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OT: kitchen plates
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Even my dd6 hand washes things withou breaking. Everything except heavy glass baking dishes and the crock pot.
Pewter seems expensive, cannot go in the dishwasher and may have aluminum. I am looking into stainless steel as a non-breakable plastic alternative dishwasher safe. I wish I could find one made in USA or Canada. The Correll we bought is American made, but I’m not sure if it still is. That is an important part of a purchase too. There are also wood plates to consider, like bamboo, but not dishwasher safe. I have learned after 15 years to spend more now on quality and then you buy it only once. I am having to replace many kitchen items lately. I am hoping this is the last since I am checking reviews & buying stainless this time.
The dishes we received when we got married 11 years ago have been wonderful. I’ve yet to drop them on a tile floor, but they are pretty sturdy. They’re Mikasa Italian Countryside–a nice creamy white color with a slight pattern on the rim. Like all of you with white dishes, they go with everything. They are microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe. Since we don’t use a microwave, we re-heat leftovers on them in the oven all the time. I’ve even left one on a hot stove burner, and it DIDN’T crack or shatter! When we registered for them, they were $45/place setting. I realize that sounds like a lot, but to have lasted 11 years?? That’s not that much. I’ve probably spent more on paper plates than others spent on giving us 10 place settings of dishes! The two salad plates that have broken were totally my fault. I was unloading them out of the dishwasher, and they must have still been wet because they slipped out of my hand and crashed together on our granite countertops. Even then, they split into large chunks and didn’t shatter into thousands of little pieces.
That’s my plug for non-metal, non-plastic, non-paper dishes. Big upfront investment, good quality, and last a really long time, in my experience. Plus, for the plainer patterns like mine, they don’t discontinue after just a few years. French Countryside and English Countryside are other options for plain, slightly pattered Mikasa dishes.
The kids and I are going through our kitchen this week to purge stuff, and I’ve decided we’re getting rid of our plastic stuff! I may keep a few pieces for when younger children come over, but I think at 8.5 and 10 years old, my kids are old enough to eat off real plates for all their meals!
@cherylramirez – yes they are beautiful and not expensive when bought at the source…I got mine from a Polish lady who sold them when I lived in Germany…the prices over here are way too expensive…there is a huge mark up on them along with the import tax, and I would not buy them here as I cannot afford too…however I will say, they are sturdy, and last and last…I don’t even mind that they don’t have matching patterns because they blend in with each other so well. It is a pity they are so pricey here…because I would like a few more…but not in the budget…..
I’ve had white Corelle for years. Some of it is even from my mother, so there are plates and bowls off which I ate when I was growing up! It’s super durable. It was fairly inexpensive, but I recently checked into adding to it and replacing the couple of pieces we’ve broken over the years. I was surprised to see how much it costs now. But, it rarely breaks, so it’s worth it if you’re going to use washable dishes for every meal, every day.
Confession. I do use paper plates at times. When I’m overwhelmed by canning, or during tax time, or during all-through-the-house illness that includes me I use paper without feeling bad about it.
Like the others have mentioned, white is versatile. It can go with any season/holiday. Our china is white, but easily broken and has a silver band on the edge, so it cannot go in the microwave. I have washed a few plates/bowls in the dishwasher with regret. I don’t know how/why they were put in the DW, but the detergent etched the silver.
Thankfully, it was a less expensive Noritaki pattern. So, if a piece gets damaged, I save up and replace it. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve had to do that, but I rarely use it to avoid breaking it. Simple, versatile, as inexpensive as possible are my suggestions, too. All of our children can wash/dry (youngest is 7 and has been helping with this for quite some time.) They also know how to load/unload/put away dishes into/out of the DW. The Corelle hasn’t been a problem for them, but neither have any of the others. We do a sort of graduated practice with washing/drying/putting away chore assignments, starting with plastics and utensils. It helps to share the work.
Funny, I have just been thinking about our plates. I have a service of 20 of wonderful new, but old looking red spatterware plates, bowls, etc.. that my mom began giving me a few at a time over the years. I have collected old spatterware bowls and serving pieces for years in diferent colors to display. Anyway, I love them. They can not break but can get little chips. Anyway, the other day, I started thinking – What if this has aluminum? I mean there is metal as they can’t go in the microwave and we use some old mismatched correlle for that. So, anyway, I am going to research these plates. I would hate to have to stop using them. They are precious looking and dear to me, as my momma gave them to me, but I don’t want to be slowly poisioning us!
We have antique french Haviland china that my husband’s grandmother gave us when we bacame engaged. I try to use it once a year. But live in fear of it breaking. Silly, right. There is an heirloom replacement service that can usually find a replacement, but that’s just one more thing to have to do and pay for.
And we have Nikko Christmas china that we use lots during Christmas season. I love it because it can go in the dishwasher.
Okay. So you ladies have inspired me to get up off it and research the safety of my plates. Here is what I found. http://www.crowcanyonhome.com/pages/product-info. It is essentially baked porcelian over stainless steel. Seems to be fine. Here is the link to what I have and the product info.
