Choosing your tableware while setting your new home can be an interesting and exciting task. With umpteen options to choose from, it becomes quite confusing to narrow down your search and find that perfect tableware that would be ideal for you in every sense of the word. Regardless of whether you prefer china, stoneware, melamine, or porcelain, there are quite a number of checkpoints that you need to go over before you make your final choice.
Different kinds of tableware
If you want luxury dinnerware, fine bone china or porcelain would be the ideal choice. Moreover, casual tableware has a lot more options like stoneware, earthenware, or even melamine plastic.
Porcelain
Porcelain contains kaolin which is the major ingredient that makes this dinnerware stand out from other materials and textures. Molded at extremely high temperatures, they exhibit a beautiful white appearance with long lasting durability that makes these pieces timeless for generations. The most well-known brands include Haviland, Raynaud, and Philippe Deshoulieres.
Maintenance: Good news is that porcelain is both microwave and dishwasher safe. However, if your pieces are hand painted or rimmed with gold or silver decorations, hand washing is recommended in order to avert fading.
Bone china
Prepared with extremely soft clay paste and bone ash, these exquisite pieces of tableware are extremely popular for its durability and resistance to chipping. The most well-known brands are Royal Crown Derby and Pickard.
Maintenance: These items are also mostly dishwasher and microwave safe. However, avoid microwaving pieces that have metallic decorations on them.
Stoneware
If casual dining is on your mind, stoneware is the ideal choice. They are manufactured at very high heat and thus are known for their resistance to chipping and durability too. They come in a wonderful range of colors and designs that make you spoiled for choice. The most well known brands are Vietri, Gien, and Jars.
Maintenance: Stoneware can be washed safely in your dishwasher; they are microwaveable and even freezer safe.
Earthenware
Molded at comparatively milder temperatures, this tableware is porous and not very translucent when compared to bone china or porcelain. They are quite heavy and come in a range of natural shades according to the clay that is used to mold them. Vietri is one of the best brands.
Maintenance: They are both dishwasher and microwave safe on medium and low heat settings. Do not subject them to sudden changes of temperature as they may break or crack.