodate the items you plan to serve. Answering these few questions can pare down the potential plates pretty quickly. Next, consider the material you want; most options in this category are melamine, though some are other forms of plastic. If you haven't already settled on a color, do that next. Your trays should complement your existing dinnerware, but as these will likely be one-off pieces on your table, you can be a bit more creative without overwhelming the meal.

Lastly, consider how many serving platters you need. Some of our options come packaged as a case, while others can be sold individually. If you plan to serve a popular menu item on these, you might save money by purchasing them in bulk, but if you want to test a few and see how they go over, buying only a few would be wiser.