We love hosting dinner parties. We have several each year. Some are extravagant, while others are more casual.
With school-aged children, we frequently host other families whose kids are friends with ours. We also love having family over for these dinners. A very important aspect of putting on a great dinner party is having a fabulous set of dishware that takes the dining table to the next level.
However, choosing the right set of dishware isnโt easy. Thatโs where this article setting out the different types of dishware comes in handy. We break down all your dishware options to help you buy the perfect set for your home.
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The Dishware Buying Guide
A. Dishware Sets: Different Settings for Different Styles
Arguably, the most important decision you are going to make when it comes to selecting dishware is to settle on a specific style. There are essentially two elements that influence this decision: Personal preference and dining room or kitchen aesthetic. If youโve been in your home for a while, thereโs a good chance these two metrics are connected.
Rest assured, when the time comes for you to pick a dinnerware set, youโll have plenty of options at your disposal.
1. Ceramic Dishes
Source: Amazon.com
If youโve ever taken an art class, youโre undoubtedly a tad bit familiar with ceramics. Even if you arenโt, you probably know itโs ubiquitous when you enter a home goods store or the kitchen section of a larger department store. Of course, itโs important that you recognize that the term ceramics is an over-arching term that allows plenty of room for different styles to bubble up to the surface.
A healthy chunk of the subcategories youโve probably heard about when it comes to dishware can be neatly tucked under the ceramics umbrella. China, stoneware, and earthenware all stem from the same process of taking a piece of material and refining it through fire. Of course, there are a few differences that you should be aware of before you go fill your physical or virtual shopping cart.
These differences could be the very elements that finalize your decision.
a. China Dishes
Source: Wayfair
This is the good stuff; delicate, highly stylized, and verboten for use unless you have the very best foot to put forward. Itโs what you put on your wedding registry, and itโs what may have been set in your grandmotherโs curio cabinet, seemingly keeping watch over trinkets of various preciousness. It doesnโt necessarily come from lovely bones.
The dinnerware base is a chemical composition of clay, feldspar, quartz, and kaolin, although other materials can be occasionally included. Its creation isnโt much different than stoneware in the sense that it gets โfiredโ several times to achieve a specific design. This firing process makes it strong and non-absorbent, but because of its composition, it becomes extremely white and translucent.
The most important thing to realize about china dinnerware, other than you should probably keep it out of the reach of children due to its price tag, is that it is not necessarily a catch-all term that covers various forms of china.
i. Fine China Dishes
Source: Wayfair
What we usually call fine china is revered for its exquisite, delicate beauty. Usually, dishware classified as fine china will have the fanciest, most colorful designs and the types of price tags that typically go with such exquisite work. Sometimes, fine china will be classified as porcelain china.
This may cause a little confusion if youโre new to the high-end dishware game, as you may think itโs two different classifications in play. However, this is not the case โ they are the same thing. The reason for the term discrepancy stems from a continental differentiation.
Europeans tend to call the plates porcelain, while Americans prefer to call them china. Regardless of what you call it, you can rest assured itโs thought of as being something special.
ii. Bone China Dishes
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The other category, bone china, gets its name because it uses calcified bone in the process. This usually comes in the form of bone ash, a white, powdery substance that is produced by incinerating the bone of an animal โ usually a cow. Because it uses this substance, its firing temperature is typically lower.
Itโs also thinner compared to other china types. But donโt mistake the thinness of bone china with fragility. Bone china tends to be stronger and less brittle than their fine china counterparts.
This has a lot to do with the addition of the bone, which naturally adds extra resiliency. Bone china is easy to spot once you know what youโre looking for. These plates typically have an intriguing milky white hue and tend to be a bit more translucent than regular china.
Theyโll also occasionally go by a different name, ivory china. However, rest assured this does not mean they add ivory to the mix. It just means that the plates are infused with a bit of ivory coloring.
b. Stoneware Dishes
Source: Crate and Barrel
This form of ceramics is older than the porcelain style that can somewhat define china. It also tends to be lumped in with porcelain in some circles, albeit through qualifying language like โporcellaneous.โ Yet there are enough differences that allow stoneware to command its own category.
For instance, stoneware tends to be more opaque than porcelain. Also, it only goes through a partial vitrification process, meaning that the creator of the ceramic will stop before itโs transformed into a glass-like substance. Stoneware is also less subject to scratching and tends to be less delicate-looking.
The backbone of stoneware is clay. This substance could be one that occurs in nature, although it could also be non-refractory fire clay. When the natural material is used, the end product tends to carry impurities that give it a distinctive, almost dirty appearance.
