# Tray > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tray > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tray.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tray > Source revision: 1341859964 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Shallow platform designed for carrying things}} {{other uses}} thumb|Brass tray inlaid with silver, Egypt or Syria, 19th century A '''tray''' is a shallow platform designed for the carrying of items. It can be fashioned from numerous materials, including [silver](/source/silver), [brass](/source/brass), sheet [iron](/source/iron), [paperboard](/source/paperboard), [wood](/source/wood), [melamine](/source/melamine), and [molded pulp](/source/molded_pulp). Trays range in cost from inexpensive molded pulp trays which are [disposable](/source/disposable) and inexpensive melamine trays used in cafeterias, to mid-priced wooden trays used in a home, to expensive silver trays used in luxury hotels. Some examples have raised galleries, handles, and short feet for support. Trays are flat, but with raised edges to stop things from sliding off them. They are made in a range of shapes but are commonly found in oval or [rectangular](/source/rectangle) forms, sometimes with cutout or attached [handles](/source/%3Awikt%3AHandle) with which to carry them. A more elaborate device is the tray table, which is designed to accommodate a tray, or to serve as a tray itself. There are two primary kinds of tray tables. The [TV tray table](/source/TV_tray_table) is typically a small table, which may have legs that fold to allow it to be carried like a tray. The airplane tray table is a tray built into the back of an [airline seat](/source/airline_seat), which folds down so that the person sitting in the seat behind the one containing the table can use it as a surface from which to eat meals served on the airplane. ==Examples== [[Image:Schweizerhaus18.jpg|thumb|upright|Waiter with waitperson service tray in [Vienna](/source/Vienna), [Austria](/source/Austria).]] * A '''butler's tray''' often has a gallery, or deeper surround, handles on the long sides to facilitate carrying (usually cut into the surround), and a portable stand with folding legs. It is used for the service of drinks and generally serves as a convenient side table. * A '''cafeteria tray''' is used for carrying items in a [cafeteria](/source/cafeteria). It is typically made of [plastic](/source/plastic) or [fiberglass](/source/fiberglass). A '''compartment tray''' or '''mess tray''' is a cafeteria tray designed to be used directly, without dishes - it incorporates shallow compartments in which different types of food are placed. *A '''{{vanchor|cargo tray}}''', the rear of a [ute](/source/ute_(vehicle)), used to hold goods.{{cite web|url=https://www.carthrottle.com/post/nrjl4rv/|title=Basic differences between a ute and a pickup truck, a #BlogPost by Mk2Golfer|website=Car Throttle|date=15 April 2017 }}{{cite web|url=https://jalopnik.com/a-brief-history-of-australias-car-truck-ute-on-its-8-1530708773|title=A Brief History Of Australia's Car-Truck 'Ute' On Its 80th Birthday|first=Andrew P.|last=Collins|website=Jalopnik|date=25 February 2014 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nissan.com.au/ute/news-reviews/2017/february/13/common-ute-questions|title=Common UTE Questions - Nissan Australia|website=www.nissan.com.au}} * A '''molded pulp tray''' is a disposable (or recyclable) tray provided by fast food restaurants, coffee shops and movie theaters. The tray is designed to hold four [disposable cup](/source/disposable_cup)s. * '''Surgical trays''' are used to carry [surgical instrument](/source/surgical_instrument)s, are rectangular and made of [stainless steel](/source/stainless_steel) to resist the heat of [sterilization](/source/Sterilization_(microbiology)) without [corrosion](/source/corrosion). * '''Seed trays''' are used for propagating vegetables and flowers and other plants from [seed](/source/sowing).