Which dishes?

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Which dishes?
« on: August 13, 2007, 01:33:59 PM » by Aura

I need new dishes. My old ones I got when I was married are slowly breaking/chipping/disappearing. I'm down from 16 bowls originally to 5. I really need suggestions on what kind of dishes to look at. (I wasn't sure whether to put this here or at 7XSunday. I figured I try it here.)

#1 issue--I don't want one thing for the family to use daily and another to use when company's over. I do have nice china when it's needed, though. But everyday dishes need to be dishwasher safe and kid-friendly. So....

Plastic -- (1) it gets scratched and melted/warped easily. (2) it just doesn't look as nice! (3) concerned about health issues

Ceramic/porcelin/etc -- it breaks/chips too easily

Enamalware -- (1) concerned about chipping (2) not crazy about speckled design, hard to find solid colors

Stainless steel -- (1) hard to find!!!! (2) concerned about scratching (3) did I mention hard to find!

Wooden -- not dishwasher safe

Does anyone have ANY suggestions or experiences that I'm missing. Maybe some kind of dishes in the above categories that you've had good experiences with? Or maybe something I've missed. I'm really desparate here. Thanks!

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2007, 01:44:49 PM » by his.silly.wife

I like Corelle dishes. They are light weight and durable.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2007, 01:59:43 PM » by mexmarr

And they stack so compactly, too. Good use of space.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2007, 02:11:01 PM » by Whiterock

Quote from: his.silly.wife on August 13, 2007, 01:44:49 PM

I like Corelle dishes. They are light weight and durable.

I second (or third) the Corelle.
WR

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2007, 02:23:16 PM » by healthybratt

What about these?

http://ekats.safeshopper.com/435/18474.htm?patriotic-camping-dishes

http://www.peak62.com/search/category/enamelware/?gclid=CPO2wYmb840CFQGmIgodnFMCLw

http://www.kolorfulkitchen.com/enamelware.htm?OVRAW=enamelware%20plates&OVKEY=enamelware&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=2445687522&OVKWID=23568630022

I even found them at Target.

http://www.target.com/gp/search.html/601-4099433-1272936?field-keywords=enamelware-plate&AFID=yahoocom&LNM=enamelware_plate&LID=16246394&ref=tgt_adv_XSYH0788

« Last Edit: August 13, 2007, 02:28:37 PM by healthybratt »
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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2007, 02:29:33 PM » by herbalmom

Corelle gets my vote. They are tempered glass so they don't break easily, clean up like glass, dishwasher safe, etc. If you want a pattern that looks like china but works well for every day try this one:

Corelle Enhancements

We have had this pattern for years & I really like it. Don't let the price on the link I posted scare you- the set is much cheaper at WalMart- I think it was $40 the last time I checked. What I did was to buy the basic set at WalMart & add on pieces from open stock at WalMart, thrift stores, (the Enhancements pattern doesn't show up very often) & we did take one trip to the outlet store & add some pieces. I also use some of the plain white dishes along with my set for the dishes that are either too expensive (the soup plates are $6 each in the Enhancements pattern Shocked

- we really like soup plates so I bought the plain white ones at the outlet store for $2 each.) You can get lids for the bowls at the outlet stores also. The outlet stores carry Pyrex also so when we went (which was a 1 time splurge trip years ago) I stocked my kitchen with mixing bowls, lids for the bowls, etc. They have great sales around the holiday weekends- Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc.

The one add on I HIGHLY recommend is the luncheon plates. The reg dinner plates are about 11", the luncheon plates are about 9"- sized much better for children & very convenient for adults when you are eating smaller amounts. Also, the soup plate are very convent for young kids- they have a rim & the bowl is about 7/8" deep which helps contain the food & prevent spills. It's basically a flat bottomed, shallow bowl or a deep luncheon plate with a wide rim.

Also, to cut down on bunches of glasses in the sink everyday, each kid has a Corelle mug in a different pattern. Single Corelle mugs are easy to find at the thrift stores & yard sales- it's full sets in particular patterns that can be difficult to find. Cheesy

Even when we set the table for everyday & use them, it doesn't look too hodge podge because all the mugs are the same body style & white background, just different prints.

The one warning I want to give about Corelle- it doesn't break often but WHEN IT DOES BREAK IT SHATTERS INTO BUNCHES OF SMALL GLASS SHARDS THAT HAVE SHARP POINTS. It is MUCH easier to get a piece in your foot that the average glass plate.