This is a feature instead of a bug, though, because it gives dishware a uniquely rustic appearance that may tie an overarching kitchen motif together. The stoneware category is broken up into various sub-classifications, including electrical stoneware, thermal stoneware, and chemical stoneware. But for the most part, when youโre looking to dress your dinner table, youโll be dealing with either traditional stoneware or fine stoneware.
i. Traditional Stoneware Dishes
Source: Wayfair.com
Traditional stoneware is chiefly defined by a body thatโs dense and inexpensive compared to its finer cousin. These opaque pieces are usually made of fine-grained secondary plastic clays. These substances allow for larger malleability, which allows the artisan to shape the material into large pieces.
ii. Fine Stoneware Dishes
Source: Wayfair.com
As the name suggests, fine stoneware is made from a more delicate process. The materials sourced to make the ceramic are more carefully selected and more meticulously prepared. Its soul is also more congruent with the stoneware youโd find outside of the kitchen section of your local department or home goods store, as the items designated as art ware are made from fine stoneware materials.
c. Earthenware Dishes
Source: Crate and Barrel
If youโre looking for something that takes the rustic vibe of naturally-made stoneware to the proverbial next level, earthenware may be up your alley. The dishware that falls into this category is a little more porous and coarser. Because of this, earthenware is traditionally glazed.
This glazing allows for the dishware to store liquids, which is obviously key if youโre buying earthenware bowls or mugs. The extra coat also provides designers with a canvas to create elaborate artwork if they so choose. Like china and stoneware, earthenware can be split up into multiple categories.
Thereโs essentially two types of sub-classifications the ceramic falls into; these sub-classifications are essentially defined by its glaze.
i. Creamware Dishes
Source: Farmhouse Wares
As the name suggests, creamware references the cream color that this type of dishware possesses. However, the source of the color is the earthenware body itself as opposed to the glazeโs hue. Usually, the glaze used in creamware is a transparent lead glaze, which allows the natural cream color of the dishware to come through unencumbered.
ii. Tin-Enameled Earthenware
Source: Pendleton
Also known as tin-glazed earthenware, this category is covered with an opaque white tin glaze. Even though the glaze is white, it can be colored. This type of earthenware can also be tagged with more elegant names, such as faience, majolica, and delftware.
From a designerโs standpoint, tin-enameled earthenware is great to work with because the colors donโt run when the ceramic gets fired. This leads to crisp pigments that donโt erroneously blur together, which may ultimately make for a more refined, elegant look. This may create a nice juxtaposition with the earthenwareโs naturally rustic bones, which may make it a more versatile dishware option.
2. Glass Dishes
Source: Crate and Barrel
Letโs say you donโt want to go the ceramics route. You want something that evokes a certain element of elegance, but you donโt necessarily want it to veer off into โspecial occasionโ territory. You also donโt want something thatโs too casual.
Glass may be your best option. Glass dishware is something thatโs born from an artistic endeavor. If youโve ever seen a glass-blower in action, you know itโs not an easy task to create one.
And this artisanal touch helps to make the world of glass dishware a rather broad category to explore. From plain and basic to colorful and elaborate, there is indeed something for everyone here.
a. Clear Glass Dishes
Source: Crate and Barrel
Chances are, the first thing you think of when you think of glass is a clear substance. And indeed, there are abundant clear glass options for you to consider. What these see-through plates and glasses lack in color or opaqueness, they typically make up for in understated refinement.
Indeed, itโs rare that youโll see just a plain old clear glass piece on the market. There will most likely be some aesthetically pleasing elements infused in the piece to keep things interesting, such as a raised pattern, grooved notches, and nuanced curvatures. If anything, you can argue that these are the most artistically driven glass plates you can find on the market because the creators are doing so much with so few elements.
Clear glass dishware also provides you with a unique opportunity to be creative. Itโs not out of the realm of possibility that you could use a glass plate as a canvas to paint your own pattern or designs. You could theoretically do this with ceramic plates, of course.
Yet, considering how elegant those pieces are โ not to mention pricey โ you most likely wouldnโt dare sully their surface with a few paint strokes.
b. Colored Glass Dishes
Source: Bed, Bath, & Beyond
Buying glass dishware can be a colorful experience, quite literally. Indeed, the market has plenty of glass dishware options in which the elements within the set are one solid, consistent color. Their mere presence is a testament to the balanced line between art and science the designers need to walk to make these creations come to life.
