Plate Covers

Plastic Plate Covers: What You Need to Know

Plate covers insulate your food, keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, which can be particularly useful if your customers are far away from the kitchen. If your operation must implement wait time between cooking a meal and serving it to your guest, plate covers are a near necessity to keep your food safe and tasty. Catering operations and healthcare facilities need plate covers more often than traditional sit-down restaurants, but any time your plates of food might be sitting out unattended, you'll need to cover them with something.

Food must be kept warmer than 140 degrees Fahrenheit after cooking to be considered safe, and it must also be protected from pests and other potential contaminants. Cost-effective plate covers accomplish both goals without sapping too much capital from other pursuits. Plastic plate covers are inexpensive, durable, and many can withstand the heat of a catering or meal delivery cart.

Common Questions About Plate Covers

Who needs plate covers?

As mentioned above, healthcare facilities using meal carts will need insulated covers, but they aren't the only ones. Caterers that cook food elsewhere and deliver it to a meal site must protect their food from potential contaminants, such as flies or other pests. Not only do covers keep bugs away – they insulate your food, slowing the loss of moisture and improving the quality of the finished product.

Hotel room service operations will also want plate covers to keep their food tasty and safe between the kitchen and guests. Beyond the material benefit provided by a barrier between your food and the outside world, covers reassure your customer that their food has been protected. All covers have finger holes to facilitate removal and provide ventilation for steam and heat to escape, ensuring operators are not burned.

Should I get clear or opaque covers?

Clear covers are beneficial because they enable the operator to keep an eye on the food during transport. If a carefully plated meal starts to tilt, the person transporting it can correct before anything spills. Opaque lids present a clean aesthetic as your food is transported. If you choose covers that match your serving carts or room design, they can maintain your carefully created décor. Consider which of these concerns you value more before choosing.

Why would I want metal plate covers?

Metal plate covers provide stronger insulation than plastic plate covers, but also cost significantly more. Stainless steel is significantly more durable than plastic, meaning these covers last longer than plastic options. These can also be cleaned in commercial dishwashers, which is not true for some plastic options.

Can I use these covers in a catering cart?

Most plate covers are designed to stand up to the warming heat of a catering cart, but you should check the product specification page for the individual piece you're considering before purchasing.