Topic: BIR/TA Portion Sizes?

[Malc.]

There are 2 sizes of foil container,

I thought this until I oredered a mixed Thali the other night. It came in 5 smaller containers than the sort you get for sag aloo. I've just been online and it appears that the sizes are 1, 2 & 6a which equate in volume to 0.75pt, 1pt & 1.5pt respectively.

I will be counting the chicken peices in future T/A orders but i'm sure we get about 8/10 peices, which is approaching two medium chicken breasts. Fill the 1.5pt foil tray up with veg and curry sauce, hypothetically that has to be enough for two portions, especially with starters, sides & breads.

[gazztop]

Hi and firstly hello everyone This is my first posting but I have been a member for a few months now. I read this post and just like to say when I order poppadoms I ask for a mixed Thali i.e. spiced onions,mango chutney,lime pickle & yoghurt/cucumber/tomato.  One of the waiters said you must of been to Birmingham as that's what they ask for there. Potion size up here is the same evening meal & breakfast  ;D
Cheers Gazz

[Malc.]

Welcome GT, i'm glad i'm not the only one that finds portions handy for breakfast.

[Stephen Lindsay]

I usually feel cheated if I don't get 10 pieces of chicken in a portion!

[natterjak]

There are 2 sizes of foil container, i have just measured the smaller of the two and it holds 400ml of liquid.
One of these full of base is what i use at home to make 2 meals.
This small container is the one you would receive a single portion of ta rice in.
Hope this helps.

Thanks Peter, I understand what you mean by your description of a standard small takeaway foil tray.  I'm guessing the larger variety in which most main courses would be served is approx 50% larger capacity, so maybe 600ml volume?

[Stephen Lindsay]

I would have thought 600ml is pretty close

[Malc.]

Thanks Peter, I understand what you mean by your description of a standard small takeaway foil tray.  I'm guessing the larger variety in which most main courses would be served is approx 50% larger capacity, so maybe 600ml volume?

Did you miss my post? http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5807.msg57557#msg57557

The larger tray is 1.5 times bigger or 850ml

[natterjak]

Hi Axe, I saw your post but hadn't realised that any of the various sizes you were discussing were the "standard" large foil tray in which main courses are normally served.  Perhaps because you mentioned 5 different tray sizes I jumped to the conclusion that they were all non-standard sizes (by which I mean not the sizes I'm used to seeing from my local takeaway)

Now armed with this new knowledge and in the interests of science I've just poured 850ml of water into my 20" Meyer HT+ frying pan to see how full it would be.  Right up to the brim was the answer! 

[Malc.]

Hi NJ, I realise that I have made an error in my calculations which was thrown up by Pete's measurement, I didn't account for the taper in the tray. Though I don't think this will make too much difference, I have emailed a manufacturer to clarify the volumes. Hopefully, i'll get an answer.

EDIT: No answer yet but this site http://www.cater4you.co.uk/acatalog/foil-take-away-trays.html suggests 300ml, 400ml, and 600ml respectively so Pete and Stephen are bang on the money.

[Malc.]

I got a reply which is as follows: 260ml, 435ml, 688ml, respectively.