A great tip for cleaning Corelle- sometimes it gets coffee or tea stains in the cups or you get gray metal marks from the silverware. (which happens with many kids of dishes) Of course Corning sells special cleaner & the use & care directions say to use it but rubbing it with some damp baking soda takes it right out.

BTW- if you keep your dishes in a low cabinet, the kids can get dishes themselves & put them away, esp since Corelle isn't heavy like stoneware & some other dishes are.

So, that's my .02 on dishes. Cheesy

HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2007, 02:32:44 PM » by herbalmom

I guess we have a Corelle fan club going. Grin

The computer warned me there were new replies before I posted but for some reason I couldn't read them before posting. Nice to know that I'm not the only one that loves Corelle. Blessings ~herbalmom

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2007, 02:57:42 PM » by lotsaboys

Corelle has stood up well in this house which is saying a lot!

We also have ceramic (all chipped), melmac (lasts a long time til we see a crack), and glass (lasts a few days Grin

) but the Corelle has outlived them all.

Watch auctions or garage sales. My mil got a couple sets at auctions for a song.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2007, 03:04:42 PM » by Gigi

Quote from: herbalmom on August 13, 2007, 02:29:33 PM

HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

Herbalmom, you and I are twinkies on this one!

I have really loved my corelle dishes. Just like herbalmom said, when they decide to break, they DO break into a GAZILLION pieces, so be careful. But, also like herbalmom said, we LOVE the luncheon plate size (frankly the luncheon size is usually prettier design, anyway!) We hardly use the full size plates anymore. My 4yo dd uses the matching teacup everyday for all her drinks. Just like herbalmom said, we keep all our corelle dishes in low cupboards and my dd can set the table, wash, dry and put them away by herself!

We have full size plates, luncheon plates, regular cereal-type bowls, dessert plates, & teacups with matching saucers. Most of these were from a garage sale set, so we have a couple different patterns going. My dd likes the variety and will decide who get the "pansy" cup and who gets the "wildflower" cup, etc. Cheesy

Another thing I want to HIGHLY recommend is sold by corelle, is at Wal-mart, but I can't remember what they're called. Anyway, they are right with the other corelle dishes (the cheaper, thinner ones) and they are a large plate-size with a flat bottom but the sides are tall. So it's not quite like a bowl and not quite like a plate. They are next to the area where you can get the basic white corelle pieces individually - like regular bowls and plates. I got them at Wal-mart last year and they are SO HANDY!!! GREAT for larger salads, or messy foods that have a lot of juice, or stew, pasta meals - they are really worth getting a few, we use them all the time. They only come in white, not the pattern choices of the dishes. They are not super-cheap (I think maybe 5 bucks a piece) , but we bought one at a time with each grocery visit. Sorry I don't know what they're called.

HTH

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2007, 03:22:00 PM » by ~esposita~

Corelle gets my vote, too! If you go to a thrift store, you're bound to find various pieces - yes, the pattern's are all mismatched, but that doesn't matter to much, to me! You can add to your "collection" whenever you find them and just have that mismatched look. I love how lightweight they are...and how they USUALLY survive all kinds of Frisbee tosses and discus throws. Roll Eyes

Thats my $.02 (which really was mainly an echo of what so many others said!)

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #10 on: August 13, 2007, 04:06:55 PM » by RunAmokFarm

A big thumbs up on Corelle!! Ours have traveled 1000's of miles in camp trailers, bounced from the cupboard to kitchen floor... Though we have managed to break a few dishes/bowls over the years, usually when one falls (and lands safely), everyone in our family grins and chimes in with "thank God we bought Corelle!".

Silly, but with as much traveling as our dishes have seen, we have been very pleased. Tried other brands along the way, and they haven't stood a chance against our family... Wink

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #11 on: August 13, 2007, 04:35:36 PM » by herbalmom

Quote from: Gigi on August 13, 2007, 03:04:42 PM

Quote from: herbalmom on August 13, 2007, 02:29:33 PM

Also, the soup plate are very convent for young kids- they have a rim & the bowl is about 7/8" deep which helps contain the food & prevent spills. It's basically a flat bottomed, shallow bowl or a deep luncheon plate with a wide rim.

If the are about 8" wide edge to edge & the rim is about 1" wide then they are the soup plates I was talking about. If they are more like 10" across, about 1 1/2 inches deep & look a lot like a pie plate but are thin like Corelle then I don't remember what they are called either but we have them also.

