Compartment Trays

Compartment Food Trays: What You Need to Know

Divided trays separate food and flatware and are ideal for correctional facilities with cafeteria-style service, as well as school lunch programs. Available in various colors and configurations, some come with a side slot that gives users a more secure grip and can be used to house cutlery. Both left-handed and right-handed constructions are available.

While some compartment trays are constructed of stainless steel, the majority are made of polypropylene or melamine. Stainless steel and melamine are warewasher safe, but polypropylene must be hand washed. Even if your compartment food tray is deemed safe for dishmachine use, sometimes it won't be enough to get dirt, tarnish, and odors off your smallware. In such cases, a more thorough washing is necessary. We'll go over the best cleaning practices for plastic divided trays below.

Common Questions About Compartment Trays

How do you clean a plastic divided tray?

Since plastic is a durable material, you can use most household cleaners and even car-cleaning products to wash your plastic divided serving tray without harming the piece of the equipment or people who will eventually be eating from it. To begin, wet your compartment tray with water. If there is grease or film, hot water would be best, though cold or warm water is suitable. Pour liquid dish detergent on the plastic compartment food tray, which is chemically inert to oils, grease, detergents, chemicals, and acids. Scrub the divided tray back and forth with a sponge, using the mildly abrasive side on particularly dirty or filmy areas, and rinse off the remaining soap residue with water. Use a circular motion to dry the plastic divided serving tray, and avoid stacking them on each other if they are still wet as this can leave behind water when the tray is used again.

How do you clean tarnish on a divided serving tray?

Plastic compartment trays are simple to clean, but over time they can become tarnished and require more thorough scrubbing. This grungy buildup can be removed with the proper cleaning practices. To begin, use a bucket or sink to combine nine parts hot water and one part bleach. Submerge the compartment food tray in this mixture, though if this is not possible, you can wet the smallware with a sponge soaked in the bleach solution. Vigorously scrub the plastic divided tray until the tarnish has been removed, then rinse it in running water. Dry the piece of equipment with a towel, and give it time to completely air dry before using it for serving.

How do you remove odors from a plastic compartment tray?

Sometimes compartment food trays can absorb food odors over periods of time, though any unpleasant smells can be removed with mild deodorizing elements that won't damage your smallware in the process. To remove the odor, start by washing it with soap and water as normal and then dry it using a paper towel. Lightly coat the plastic divided tray in baking soda and allow it to sit overnight, rinsing off all the baking soda the next morning. If the odor is still present, soak a paper towel in white vinegar and rub it over the tray's compartments, repeating this step until the odor is removed. Finish by wiping the divided serving tray down with a dish cloth and water before drying it with a fresh paper towel.