Adding color to the glass tends to be a profoundly scientific process. The prime mover behind this process is using natural elements and compounds youโd find on the periodic table. While the process of making colored glass is far less hazardous than it was during the Industrial Revolution, the basic principles behind bringing colored glass into the world are not that different.
Properly including these elements in the firing process will create the scientific reactions necessary to derive the desired color. What does this all mean for you, the consumer? For one thing, it means you have the power to purchase a plate that bursts with brilliant color.
You may find that this added hue delivers a heightened take on the refined yet approachable motif you may be looking for when you purchase a dishware set.
c. Multi-Colored Glass Dishes
Source: Bed, Bath, & Beyond
Multi-colored glass may exist in a unique realm whose soul consists of equal parts whimsy, art, and sophistication without pretense. The extra elements that are in place for colored glass are in play from a science and design standpoint, but they exist in a way that can be more playful or more serious, depending on the designerโs whim. For instance, multi-colored glass could be as simple as splashing a couple of color bursts on a plain plate.
This minimal effect could create an enhanced element to help tie your kitchenโs overall aesthetic together. On the other side of the coin, an abstract pattern of three to four colors could ascertain the same effect but in a different way. Arguably, the most popular multi-colored glass plates are ones that have clear-cut designs on them.
These ornate designs are possibly the best way to bring about a refined aesthetic that could rival that derived from porcelain or stoneware. In some cases, these designs may be deemed so gorgeous you may want to have them out on display when youโre not using them for their intended purpose โ much like you may with fine china.
d. Recycled Glass Dishes
Source: Viva Terra
It seems that society is getting more environmentally conscious with each passing year. This has had a profound impact on many aspects of our day-to-day lives, and this includes our dishware options. Case in point: recycled glass is a viable option for you to consider.
But donโt just consider this category for its planet-preservation tendencies. Consider them because they can be just as gorgeous as regular glass. Indeed, choosing recycled glass doesnโt automatically mean that you will have nothing more than clear glass options to choose from.
Youโll have a bevy of vibrant colors and shapes to choose from. The fact that youโll be helping to protect the environment is a total bonus.
3. Bamboo Dishes
Source: Crate & Barrel
Recycled glass is not the only way you can add a touch of green to your dinner table. And while bamboo dishware is a relatively new category of dishware for you to choose from, itโs also one thatโs seen a surge in popularity. Its most significant selling point is that itโs environmentally friendly.
If part of your purchasing dollar is focused on honing in on products that protect the planet in addition to looking good, bamboo dishware is a no-brainer. However, the biodegradable nature of bamboo dishware is not the only reason to consider this option. Firstly, if you think that bamboo dishware is only good for one sitting, think again.
While their biodegradable nature makes tossing them an option, bamboo dishware is sturdy enough to where you can use them repeatedly. The only caveat to this is that the dishes should be washed and dried by hand. While bamboo dishware is strong, itโs also uniquely delicate.
Bamboo dishware is also lightweight, stain-resistant, and contains an aesthetic that manages to straddle the fine line between rustic and elegance deftly. This latter component makes them one of the most versatile choices on the market, as you donโt necessarily have to wait for one type of โspecial occasionโ to break them out. Another thing to note about bamboo dishwareis that they tend to be extremely kid-friendly.
Theyโre far sturdier than plastic dishware, which means they can easily withstand the wear and tear that inadvertently comes with the reckless nature of childhood dining. Plus, you donโt have to worry about any chemicals that may be present in plastic dishware, making an unwanted appearance within your kidโs meals.
4. Melamine Dishes
Source: Pier 1 Imports
If youโre looking for everyday dishware completely bereft of pretense or secondary agendas, melamine may be more your speed. You may not have heard of the name, but youโve seen it. Melamine is the organic base chemical generally used in plastics, like plates, that weโd consider โplastic.โ
Melamine plates are convenient, versatile, and can be festooned with various designs and patterns. However, theyโre not without their controversy. Some concerns using these plates could be unsafe, particularly among kids.
While the FDA has said that melamine dishes are generally safe to use, they do caution that this may not be the case in certain culinary conditions, such as if you use it to heat up something highly acidic in the microwave.
B. Before and After the Feast โ The Practicality of Dishware
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While the prime mover behind buying a dishware set is envisioning how it looks on your kitchen table, there should be some thought given to how it will perform before and after its intended purpose. This is particularly true if youโre looking for something that transcends the realm of special occasion use.
1. Dishwasher Safe Dishes
Source: Overstock.com
One of the biggest selling features youโll find when youโre shopping for dishware is claims that a set is โdishwasher safe.โ It makes perfect sense why this element would be promoted. After all, having a dish you can put in the dishwasher saves you a whole lot of time and effort.