BTW- if you have a chance to get the set that is called either a "chili set" or a "snack set", I don't remember which, get it. I got my sets at WalMart. (if they still have them, it's been a while) It is a 2 quart plain white serving bowl & 4 deep 28 oz chili bowls. When I got them they only cost $10 or so a set & it is a great deal (the 2 quart severing bowl by itself costs almost as much as the whole set) & we use the bowls ALL the time- we use the chili bowls for chili, Cheesy

soups, as serving bowls, mixing bowls, etc & it's really nice to have two quart serving bowls as well & they are hard to find. The only disadvantage to the chili bowls is they take more room than reg bowls to store, wash & on the drying rack because they have straighter sides than most Corelle bowls & don't nest as well. I bought 3 sets for me to give me a dozen chili bowls & then bought another set or 2 & gave just the chili bowls to my mom & kept the serving bowls. She didn't want the serving bowls but did what the chili bowls & I wanted extra serving bowls in case of breakage since they are hard to find but didn't want any more chili bowls so it worked for both of us. HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2007, 05:32:12 PM » by LKS

I am a fan of enamel ware. They stand up to every thing-even going in the oven- and I think they look awesome (sorry, I love the speckle design Grin

) And I find pieces often at the thrift store and garage sales. Just a funny note-we asked my MIL for a set one Christmas and my SIL wanted to know why I wanted dishes you couldn't put in the microwave. Since I don't use the microwave it really wasn't a major concern Wink

LKS

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2007, 06:20:00 PM » by brigonia

We liked corelle. The only problem is if you have tile floors. And if they break they shatter and pieces fly everywhere. Our children do the dishes so we break a lot of dishes. Now we just buy sets when we find them on clearance. Our children do use the enamal ware cups. They each have one and if they break it they have to buy a new one. We went through a lot of glasses before we bought the enamel ware cups. One problem with the enamal ware is that if it gets dented it will start to rust. Or at least ours has.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2007, 07:18:46 PM » by Isaacsmama

just a warning, corelle does break. I know from experience, I seem to break a lot of them. Anyway, they shatter when they break, all over! A huge mess! Undecided

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #15 on: August 27, 2007, 08:31:14 PM » by Nickole

Man, you guys sound like a commercial for Corelle! Grin

I am very interested now too. I replaced my set we got for our wedding (got bored with it) with a Walmart ceramic set b/c I thought the design was pretty, and they chipped all over in no time. Roll Eyes

We had the wedding set for about 9 years and maybe a couple items had a chip, but we must have banged them REALLY hard on something. I still use them, but they sure look bad, some of them! You guys talk about having mismatched patterns and such - does this mean you stick with the white allover pattern still? B/c I saw on herbalmom's link that Corelle has different lines, right? Not just all white? Corelle is a brand - is that right? Do you guys all prefer the white though?

I am very interested in this b/c I am notorious very rough with things. I break things very easily, so I need things to hold up.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #16 on: August 27, 2007, 09:41:09 PM » by Isaacsmama

Quote from: Nickole on August 27, 2007, 08:31:14 PM

I am very interested in this b/c I am notorious very rough with things. I break things very easily, so I need things to hold up.

Me too, I break glasses, dishes, (I've even broken 3 garlic presses) etc. all the time. Corelle is a brand. We have the old ungly pattern with the green flowers around the rim, from about 30 years ago(my family used them all growing up then I got them) So they do last, but like I said, when they do break, they break all over, so be careful with young ones around. I read somewhere that having mismatched plates on your table makes a nice conversation piece for company and it makes everyone feel unique since they have their 'own' plate. Personally, I would go to the thrift store; if a set of dishes made it through some other family and is now at the thift store, it must hold up.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2007, 03:00:39 AM » by herbalmom

Like Isaacsmama said, Correll is a brand of dishes. It is made out of specially tempered glass that doesn't break easily. It CAN break, it's just much harder to break than regular glass. The main disadvantage to it is that when it does break it usually SHATTERS & the little pieces are pointed & puncture skin very easily & tend to fly all over.

It comes in a wide variety of patterns & about 3 or 4 different groupings of styles that are different price groups. The cheapest is the group that contains the basic white pattern. The Enhancements pattern I have is higher up the line on price because it is made to copy the swirled edge china patterns. It's all white but has a swirled edge. I like it because it works for everything- everyday & fancy, not that we do fancy often. Also, it works with all the plain white extra pieces but is much nicer than the basic white set. Then there are a bunch of patterns that are printed with designs. That's the basic crash course. HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2007, 06:56:03 AM » by SarahK

I do not do dishes. Don't set the table, don't load the washer, don't empty it - nothin'. My kids do that. My Corelle has survived it really well. We have had wood and ancient linoleum floor in the kitchen/eating area & only one or two shatters a year in ~10 years - nearly no chips to speak of. We're a family of 10 kids now. But I don't know what they would do on tile...

