Aldi's Acacia Serving Tray Offers A High-End Look On A Budget, But Is It Worth Buying?

Known for great prices and clean, high-quality ingredients, Aldi has become one of the most popular grocery store alternatives of our modern day — even in spite of requiring customers to keep a quarter handy to unlock a cart and bring their own grocery bags. One aspect that customers love most are the many affordable home items to buy at Aldi, from candles and organizers to luxe-feeling accessories. Among the offerings that staunch Aldi-supporters are drooling over is an acacia wood serving tray that offers a high-end look on a budget, but is it worth buying?

Acacia is a sustainable wood material you'll want to use everywhere in your home, and everyone's favorite budget grocery store is helping to that end. Aldi's $15 Crofton Wooden Serving Tray in Acacia Wood measures 18 inches in diameter, and it looks quite nice for being such a bargain. The natural wooden grain is soothing to the eye and a subtle lip around the end of the tray provides a little bit of protection against items falling off. One cannot avoid, however, asking how something so nice can be so cheap, especially when considering that similar products sold by brands like West Elm sell for significantly more. If you're a conscientious buyer, you know that things aren't always as they appear at first glance — taking a closer look at Aldi's budget-priced wooden tray is a prudent step to take before running to your local store to pick up one.

Starting by examining the platter itself, there is a lot to like: its product details say that it is crafted from acacia wood, which is known for being a durable material. Thanks to the fast-growing nature of acacia trees, this platter could be a more eco-conscious product than a serving tray made from a more endangered wood. Another perk is the obvious low price of the platter, which is due in large part to Aldi having their own brand names, allowing the company to keep production costs low. Lastly, this serving tray has the convenience factor of being dishwasher safe — a rarity for acacia wood pieces.

For some, the lack of transparency in this Aldi product could be a definite downside. The convenience of washable acacia wood merits a deeper dive into this aspect, as it is widely understood that acacia wood should not be placed in the dishwasher: exposure to heat and moisture can put the integrity of the wood at risk. What a dishwasher-safe acacia wood item most likely means, therefore, is that the wood has been coated with some form of finish that renders it more resilient against penetration by water. Unfortunately, Aldi does not disclose what processing the board has undergone to make it dishwasher safe. Another area lacking in transparency is the sourcing of materials: the product info simply states that the board is "imported," whereas competitors like West Elm clearly state where their acacia serving boards are made.

At the end of the day, there are a lot of reasons that you should use acacia wooden kitchenware — and the choice of where you get yours from is a personal matter. If you consider yourself to be a budget shopper who is willing to compromise on aspects like brand name and transparency around sourcing in favor of a good price, it might be a solid choice for you. You likely will be hard pressed to find a cheaper acacia wood serving tray anywhere and it still presents a lovely aesthetic despite the low price tag. It is a good option for a serving tray during football season. It's also a good product for busy on-the-go families who want a touch of luxury without an overwhelming list of care instructions to keep it clean and in good condition. 

Individuals with high standards and a desire to have more details about where their home items were made, as well as what ingredients they have in them (such as whatever properties make this Aldi tray dishwasher safe) might prefer to spend a little more money in order to have clarity about those aspects. If you want to take advantage of the low cost of this wooden tray but aren't on board with throwing it in the dishwasher, you can practice better stewardship by handwashing it, which will maintain it in pristine condition for longer.