Yet, can this claim always be trusted? The best way to answer this question is with your own question. Specifically, how much do you intend to use these dishes?
As with anything, your dishes are going to experience wear and tear over time. When you consider how the heat of a dishwasher may exacerbate such wear and tear, you may think twice about putting your bone china in the dishwasher every time you use it, even though itโs claimed to be dishwasher safe. Think of it this way.
In some cases, youโre not just protecting the plateโs durability. Youโre preserving its aesthetic-driven integrity. For instance, if you have a plate with a painted-on design, too much exposure in the dishwasher may cause unwanted scratching or buffing, compromising its design.
If you are planning on using the dishwasher on โdishwasher-safeโ plates, be sure to wash the dishes in a gentle cycle. Youโll also want to use a mild detergent on the dishes to further protect from abrasiveness. You should never think about putting the dishes in a dishwasher.
For instance, running your bamboo dishware in the dishwasher is a recipe for disaster, as the journey through the machine could cause warping. And even though you may assume a plastic or melamine plate is safe, double-check with what the manufacturer says. If you donโt, you could be in for a bad surprise.
2. Microwave Safe Dishes
Source: Bed, Bath, & Beyond
The mighty power of the microwave and its ability to heat things up rapidly may make you reluctant to place your dishware in its chamber. However, you may be surprised to find that modern manufacturers will stamp microwave-safe claims on their materials, even the delicate stuff like china. With that being said, this doesnโt give you a green light to ignore your instinct and common sense.
Much like it is with dishwashers, running your dishware through the microwave constantly will eventually cause wear and tear over time. If you have a special occasion set that you find particularly precious โ say, porcelain you got for your wedding โ you may want to do the rapid-fire cooking on another plate. Much like dishwashing, there are certain styles of dishware that should not be considered for the microwave.
Bamboo, for instance, should be avoided because of its natural, delicate properties. You should also be careful about using overusing plastic or melamine plates in the microwave, as they may not be able to handle the heat. And if you have dishware that has an added-on design element, such as a hand-painted item or an applied pattern, avoid putting it in the microwave at all costs.
The microwaveโs heat may cause a loss of integrity to the material, which may, in turn, cause it to bubble up, peel off, or otherwise warp. This could have some rather unpleasant secondary ramifications, too. The last thing you want to happen is to have whatever adhesive or bonding element holding the design in place to seep into your food inadvertently.
C. Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about dishware.
What is dishware?
Dishware is items used primarily for the consumption or presentation of food. Dishware encompasses a myriad of different components, such as utensils, glassware, cutlery, and more.
What different types of materials are used to make dishware?
There are many types of materials used to compose dishware; however, six main types are generally used. These are stoneware, melamine, vitrified dishware, porcelain, bone china, and earthenware.
- Stoneware is made of clay fired at a high temperature of 2150-2330 degrees. This ceramic dishware is often infused with glass, thus strengthening the material and its durability. For this reason, stoneware is often used for casual dining sets and is often both microwave and dishwasher-safe.
- Melamine is made of plastic and is generally sturdy and durable. It is built to withstand high temperatures, although it isnโt recommended to that these dish types be used in the microwave when in contact with food. Many Melamine dishes are BPA-free, although some do contain this chemical. Melamine dishes may be safely placed in the dishwasher, though preferably on the top rack.
- Vitrified dishware has undergone vitrification to form strong and durable glass. The word โvitrifyโ comes from the Latin word โvitreum,โ meaning โglass.โ This type of dishware is surprisingly difficult to break despite its material kind. Some brands of vitrified dishware even claim that their dishware will never crack or chip despite coming into contact with a hard surface.
- Porcelain dishware is similar to stoneware but much thinner in appearance. It, too, has been fired at high temperatures but can be adorned with gold and silver metal accents and other engraved designs. Porcelain often has a less opaque look than stoneware. In fact, porcelain dishware can be quite translucent, adding to its charm. Porcelain is formulated using kaolin clay, quartz, and other materials. Most are microwave and dishwasher-safe (unless their external design contains metal). Porcelain dishware is not easily broken and can be utilized for everyday use; however, it is often reserved for special events and occasions.
- Bone China is dishware that is combined with both porcelain and animal bone and heated at a low temperature to produce a very strong dish material. In fact, this Bone China has been said to be the strongest type of dishware available. This type often offers a โmilkyโ appearance and is extremely lightweight despite its durability.
