How to Build a Bread Tray

By Chris Baylor, About.com Guide

A hardwood bread tray is a very unique woodworking project for use in the kitchen. In a nutshell, it is a serving tray with a bottom that is made of slats. When you cut bread on the slats, the crumbs fall beneath the tray onto the counter below. After you've finished cutting the bread, you simply pick up the entire bread tray and carry it to the dinner table, and the crumbs stay behind on the counter.

I chose to make this 13-1/2" x 18" bread tray out of maple not only for the beauty of the wood, but because the maple would not damage the bread knife. Other hardwoods for these free bread tray plans such as birch would be a good choice, but you should avoid open-grained stock like oak, as food can get lodged into the grains. You can complete this entire project out of a single 8-foot piece of 1x6 hardwood.

The finish on this woodworking project is the same as you would use on a cutting board. Use either mineral oil or salad bowl oil, as they will protect the wood and won't go rancid like other oils such as olive oil. Apply a generous coating of oil to all surfaces once a day for the first week, once a week for the first month, and then once a month thereafter. Take care of your bread tray properly, and you'll impress your dinner guests with this piece for many years to come.

Download the Free Woodworking Plans to build this hardwood bread tray (PDF).

Difficulty Level

• Woodworking: Moderate
• Finishing: Mineral Oil or Salad Bowl Oil

Time to Complete

• 5-6 Hours

Recommended Tools

• Miter Saw or Circular Saw
• Table Saw or Radial Arm Saw with Dado Set
• Jigsaw
• Router with 3/4" Roundover Bit
• Band Saw (Optional)
• Dovetail Jig

Materials Needed
• One (1) Piece 1x6 x 8' - Maple or Birch
• Tape Measure
• Pencil
• Waterproof Woodworker's Glue such as Titebond II
• 1-inch wood screws
• Mineral Oil or Salad Bowl Oil
• Sandpaper