I have been so pleased with these dishes. They last literally forever and are easy to wash and dry. Kid proof to the max and super cute. They come in many different colors. I have the red. Lots of retailers sell it and you can get a piece here and there to build a collection. I get lots of compliments on them.
One drawback. Dont get the mugs. They get really hot. Which is what makes enamelware good for cooking and holding the heat, but not so good on your hands for coffee. We put placemats or hotpads on the table under our plates to protect the table. The bottom of the plates are hot when the food is first put on them. Casseroles, muffin tins, cookie sheets, bread pans, and dutch oven are great as well.
On the point of breaking “good” china, I’ve brain-washed myself into thinking that “I’d rather it break in use than break while I’m taking it out of the china closet to dust it.” Of course, I have no really, really good china — just Blue Willow that my grandmother bought from gas stations and grocery stores….and some Noritake China that is very, very plain that a great-aunt gave me. I value the sentimentality more than the actual pieces, I think. I really enjoy seeing things like that in stores or at flea-markets and yardsales and I usually say, “I remember Grammy having that piec!” It’s a happy memory for me.
So, I’m of the “use it!” camp. We use the “good stuff” when the energy to wash dishes (no dishwasher at our house) is there!
Benita, thanks for posting about your dishes. I’m going to try to find some locally or order just one plate to see if we’d like them. I actually like the white ones with the colored rims, or a blend of splattered ones and white oens. How does food look in the splattered ones? Is it too busy? Are they dishwasher safe? How heavy are they? The problem with the Ikea dishes we have is they are so heavy (and fragile).
Yes, funny this conversation has gone on so long in earnest but this is really an issue we’ve been trying to solve in our house and I’ve really enjoyed hearing so many options! Thanks!
Karen, I have Blue Willow from my grandmother too! Actually some pieces have been broken and don’t exactly match but the sentimental value means I don’t care! My mom has a mixed set of original Fiesta ware that I’m in line for too, since my sister’s stuff has to match her dining room and I don’t care, I just want the emotional attachment! LOL
I think I like the enamel ware because it has that old fashioned charm to it! Shannon, they are not at all heavy. I had a set of 4 IKEA dishes once and they were very heavy. I don’t think it looks too busy, but that’s just me. They are dishwasher safe too. Except if they get a small chip from a hard drop, they look as shiny and new as ever, even the ones I have had 10 plus years. I have had some pieces 15 years or more and still going strong. They have cannisters, tea sets, sugar bowls and creamers, butter dishes. You name it! These have so much character. They look really nice on display when not using. They fit my 110+ year old house too. I have serving pieces mixed in display with old pieces of blue and white, white with red trim, white with black trim, etc…Most of the old was either inheirited or found at tag sales.
This discussion is great…I’ve been a little dish crazy lately. About 13 years ago I bought 12 Fiesta dinner plates and 12 salad plates that we’ve used every day since. Well, last year I was clearing out my cabinets looking for things to donate and I realized how well the Fiesta has lasted. All my other dishes had been broken or chipped but only 2 Fiesta plates had been broken and that was with 2 very active young boys loading the dishwasher, taking dishes outside… and part of this time we had a concrete floor in our kitchen.
I now officially LOVE Fiesta and have been adding additional pieces. I would much rather buy something 1 time and keep it forever than have to replace every few years. 2 of my favorite pieces are the 9” luncheon plates and the individual pasta bowls (a Macy’s exclusive). The smaller plate is great for so many things and I’ve been so surprised by the pasta bowl. It can be used for a plate, soup bowl, serving dish…I just use them ALL the time. The bowl is hard to find on their website so here’s a link: http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/fiesta-individual-pasta-bowl?ID=460503&CategoryID=47637#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D54%26ruleId%3D54%26slotId%3D9%26kws%3Dfiesta
And, if you search around you can combine sales and discounts and get them about 60% off (sometimes more). You can also find them at garage sales and estate sales (although some colors are highly collectible and expensive). I found out 8 of our plates that we’ve been throwing around carelessly are now retired and have tripled in value. Oh well, we just keep using them.
I also love that I can mix and match with thrift store china & pottery pieces, Christmas china, rotate colors throughout the seasons, and pull them all out when we have a party. It even looks good with my Craigslist find of 110 year old Haviland china. Fiesta is kind of like your favorite pair of jeans…you can dress it up or down and it goes with anything.
jeanipa: Oh, how great to live so close to the outlet!
@Treasure House: the Fiesta plates don’t chip either? I have been looking at Fiesta recently…I enjoy all the colors!
Not one of our plates is chipped and they have been abused. I don’t remember how 2 of the plates were broken but they’re missing. I know they’ve been dropped on the concrete floor and not broken (although I wouldn’t recommend it). One of our new bowls was broken when it was dropped recently but it only broke in half, not shattered. I took these workhorses for granted for 12 years and now I can’t wait to collect more. There’s a reason restaurants use them.
Thankfully, it was a less expensive Noritaki pattern. So, if a piece gets damaged, I save up and replace it. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve had to do that, but I rarely use it to avoid breaking it. 
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