When furnishing our dream home, we also tend to pay attention to the details and every little practical object that we use. After all, it is more enjoyable to live in a home where every piece of homeware is picked with love. This is why we also tend to be picky before buying dishware and utensils. Yet, we can all agree that quality is more important than design, so we should strive to find dishware that meets both criteria. And if you are looking for durable designer tableware, then ceramic dining plates may just be your thing.
Food Safety Is a Must
Ceramic is considered to be a non-porous material, which means that fluids or air cannot permeate it. It doesn’t absorb, nor leach chemicals. But that doesn’t mean that all ceramic kitchen plates are 100% safe. The most important thing to consider before buying dishware is glazing. If glazed with lead, cadmium or other harmful chemicals, these could be released and could contaminate your food when the plate is heated. Hence, check product specifications and look for labels that state that the dishware is safe for contact with food. If in doubt, try to contact the seller for additional information instead of buying products that may endanger your health.
However, you can also determine whether plates are safe to be used with food on your own. If a ceramic kitchen plate is labelled food-safe, this means that when placing acidic foods on the plate, there will be no chemical changes. Or in other words, no glaze containing lead or cadmium will be leached. A simple way to test this is to squeeze lemon juice on the plate. Then, you can leave the plate overnight and wait for the results of your experiment. If you notice colour changes on the plate, then you have your answer – it is not food safe.
Are Titanium Plates Better Than Ceramic?
The only downside to ceramic tableware is that it breaks easily, which is why some people opt for food-safe metal, such as titanium. However, titanium dinnerware does have its disadvantages. It’s non-stick unless coated with such finish and it is prone to abrasion and scratches. While the scratches aren’t deep, they are still noticeable. Though some people might not mind this, it does make the dishware look worn out. Ceramic plates, on the other hand, do not get damaged with prolonged use, and are resistant to cutlery marking.
Moreover, metal mining is considered one of the industries that contribute most to polluting the environment. So, if you’re trying to switch to greener options and reduce your carbon footprint, know that ceramic and clay plates are environmentally friendly, to some extent. They may not be recyclable but can be upcycled to wall decoration. You don’t even need to be very crafty or creative, as there are a lot of simple instructions you can find online on how to incorporate clay plates into wall décor. If you want to avoid possibly damaging your walls, you can display the handcrafted ceramic plates you have bought on your shelves or in your cabinets.
Microwave-Safe or Not?
For those of you who enjoy heating up leftovers, you will be happy to hear that there is no need to re-plate your food if you are using clay plates. If you have some leftover pizza on your plate, you can heat it up in the microwave to make your meal a bit more delicious. Besides being convenient, this also means that you will only have to wash one plate! And while it is safe to use clay plates and bowls in a microwave, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can put them in a heated oven. There are some ceramic pots and pans that can be used for cooking, but most plates can only be used in a microwave. As always, check the product information for these details.
Plate Care
Food-safe and glazed ceramic dining plates have a non-stick surface. This means that you can use them to eat all kinds of food, without dreading washing them. If you have been using them for meals that make washing dishes a hassle, you can simply leave them soaked in water and afterwards, you can put them in the dishwasher. A simple and easy cleanup!
Mix and Match?
Dishware comes in sets. That’s the way it has always been, right? Well, it is time to break the tradition and place some different coloured modern ceramic plates on your dining table. There is no denying that this is a more fun and sustainable way of using dishware. Plates break and sets get ruined, but it doesn’t make sense to discard the whole set just because one of the plates got chipped or broken. So, have some fun the next time you go online to buy ceramic plates. Choose at least two different styles when creating your set. Mix it up a little with an unconventional set of dishware!
