Disposable Food & Catering Trays

Disposable Food Trays for the Counter, the Lunch Line and the Party

Disposable food trays carry everything from a single order to a whole spread: paper boats of fries and hot dogs at a concession window, compartment lunch trays on a school or hospital line, clear fruit trays in the deli case, and black disposable catering trays with dome lids for office lunches and parties. Each one is sized by the portion or the platter it holds.

The selection includes trusted names like Boardwalk, D&W Fine Pack, Pactiv Evergreen, VerTerra, and World Centric, offered at competitive prices.

Lids, Stacks and Heat Ratings That Matter in Service

Lids that fit the first time. Many catering trays ship without a lid, and each listing names the dome lid that fits it, in high, low and vented styles. Order the tray and its matching lid together, and the platters arrive ready to seal on the day of the event.

Stacks that stay put. Some black plastic catering trays and their domes are designed to interlock, so a stack of sealed platters resists toppling on the way to a delivery.

Heat and grease limits. Foam supermarket trays are rated to about 150°F, which suits the cold case rather than the hot line. Fiber trays resist grease and moisture with no wax or plastic lining, and the PLA-lined versions add a plant-based layer for oily meat and wet produce.

Choosing Disposable Trays by Portion, Compartments and Material

• Portion: paper boats are sold by the weight of food they hold, from a quarter pound to five pounds, and fluted hot dog trays come in 6 and 8 inch lengths.
• Compartments: single-section platters for sandwiches and wraps, three- to five-section catering trays for sides and dips, five- and six-compartment cafeteria trays for full lunches, clear deli trays with four produce sections around a dip cup, and two-compartment nacho trays for chips and a side of sauce.
• Lid: catering domes come in high, low and vented styles, while the egg display trays and deli fruit trays include their own lids.
• Material: paper and paperboard for dry concession food, plastic for sealed catering and deli platters, foam for supermarket and cafeteria trays, fiber for compostable programs, and balsa or birch wood for an upscale catering table.
• Composting: the fiber trays are certified compostable in commercial composting facilities, not a backyard pile, so confirm your hauler or program accepts them.
• Storage: the lidded balsa wood trays are refrigerator safe and stack once their snap-on lids are closed, which suits make-ahead catering.

Pairing Trays with Fry Cups, Portion Cups and Foil Pans

At the concession window, trays hold the order that is eaten on the spot, while paper french fry cups and bags carry fries that walk away with the customer.

Dips and dressings for a deli or catering tray travel in souffle and portion cups, which keep sauce off the chips and bread until the tray is served.

For hot catered dishes that need reheating or a place over a chafing flame, aluminum foil pans are the tray to use.