Microgreens, the young and tender seedlings of vegetables and herbs, have increased in popularity due to their nutritional value and gourmet appeal. For enthusiasts aiming to cultivate their own microgreens at home, an all-essential tool to have on hand is a microgreen tray.
For maximum convenience, easy-to-clean microgreen trays are paramount when considering which one to purchase. In this detailed, research-backed article, we dissect into the best easy-to-clean microgreen trays, focusing not only on their convenience in cleaning, but also pricing, durability, material, safety, and their overall effectiveness in growing quality microgreens.
1. Bootstrap Farmer Microgreen Trays
This American brand prides itself on the quality and durability of its trays. The trays are specifically designed to be durable and sturdy, made from BPA-free, food-grade plastic, ensuring the safety of your crops. They sport reinforced corners and extra thickness to prevent cracks and breaks, giving it a longer life expectancy. Their drain holes provide excellent water-draining capabilities, which contributes to the clean growing process. As for cleaning, Bootstrap Farmer’s 1020 trays are dishwasher-safe, simplifying the cleaning process greatly.
2. True Leaf Market Microgreen Trays
True Leaf Market is another company that provides high-quality, food-safe microgreen trays. They offer a simple design that’s easy to clean and maintain. The True Leaf Market trays are also drain-capable, which improve airflow, preventing fungi and other common microgreen growing problems. The thin plastic construction makes them considerably lighter, making the cleaning process considerably easier. Furthermore, the trays come in a set with a drip tray and a cover, giving you all the tools necessary for a complete microgreen growing setup.
3. Handy Pantry Microgreen Trays
Handy Pantry offers a range of trays, with their most popular being a 10″x20″ shallow microgreen tray. These trays are built with longevity in mind; constructed from heavy-duty, durable, reusable plastic. Their shallow trays make cleaning fast and easy, with a smooth surface that can be easily wiped down. Although the Handy Pantry trays are not dishwasher-safe, they are easy to hand-clean, and their black color helps hide any staining that usually occurs when growing microgreens.
4. Micro-Mats Hydroponic Tray
The Micro-Mats Hydroponic Tray stands out in its unique approach to microgreen cultivation. Instead of a traditional plastic microgreen tray, these trays come with hydroponic pads made from wood fiber. The pads are designed to hold the perfect amount of water and they distribute it evenly to the microgreens as they grow. However, the real selling point for ease of cleaning is the disposable hydroponic pads. After harvesting, the pads can simply be composted, making for a much quicker, hassle-free clean-up process.
5. Living Whole Foods Microgreen Trays
Living Whole Foods offer microgreen trays with a soil blocker system. Soil blockers provide uniform blocks of compressed soil for seed planting which reduces the mess of free soil. This innovative system makes for easier growing and, importantly, easier clean-up. The trays are a handy 10″x20″ size, the perfect size for indoor growing, and they retain their shape well, thanks to the thick, sturdy plastic construction. While the trays are not designed to be dishwasher-safe, the smooth surface makes wiping down after each grow cycle a quick, easy task.
6. Window Garden Microgreen Trays
For those lacking space, the Window Garden trays provide a novel solution. These mini trays are perfect for windowsill growing and their compact size makes them quick and easy to clean. They’re made from thick, durable plastic and are minimal in design, making them visually pleasing even in small spaces. The trays also come with a drain reservoir to manage water levels, preventing over-watering and subsequent mold growth. This further contributes to simpler and quicker cleaning.
7. 5GallonBucketHydro Microgreen Trays
Designed to fit inside a standard 5-Gallon bucket, these trays offer a unique, mess-free solution. They come with a custom reservoir for collecting runoff water, solving the common over-water problem and reducing cleaning time. Made of sturdy BPA-free plastic, these trays can hold up to 2 pounds of microgreens at a time, offering the benefit of bulk growing in minimal space.
8. Horticulture Group Microgreen Trays
Known for their durability, the trays from Horticulture Group are made with heavy-duty, injection-molded plastic. This means they far outlive the standard thin plastic trays. The trays also feature a slotted design for optimal drainage. By preventing the over-watering of crops, the trays reduce potential mold growth and simplify cleaning. The high-grade, dishwasher-safe plastic of these trays simplifies cleaning even more.
Before choosing a tray, it is crucial to identify your individual needs and space requirements. Clear understanding of factors like convenience in maintenance and cleaning, durability, material safety, and suitability for ongoing home projects should guide your decision. Each easy-to-clean tray listed has unique features suited to different needs, from apartment windowsills and balconies to backyard gardens. Armed with this knowledge, selecting the perfect microgreen tray becomes a simple task.