Sarah K

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2007, 07:13:42 AM » by Mama Sita

Yep, another vote for Corelle. Here's what our dishes look like:
http://www.corelle.com/index.asp?pageId=53&pid=71

Wow, I didn't realize how many different patterns of dishes Corelle makes.

What I like about Corelle is that I think some of the patterns, maybe white only, are 'open stock.' This means that you can buy a just one bowl or one plate when you need one. I really like that about dishes--that you can keep a full set without buying another full set. Did that make sense??? I gotta go get some more coffee....

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #20 on: August 28, 2007, 08:11:23 AM » by homesteadmommy

I have to put in my opinion that I love enamelware. I have picked up most of mine at thrift stores, yard sales and on ebay. I love the speckled design and just the down homey ness. My whole house is done in a primitive old fashioned style so it matches quite well. My children are 3 and 4 and they set the table load and unload the dishwasher and it is so nice because it won't break. Even corelle shatters so I think what is a chip every now and then. More old fashioned character. I collect enamelware in all colors so if I see some at a garage sale I can just add to my collection. Just my opinion.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #21 on: August 28, 2007, 08:43:51 AM » by Nickole

How is enamelware diff. than corelle or ceramic? Thanks! The thought of the shards going everywhere with Corelle really makes me nervous.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #22 on: August 28, 2007, 09:37:45 AM » by ShabbyChic

It's funny that this should come up. My husband grew up with nice dishes, hand thrown pottery, and we grew up with mismatched corelle and pfaltzgraff for special occasions. He told me to make sure that my younger son didn't knock a plate off of the table (it was close to the edge) and I responded that it's just corelle and that is unbreakable. Like tempered glass. He disagreed.

Well Sunday I went to my mom's house to borrow her griddle and she had a broken corelle saucer in the driveway that had shattered into a thousand tiny shards when she dropped it on her paved drive way. I cleaned it up for her, but it took FOREVER because of all the tiny pieces. But I wanted to get them all because my kids are frequently barefoot at her house.

So anyway, corelle does fragment into unbelievably small pieces if it breaks. However, I've grown up with it my whole life (I'm almost 28) and this was the first piece I've ever seen broken. It doesn't break easily.

And we received nice corelle for our wedding and it chips all over the place. I'd rather have the cheap stuff. It's thinner and lighter anyway, it just doesn't look as nice.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #23 on: August 28, 2007, 09:42:53 AM » by ShabbyChic

The two types of corelle are glass (vitrelle) and stoneware:

VitrelleTM glass – the original Corelle material that is known for its strength, durability and versatility.

Vitrelle 1:

Our Vitrelle and Vitrelle2 products are made in a hub lamination process that thermally bonds three layers of glass together. The core glass in the middle and a top and bottom layer of very clear skin or glaze glass. This lamination results in glassware that far exceeds the normal strength of any single glass composition. Simply put, lamination does for glass just what it does for wood. It yields a finished product that is much stonger than the individual components from which it is made. We are so confident in the strength and durability of our dinnerware , we offer a THREE YEAR warranty against breaking and chipping to the Vitrelle glass dinnerware and will replace any item under normal household use that does.

Vitrelle 2:

Different from Vitrelle, Vitrelle 2 is made in the same hub lamination process but with a core glass that is 70 percent thicker than our original material. Made especially from your consumer input that desires a thicker material with the same features and benefits of the original Corelle. We are so confident in the strength and durability of our dinnerware , we offer a FIVE YEAR warranty against breaking and chipping to the Vitrelle2 material and will replace any item under normal household use that does.

Stoneware:

With today's casual lifestyles, we know you want dinnerware that has the appearance of being special and one of a kind, as stoneware does. We have worked closely with our overseas partners to develop the HearthstoneTM Collection of dinnerware. To meet our durability standards, we offer a ONE YEAR break and chip warranty, and will replace any stoneware dinnerware that breaks or chips under normal household use. We will continue to bring you beautiful, dependable stoneware collections.

SO the thin stuff (that shards into 1,000 pieces) is the vitrelle glass, and the thicker stuff I got for my wedding (that chips) is stoneware. Like a coffee mug.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #24 on: August 28, 2007, 09:47:59 AM » by SarahK

Quote from: Nickole on August 28, 2007, 08:43:51 AM

The thought of the shards going everywhere with Corelle really makes me nervous.

