Shopping Guide | Catering Essentials

Post Date:

24Feb, 2021

By: Sabrina Huda Sanchez

Restaurants have had to find other avenues to make up the losses caused by the pandemic. One such strategy is to take their food to their customers with catering services. Friends and families still want to celebrate milestones and occasions but can no longer take the festivities to a restaurant so backyard events have been a suitable alternative.
If your restaurant is interested in event catering or if you’re looking into how to start a catering business, here is a guide to disposable products you may need!

Aluminum Trays and Lids
To transport food, you will want containers that maintain the temperature of your food -- especially if it is best served warm. Aluminum trays can keep foods warm for a few hours and also withstand a burner (see #3) placed underneath to extend the heating time.
Aluminum trays can be found in different lengths, depths and strengths. Depending on the type of food you serve and how heavy the food is will determine which one you will want. For instance, a lasagna may need a deep heavy duty aluminum while a salad tray only needs a standard medium depth. Here are all the options available from Karat:
‧ Full-size Medium Depth Standard Aluminum Tray
‧ Full size Deep Depth Standard Aluminum Tray
‧ Full-size Deep Depth Heavy-duty Aluminum Tray
‧ Half-size Deep Depth Standard Aluminum Tray
‧ Half-size Aluminum Tray Lid
‧ Full-size Aluminum Tray Lid

Aluminum Foil
Make sure you always have aluminum foil ready when catering. You may need it to wrap up leftovers for your clients or wrap up individual items like toasted bagels. Large rolls can also be used to cover your aluminum trays in lieu of a tray lid. Pop-up foil sheets are convenient and best for wrapping an order at a taco cart or even a food truck. Either preference you have, be sure aluminum foil is part of your catering essentials.
Just like the trays, you can find aluminum in different grades of thickness for various levels of strength. Here are the options available from Karat:
‧ Heavy-duty Aluminum Foil Roll (18”x 500”)
‧ Standard Aluminum Foil Roll (12” x 1000”)
‧ Standard Aluminum Foil Roll (18” x 500”)
‧ Heavy-duty Pop-up Aluminum Foil Sheets (10.75” x 12”)
‧ Standard Pop-up Aluminum Foil Sheets (10.75” x 12”)

Chafing Stand and Burners
Keep your aluminum trays warmed throughout the event or wedding with a chafing stand and burner. A wire rack will hold up the aluminum trays and typically have a slot or shelf for the burner to sit on underneath the tray. This will provide heat for a few hours and so food is served warm for the entire event. Here are some suggestions for wire racks and burners:
‧ Folding Chafing Wire Rack Stand
‧ Burner Cans

Serving Utensils
Serving utensils are larger and stronger than regular disposable utensils so that guests can scoop generous amounts of food in one spoonful. When serving buffet style, it’s important to move the line along quickly with an efficient scoop. To avoid food contamination, it is ideal to include a separate utensil with every tray. Here are the serving utensils available from Karat:
‧ Serving Fork
‧ Serving Spoon
‧ Serving Salad Tong 11”
‧ Serving Tong 7”
‧ Serving Tong 12”

Catering Plates and Cups
Catering plates and cups are disposable which makes event catering sanitary and easier to clean up. However, they are much higher quality than typical styrofoam or paper plates. Occasions like weddings or corporate events should present a certain level of classy plates and cups while also being easy to dispose of or recycle. Scalloped plates offer a fancy design in either black or white and provide a strong carry vessel for the loads of delicious food. Wine and champagne flutes are a great option to avoid broken glass but still a safe and sanitary drink. Here are the options available from Karat:

Plates

‧ Scalloped Plate Black - 10.25”
‧ Scalloped Plate Black - 9”
‧ Scalloped Plate Black - 7”
‧ Scalloped Plate White - 10.25”
‧ Scalloped Plate White- 7”