{{cite web|url=https://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2008/02/seed-trays/ |title=Use of seed trays |publisher=Bifurcatedcarrots.eu |date=14 February 2008 |accessdate=19 June 2019}} They are also used for taking [plant cuttings](/source/cutting_(plant)). The trays for seedling production are made of expanded polystyrene or polythene. They come in many sizes; the most common are the Danish and the European sized trays. Seed trays can also be stacked in seed tray racks to take up less space.[http://www.allotment-garden.org/store/equipment/greenhouse-equipment-and-accessories/shelving-seed-tray-racks Seed tray rack example 1][https://www.greenhousesdirect.co.uk/accessories-section/staging-storage/shelves-and-seedracks/ Seed tray rack example 2] * A '''darkroom tray''', also known as '''print developing tray''', is used in [photography](/source/photography). * A '''dental impression tray''' is a receptacle or device that is used to carry impression material to the mouth, confine the material in apposition to the surfaces to be recorded, and control the impression material while it sets to form the impression. * A '''baking tray''' or '''oven tray''' is used to cook a variety of foods in an oven, including vegetables and meats such as whole chickens. It allows food to be very exposed to the hot air inside the oven whilst preventing any fats of liquids from falling onto the oven floor. See also [Sheet pan](/source/Sheet_pan). * '''Food packaging trays''' ** A '''foam tray''' is used by the supermarkets and by the fruit shops to package meat and small fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. Patents for this product exist since 1966.[https://patents.google.com/patent/US3397068 Method of packaging fresh meat - US 3397068 A], google.com ** '''Aluminium foil take-out food tray''' used by the supermarkets for packaging processed food. ** '''Thin plastic trays''' used for both packaging shelf food and for take-out food * A '''coin tray''' is used to store or collect coins.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lg5XCJ_rPdMC&pg=PA16 |page=16 |title=Cowries, Coins, Credit; The History of Money |author1=Gerry Bailey |author2=Felicia Law |year=2006 |isbn=9780756516765 |publisher=[Compass Point Books](/source/Compass_Point_Books)}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wu5gAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT26 |page=26 |title=Secrets of Winning Slots |author=Avery Cardoza |isbn=9781580424424 |publisher=[Cardoza Publishing](/source/Cardoza_Publishing)}} They are used in banks, restaurants, shops, casinos, and for coin collecting.{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/23/reference/change-trays/ |publisher=[The Japan Times](/source/The_Japan_Times) |title=Change trays |author=Alice Gordenker |date=23 May 2015 |access-date=11 August 2022}} ==Image gallery== File:Tray.agr.jpg|Plastic tray File:Horticulture Tray3.jpg|A seed tray used in horticulture for sowing and taking plant cuttings and growing [plugs](/source/Plug_(horticulture)) File:1104 Pasztecik Szczeciński.JPG|[Pasztecik szczeciński](/source/Pasztecik_szczeci%C5%84ski) on a small paper tray, with [barszcz](/source/Borscht) in a beaker, [Poland](/source/Poland) File:McDonalds Molded Pulp Drink Tray Top.jpg|Molded pulp drink tray File:Plateau AC.jpg|Brass plate circa 1920. File:Leroy Merlin à Massy le 9 avril 2017 - 77.jpg|Sheet metal baking tray File:Rond dienblad - INDUS V09764.JPG|Round tray in [bakelite](/source/bakelite), collection [Museum of Industry](/source/Museum_of_Industry_(Ghent)) Ghent. ==See also== * [Germination](/source/Germination) * [Gastronorm](/source/Gastronorm), a European standard for food tray sizes * [Lazy Susan](/source/Lazy_Susan), a rotating tray, usually circular, placed on top of a table to aid in moving food on a large table or countertop. * [Phan (tray)](/source/Phan_(tray)) * [Safetray](/source/Safetray) * [Salver](/source/Salver), a diminutive tray commonly used for lighter and smaller servings * [Serving cart](/source/Serving_cart) * [Thali](/source/Thali) * [TV tray table](/source/TV_tray_table) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Trays|lcfirst=yes}} * {{Wiktionary-inline}} Category:Packaging Category:Furniture Category:Serving and dining Category:Gardening aids --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tray) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tray?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.