It does stop everything for about 15 minutes to get it all cleaned up. It's not like it skitters everywhere and flips here and there. It does shatter into narrow slivers - but physics determines where it goes. Drop a bowl of chili on the tile and it's not a big deal - just a sloppy mess. Drop a short stack of plates on end on a fork on the floor and you might loose one or two - but they only continue going in the direction they were going before. Pieces continue forward and away from the plate carrier.

My kids have always had corelle - they just know to stop right where you are when one breaks and wait for directions on how to get out of the area safely. Pick up chunks, sweep well, wipe with damp paper towels and we call it good to go. I am always barefoot and I'm usually pregnant, too...hmmm and I may get a piece in my foot - but in the 10 years the kids have been doing this we have only had one child with glass in a toe. I'm sold on it.

Sarah K

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #25 on: August 28, 2007, 10:17:25 AM » by Nickole

Quote from: SarahK on August 28, 2007, 09:47:59 AM

Quote from: Nickole on August 28, 2007, 08:43:51 AM

The thought of the shards going everywhere with Corelle really makes me nervous.

Alright, thanks, that helps. Maybe I can try and think before I drop a dish and make sure I drop a fork first, and then drop the plate on its end onto the fork. Grin

*snicker*

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #26 on: August 28, 2007, 05:23:54 PM » by daisey

Well, I have to agree with Corelle. I do have to just say that even when I set the table with my china I use 2 different patterns. I've picked up a couple different sets at jewelry stores when they discontinue a patterns, it makes for a pretty and interesting table.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #27 on: August 28, 2007, 05:44:56 PM » by kittyninja

i have 2 differant sets too...just depends on which brands on sale...Dixie paper plates or generic brand.... Grin

on fancy days the adults use the white clearance target plates and the kids get their ikea plastic plates.

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #28 on: August 28, 2007, 06:07:10 PM » by herbalmom

I agree with SarahK- Our kids are often barefoot & they know if they drop one & it breaks to stand still while someone else brings them a pair of shoes. When they were little, we would have them stand still while an adult that was wearing shoes lifted them straight up out of the glass but we did that with anything like that. Sweeping it up isn't a big deal & a wet paper towel does wonders for getting any fine bits the broom missed. We have had our 3 cats for 11 years, they are fully indoor & always in the kitchen & I don't think any of them have been cut from pieces we missed in that whole time. ONCE IN A WHILE someone will get a missed piece in the foot but even with all 3 of my kids barefoot in the house most of the time & also in the kitchen constantly, it is VERY SELDOM & we have had Corelle for well over 15 years & probably closer to 20 years.

SarahK, I just have to ask- HOW do you manage to drop a stack of plates on their rims, onto a fork?

Quote from: SarahK on August 28, 2007, 09:47:59 AM

Quote from: Nickole on August 28, 2007, 08:43:51 AM

The thought of the shards going everywhere with Corelle really makes me nervous.

Quote from: Nickole on August 28, 2007, 08:43:51 AM

How is enamelware diff. than corelle or ceramic? Thanks!

Enamelware is metal that has a fused enamel coating on it. It is also known as splatterware because it usually has white dots on it like paint was splattered on it. The big water bath canning kettles & old style turkey roasters are enamelware. I like the look but decided not to use it except my canning kettle for canning only because if it chips, the base metal leaches into your food. I heard somewhere that sometimes the glazes on the old pieces can contain lead but I don't know for sure if that is true. I do know that the base metals really aren't the kinds of metals that should be in contact with food. HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

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Re: Which dishes?
« Reply #29 on: August 28, 2007, 06:29:43 PM » by andeebeth

I love Corelle! We only "lose" about a dish every month or two. (and usually it's ME that breaks it!) We had really old linoleum (dh just put laminate this week!). Sometimes they break..and sometimes they don't. But it's the same here too..if one drops..usually I'm barefoot, and standing in the middle of it (because like I said..I'm usually the one who drops it). So a child will bring me shoes..and I'll clean it up. Just a couple weeks ago..I had this slight pain in the bottom of my foot..walked around on it for a couple days before investigating. Turns out it was a teeeeny tiny sliver from the bowl (I) broke.(I didn't vacuum in time). Usually I'll sweep...vacuum..and THEN mop the floor after breaking a Corelle dish. Usually gets it all up.
Grin

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