Tray vs. Platter — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 7, 2023
A tray is a flat, shallow container with raised edges for carrying or serving items, while a platter is a large dish for serving ample amounts of food.
Difference Between Tray and Platter
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A tray is typically a flat carrier used to transport items from one place to another, often featuring raised edges to prevent objects from falling off. A platter, conversely, is generally larger and used for serving substantial quantities of food, especially during meals or at events.
Trays are commonly used in both domestic settings for serving beverages and meals, and in commercial settings such as cafeterias for carrying food items. Platters, however, are more specifically designed for presenting and serving food, often used to display the culinary spread attractively.
The design of a tray can range from simple and utilitarian to decorative and elaborate, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes. Platters tend to be more ornate and are chosen to complement the food and the setting of a meal, enhancing the overall dining experience.
In terms of materials, trays can be made of a variety of substances such as plastic, metal, or wood, tailored to their purpose of serving or carrying. Platters are often made from more durable and elegant materials like ceramic, porcelain, or metal, reflecting their role in food presentation.
While trays often come with handles to aid in carrying, platters usually do not, as their main function is to remain stationary while people serve themselves from it. This distinction highlights the different roles each item plays in service and presentation during dining and hospitality.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Carrying items
Serving food
Size
Generally smaller
Larger for ample food
Design
Can be simple or elaborate
Often ornate for presentation
Handles
Often has handles
Typically without handles
Material
Made from various materials
Usually ceramic, porcelain, metal
Compare with Definitions
Tray
A flat container for carrying items.
She carried the glasses out on a silver tray.
Platter
A large dish for serving food.
The turkey was presented on a festive platter.
Tray
A surface for presenting offerings.
The altar was adorned with a tray of candles.
Platter
A dish for serving various food types.
She brought out a platter of fruits and nuts for the guests.
Tray
A cafeteria item for meal transport.
Students lined up with their lunch trays.
Platter
A large flat dish or plate for serving food
Arrange the fruit on a serving platter
Tray
A shallow platform for organizing items.
He placed his tools on the tray for easy access.
Platter
The rotating metal disc forming the turntable of a record player.
Tray
A tray is a shallow platform designed for the carrying of items. It can be fashioned from numerous materials, including silver, brass, sheet iron, paperboard, wood, melamine, and molded pulp.
Platter
A large shallow dish or plate, used especially for serving food.
Tray
A flat, shallow container with a raised rim, typically used for carrying food and drink, or for holding small items or loose material
Seed trays
A baking tray
They ate supper off a tray in front of the fire
Platter
A meal or course served on a platter.
Tray
A shallow flat receptacle with a raised edge or rim, used for carrying, holding, or displaying articles.
Platter
(Slang) A phonograph record.
Tray
A shallow flat receptacle with its contents
Took the patient a dinner tray.
Platter
A tray for serving foods.
Tray
A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
I carefully arranged the dishes on the tray and brought it upstairs.
Make sure that tray of eggs is properly loaded.
Platter
A main dish and side dishes served together on one plate.
Tray
(by extension) The items on a full tray.
Before long they had consumed a whole tray of shrimp cocktails and sent for another.
Platter
The hard surface of a turntable on which a gramophone record rests when being played.
Tray
A component of a device into which an item is placed for use in the device's operations.
The CD tray will not open.
The loader is responsible for placing the work on the trays for the plating machines.
Baking tray
Platter
(computing) One of possibly many disks on which data is stored in a mechanical hard drive.
Tray
A notification area used for icons and alerts.
Platter
One who plats/plaits or braids.
Tray
A type of retail or wholesale packaging for CPUs where the processors are sold in bulk and/or with minimal packaging.
Platter
One who plats or braids.
Tray
(Australia) The platform of a truck that supports the load to be hauled.
Platter
A large plate or shallow dish on which meat or other food is brought to the table.
The attendants . . . speedly brought in several large, smoking platters, filled with huge pieces of beef.
Tray
(obsolete) trouble; annoyance; anger
Platter
A large shallow dish used for serving food
Tray
A gay trans person, particularly a man (a man who is both transgender and gay)
Platter
Sound recording consisting of a disc with continuous grooves; formerly used to reproduce music by rotating while a phonograph needle tracked in the grooves
Tray
(transitive) to place (items) on a tray
Be sure to tray eggs with the large end up.
Platter
A broad plate for culinary display.
An array of cheeses was arranged on the wooden platter.
Tray
(intransitive) to slide down a snow-covered hill on a tray from a cafeteria.
Traying has provided collegiate fun and the occasional fatality for decades.
Platter
A serving piece for communal meals.
The sushi platter was the centerpiece of the table.
Tray
To grieve; to annoy
Platter
A term for a collection of various items served.
The seafood platter included lobster, shrimp, and oysters.
Tray
To betray
Tray
To betray; to deceive.
Tray
A small trough or wooden vessel, sometimes scooped out of a block of wood, for various domestic uses, as in making bread, chopping meat, etc.
Tray
A flat, broad vessel on which dishes, glasses, etc., are carried; a waiter; a salver.
Tray
A shallow box, generally without a top, often used within a chest, trunk, box, etc., as a removable receptacle for small or light articles.
Tray
An open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
Tray
A receptacle in machinery for specific parts.
The technician loaded the paper into the printer tray.
Common Curiosities
Are trays and platters made from the same materials?
They can be, but platters are often made from more decorative and durable materials.
Can a tray have compartments?
Yes, some trays have compartments for organizing and separating items.
Are all trays flat?
Most trays are flat, but some may have a slight depth for carrying items more securely.
What is a platter?
A platter is a large, flat dish used for serving a large quantity of food.
Is a platter only used for food?
Typically, yes, platters are mainly used for serving various foods.
Can a platter have a lid?
Some platters come with lids, especially those used for catering.
Do trays always have handles?
Many trays have handles, but not all; some are designed to be carried without them.
Can a platter be used to serve a single type of food?
Yes, platters can serve a single item, like a meat or cheese platter.
What is a serving tray?
A serving tray is specifically designed for serving food and drinks to guests.
What is a tray?
A tray is a flat, usually rectangular surface with raised edges for carrying or serving items.
Can a tray be used as a platter?
Sometimes, a tray can double as a platter if it is suitable for food presentation.
Do trays need to be food safe?
If a tray is used for serving food, it should be made of food-safe materials.
How do you clean a wooden platter?
Wooden platters should be hand-washed with mild soap and water and dried immediately.
What shapes do platters come in?
Platters can be round, oval, rectangular, or other creative shapes.
Are platters usually decorative?
Yes, platters are often decorative to enhance the presentation of food.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
