Prison-Style Stainless Steel “Mess Tray” Mid-Century Classic Set of 2

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM:  By the mid-1900s, prisons across the U.S. and elsewhere began adopting these stainless steel compartment trays – often called “mess trays.” They feature built-in sections to keep entrees, sides, and beverages separated and organized, minimizing the need for multiple dishes.  They will find new life in your home – not just as serving pieces, but as tools for organization, creativity, and sustainability. Their multiple sections encourage portion control, support balanced eating, and make meals and party platters more visually appealing.

Designed for Utility:  These 15 ½-inch x 11 ½-inch stainless steel, rectangular, 6-compartment trays have found new life and new uses in modern homes – not just as serving pieces, but as tools for organization, creativity, and sustainability.  Stackable to save valuable storage space.  Crafted in stainless steel, they are durable and easy to clean.  

Durable, Dishwasher-Safe, and Virtually Indestructible:  They are perfect for picnics, camping, and family dinners, or for turning a casual weeknight meal into something structured and fun. Kids love them, picky eaters appreciate them, and adults can use them to create anything from bento-style lunches to dessert flights, snack boards, or themed tasting menus.  Beyond the table, they also moonlight as organizers – for crafting supplies, hardware, or even as drawer inserts.

Gift with a Story to Tell:  Modeled after military mess kits, meal trays used in prisons have a utilitarian history rooted in control, efficiency, and security.  Over time, they’ve evolved not just as a tool for feeding inmates but also as a symbol of institutional life behind bars.  Stainless steel trays = perfect portions, no food touching, and way fewer dishes.  Dinner just got more fun (and less messy).