Cuisinart Grilling Prep & Serve Trays (17 x 10.5 in) — Red & Black, Dishwasher-Safe, Nesting BBQ Trays
Product description
If you grill often, cross-contamination is one of those problems that’s easy to create and annoying to fix. These Cuisinart Grilling Prep & Serve Trays are designed to make separation simple: a red tray for raw meat handling and a black tray for cooked food, so you can prep and serve with less guesswork.
They’re mid-size at 17 x 10.5 inches, built for everyday grilling routines like slicing chicken, portioning burgers, or setting cooked items aside while you keep the raw stuff under control. The trays are also dishwasher safe and made from shatter-resistant melamine, which is the kind of practical combo you want when you’re juggling utensils, heat, and a messy counter.
The essentials (what you get and what it’s for)
These are two medium grilling trays intended to cover both prep and serving. The set includes a red prep tray and a black serving tray, with the idea that you keep raw items on the red side and move cooked food to the black side. It’s a straightforward approach, and on busy grill days that simplicity is exactly what helps.
On paper, the size matters too. At 17 x 10.5 inches, there’s enough surface area for typical grill tasks (think multiple burger patties, larger cuts, or draining/portioning). It’s not a tiny accessory, but it also won’t take over your whole storage area because the trays are designed to nest together.
Key takeaways (why it works in real grilling)
The biggest advantage here is the color-coded workflow. Using the red tray for raw meat and the black tray for cooked food helps you avoid that all-too-common “oops, I put it down on the wrong spot” moment.
Cleanup is also less of a headache because the trays are dishwasher safe and listed as BPA-free. And because they’re described as shatter-resistant melamine, they’re meant to handle the kind of bumps that happen during grilling and outdoor serving.
That said, it’s worth keeping expectations realistic: these are prep/serve trays, not cooking surfaces. If you’re looking for something to go directly on a grill grate or replace cookware, this set is probably not the right lane.
What you’ll notice day to day (storage, durability, handling)
The nesting design is a small detail that adds up. After a cookout, you’re more likely to keep the trays together and put them away neatly when they stack/nest rather than sprawl out in your kitchen cabinet.
Durability is another practical point. The melamine material is described as shatter-resistant, and the trays support up to 20 lbs. That’s useful if you’re handling heavier items—like a whole chicken or larger cuts—without feeling like the tray is on the edge.
Specs you should actually care about
- Size: 17 x 10.5 inch
- Material: shatter-resistant melamine
- Dishwasher safe: yes
- BPA-free: yes
- Capacity: supports up to 20 lbs
- Trays: 2 nesting trays (red prep tray + black serving tray)
- Fit: stated to fit 6 burgers
Who it suits best (and who should skip it)
Worth considering if you grill at home regularly and want a simple system for food handling—especially if you’re the type who likes to prep everything first, then execute the cook while keeping raw and cooked separated.
It may not suit you if you mainly grill in a way that already keeps raw/cooked separation effortless (for example, if you always use separate containers and you don’t need trays for staging). Also, if you tend to store bulky grilling tools and you’re tight on cabinet space, even though these nest, a medium tray footprint still needs a spot.
One more practical limitation: because they’re melamine, they’re not meant to be treated like heavy-duty steel cookware. Use them as prep and serve accessories, not as a “set it down anywhere, subject it to everything” solution.
Everyday use tips
Start with the red tray. Lay out marinade-ready portions, place raw burgers, or keep sliced raw meat gathered in one spot while you prep the grill.
When the first batch is cooked, move those items to the black tray. For example, you can grill six burger patties, then use the black tray as your staging area while the next batch cooks—so you’re not bringing cooked food back near the raw zone.
Afterward, toss the trays into the dishwasher. The point isn’t just speed, it also helps if you’re trying to keep your kitchen workflow consistent across cook sessions.
Is it worth it?
These Cuisinart Grilling Prep & Serve Trays make a lot of sense if you want an easy, color-coded setup for safe food handling during grilling. The nesting storage, dishwasher-safe cleaning, and red-for-raw/black-for-cooked concept are exactly the kind of everyday improvements that reduce mistakes.
You may want to pass if you’re looking for something more than prep and serving—since these trays aren’t positioned as cooking surfaces—or if you already have a system that handles separation without needing designated trays.
Quick FAQ
Are the trays meant for raw and cooked food handling?
Yes. The set is designed around separating raw meat on the red tray and cooked food on the black tray.
Can I put them in the dishwasher?
They’re listed as dishwasher safe, which should make cleanup simpler after grilling.
How big are these trays?
They measure 17 x 10.5 inches, described as medium-sized for grilling tasks.
Do the trays store together?
Yes, they nest together to save space.
What’s the capacity rating?
They’re listed as supporting up to 20 lbs.