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Dinner Plates

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If you eat dinner every night (and most of us do), your plates probably see quite a bit of use. Whether you have casual or formal dishes, good plates — regardless of use — should last you decades. While it’s true that every complete kitchen should have a variety of different sizes to accommodate different menus, dinner plates are the most versatile and will see the most day-to-day use. So as you get ready to make your dishes purchase, be sure to consider this advice:

What style of plates should I buy?


To last you through the years, your dinner plate set should be sturdy and simple, without leaning on too much on current trends (after all, trends change!). If you must have those trendy designs, try not to spend too much on them. Find designs that can work with other dinnerware styles already in your cabinets; this will help you to avoid buying a full set of soon-to-be outdated dishes. That’s not to say you can’t have fun with color and shape though. Go ahead and add a pop of your favorite color to dinnertime, or try having a literal square meal with square plates. Do take into account the surface texture of your dishes though, as some styles have raised designs that can trap food and be a pain to clean.

Do I need more than one set of dinner plates?


While you can absolutely make do with just one set of dinnerware, you may want a second set for entertaining guests or to have just in case. Most casual sets include the essentials, including dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and glasses or mugs, but the number included may differ. It's important to keep in mind how much storage is available in your kitchen before you simply opt for the largest set available.

Formal dinnerware, on the other hand, is typically sold by place setting. Along with the essentials, it may also include a soup bowl, a charger plate, an accent plate and possibly an additional mug.

What’s the best material for dinner plates?


Durability and maintenance are key factors to consider when selecting your dinnerware materials. Of course, your own personal preferences are key here, too. All in all, pick a material that works for your needs and is attractive to you. Here's a quick list of some of the most popular choices to help you get started:

• Bone china: Bone china is known for its milky white yet slightly translucent finish. Perfect for formal or everyday use, bone china dinnerware is unusually strong and resistant to chipping despite its light and delicate appearance.
• Porcelain: With its characteristic lustrous glow, porcelain is a dinnerware material traditionally used for formal dinnerware sets, but its durability also allows for everyday use.
• Ironstone: Ironstone is an exceptionally strong and more casual stoneware alternative to porcelain dinnerware.
• Stoneware: Stoneware is a traditionally more rustic and casual material alternative to porcelain. It is characterized by its heft, extreme durability and opaque finish. If you're looking for a bullet-proof dinnerware material, this is as close as you can get.
• Earthenware: This is probably one of the most popular choices for everyday use. It tends to have a more natural and relaxed appearance to it and is typically less expensive than stoneware, but also less durable.
• Bamboo: A more recently developed alternative to traditional plastic or disposable dinnerware, bamboo is a highly renewable and environmentally friendly dinnerware choice. Perfect for picnics or outdoor dining, it’s inexpensive, lightweight, and actually can be reusable or disposable depending on your preference. Unfortunately, bamboo dinnerware is not suitable for a dishwasher.

How do I care for my dish sets?


All materials and styles of dinnerware may be different, so it’s important to check whether or not your particular set is dishwasher-safe or microwave-safe. Hand washing is always smart with fine or delicate china. And dinnerware with any metallic details should be kept out of the microwave.

Consider how you will store your dinnerware pieces and sets. Plate racks are great for everyday dinnerware storage and can prevent scratching or other damage incurred by stacking plates. For formal china, china cabinets or dining hutches can safely display your pieces, while padded storage containers can easily be put away and out of sight.