- Finally, Earthenware is the most affordable type of dishware produced, yet it is also the easiest to break. This ceramic dishware is made of clay, can be glazed, and is often put on display or used for decoration. It is somewhat porous, meaning that soaking this type of dish in water for a long period of time could prove detrimental.
Can dishware be recycled?
Unfortunately, most dishware cannot be recycled. There are a select few recycling facilities that will take ceramic and some plastic dishes; however, this is rare. Nevertheless, there are other options for reusing and recycling your unwanted dishes.
You can donate the dishes or sell them. This is particularly true for bone and porcelain dishware, as there are several companies that offer money unused this type of unwanted dishware.
How should dishware be packed for moving?
There are several ways to ensure dishware remains unharmed during the moving process. One option is to utilize dish boxes specially designed to absorb the shock from falls and other damaging events that might occur while moving. Another option is to wrap each dish in a plastic or paper material that will help absorb negative impact and prevent breakage.
Some ideas are to use bubble wrap, newspaper, or packing paper between each dish. Then, place the dishes in a box that is exclusively for dishes and mark them as fragile. This will help you and other movers to exercise more caution when transporting these items from place to place.
Can dishware be painted? If so, how?
Dishware may be painted; however, it is important to find dishware that is oven-safe. White ceramic dishware that has specifically been deemed as โoven-safeโ is a popular choice. Once the type of dishware material has been decided, the dishware will need to be cleaned and dried.
You will need to use a non-toxic, food-safe paint if you plan to eat from this dishware; however, if the dishware is to be put on display, it may be best to use enamel acrylic paint for quality and durability. Once the paint dries, you will want to place the dishware in a cold oven and slowly heat the oven to 325 degrees. Allow the dishware to warm in the oven for 40 minutes.
Turn off the oven, and allow the dishware to cool. Afterward, you will want to wait at least three days before using or washing your painted dishware.
What is the best way to store dishware?
Depending on the category and type of dishware, proper storage methods will vary greatly. Generally speaking, everyday items should be placed in a place that is easy to obtain. Plates can be stacked vertically, while mugs and cups can be placed in cupboards flipped upside down on their rims to prevent dust and debris from entering.
Glass dishwares should never be placed on their rims but should be flipped right-side-up. You may also hang glasses and mugs by their stems either on your wall or in another area. Fine dishware, such as porcelain and bone, may be displayed in a special area of the home, such as a glass cabinet, to be shown off.
They may also be packed away for later use, such as special occasions, to keep them looking their best.
Is china the same as dishware? If so, why is dishware called china?
China is a type of dishware. Some dishware is referred to as โchinaโ because it is the common name for items made of porcelain and/or bone materials as mentioned previously. Moreover, China is known as the โbirthplaceโ of porcelain, so this popular porcelain commodity is often referred to as โchina.โ
What is china dishware made of?
China dishware is often made from porcelain, kaolin clay, quartz, and feldspar. It is also sometimes infused with animal bone ash for increased durability.
What is Dolomite dishware?
Dolomite is a very lightweight type of dishware that comes in a variety of bold colors. It is made generally of dolomite rock from which its name is derived.
What is enamel dishware?
Enamel dishware, also known as โenamelware,โ is steel or cast-iron coated with enamel or porcelain. This type of dishware can be placed in a dishwasher; however, its luster and shine will be significantly dulled. Because of its steel content, it is NOT recommended that these be used in the microwave.
What is Corelle dishware made of?
Corelle is a brand of dishware that manufactures a type of vitrified glass dish that is said not to break or chip when coming in contact with hard surfaces. This brand is a very popular pick in households around the U.S.
Is Corelle dishware microwave-safe?
Corelle is a brand of dishware that claims to be microwave-safe up to 350ห F (176ห C).
What is Jadeite dishware?
First created in the 1930s, Jadeite dishware is green, hence the name, and has a milky appearance. Throughout the years, this type of dish has gone in and out of style, although it is considered mostly a vintage commodity today.
D. Where to Buy Dishware?
Source: Bed, Bath, & Beyond
Now that you have a general idea of what youโre looking for, itโs time to use that knowledge to your benefit. The following places are what we consider to be some of the best online merchants in cyberspace. These places offer a good variety of dishware that can suit every occasion imaginable, from the exclusive dinner party youโve been dying to throw to the casual dinner at home with your family.
- Wayfair.com
- Crateandbarrel.com
- Bedbathandbeyond.com
- Amazon.com
- Williams-sonoma.com
- Westelm.com
- Potterybarn.com
- Pier1.com
- Oneida.com
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