One of the main attractions of a dinner table, apart from the food, is the dinnerware it is served in. It is much more than a utensil for serving food. Beautiful dinnerware sets the mood for the dining table, enhances the meals, and is also a great way to show your style. However, there are many different types of dinnerware online from leading online home product retailers like Wakefit, so which of these to buy? Knowing their differences and understanding when to use them is the key to picking the best dinnerware for your home. To help you with that, here is a guide to the different types of dinnerware.
Dinnerware Types Based on Materials
Dinnerware is called by various names, like crockery, plates, or dishes. Before you begin to shop for them, you should know the materials they are made from so that you can make an informed selection. Here are some of the common dinnerware materials:
- Bone China: These are elegant, lightweight, and durable dinnerware pieces that is useful for special occasions as well as everyday use. It is chip-resistant, and dishwasher and microwave-safe.
- Earthenware: This is one of the oldest materials and is usually heavy. It is considered one of the healthiest choices, but does not do well with temperature changes. It is not a great option for the oven or microwave.
- Porcelain: It is highly durable, resistant to high temperatures, and a versatile material. These are oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe, and some of the pieces come with metallic accents, which make them unsuitable for microwaves.
- Melamine: Melamine plates are one of the most popular choices in restaurants, as they are shatter-proof and harder to chip or break. These are dishwasher-safe but may not be useful for microwaves or ovens.
- Stoneware: A stoneware dinner set is ideal for everyday use and has a special glaze and an impermeable finish. These are highly durable but should be used in even temperatures and should not be exposed to freezing or high temperatures.
Different Types of Dinnerware
Dinnerplate
It is a plate where you have your main course meal. It typically measures 11 to 12 inches and usually comes out after a salad. The name dinner plate does not mean that it is used only during dinner, people use it for lunch dishes too. Depending on the size of the family, you should opt for a dinnerplate set. The most common choice is dinnerware sets for 6 is helpful if you entertain people often.
Soup Plate and Bowl
The soup bowls have a different shape when compared to the others. The soup plates, too, have a different shape, with the top having an arch in the shape of a bowl. This is done so that it can hold the soup bowl or foods that are slightly watery. There are many variations of these soup plates for casual and formal dinners.
Salad Bowl
This is a plate that is specifically used for serving salads. The plate is round and comes in different sizes, and when you have many plates, the salad plate set is larger than a dinner plate set: hence, there will be no difficulty in finding a salad plate.
Bread and Butter Plate
As the name indicates, it is a plate that is used for bread and butter serving. It is placed next to the fork and is called a side plate or quarter plate. For a small family, a dinnerware set with a quarter plates set of 4 is enough for everyday use.
Appetizer plate
It is a plate that comes in many sizes and starts from 17 cm. The main feature of this plate is that there is no indentation but has a curved tip. This plate is more or less like a plate of bread and butter but is slightly bigger.
Dessert Bowl/Plate
It is designed to serve dessert and is used in both casual and formal settings. This plate, designed specifically for dessert, is smaller than the dinner plate and is made for bite-sized portions. It is specifically used for sweets and other nibbles and is employed in all celebrations, including weddings. If you often make Indian sweets, you can also buy a Kulhad set of 6 or 4 to serve chilled desserts.
Rice Bowl
It is used to serve rice, and these are found in most Indian and Chinese restaurants. There are many variations of these rice bowls, including veg bowls online where you can serve gravies of all types.
Teacups and Coffee Mugs
While they may not be part of traditional dinnerware, they are an integral part of your dining table cutlery. Choose a cup and saucer set to make your everyday tea drinking more fun. A teacup set should be made from non-porous material and should allow the tea to cool gradually. The lip thickness should be perfect so that it makes drinking hot tea enjoyable. Coffee mugs are also an essential part of your cutlery, opt for unique coffee mug designs that make drinking more fun.
Different Styles of Dinnerware
Dinnerware comes in many different styles and ranges from stylish to casual to in between. Formal dinnerware is usually made from stoneware, porcelain, or china, whereas Melamine and Earthenware are great as casual dinnerware. It is recommended that you choose chip and shatter-resistant crockery for everyday use, whether it is a set of 4 dinner plates or a set of 6 or for outdoor parties. Choose finer materials for formal gatherings and stylish dinners. Invest in dinner sets for special occasions as well as a set for everyday use.
When it comes to designs, there are four categories:
- Banded
- Solid
- Hand-painted
- Patterned
Look for colours and patterns that complement the home decor as well as reflect your style and personality. For informal dinners, choose patterns and colours that are attractive and shades of white for formal events.
Now that you are familiar with all the functions and types of dinnerware, you are equipped to buy them for special occasions or everyday use. Shop for a dinnerware set online and use it on your dining table to make every meal special.
