Which dinner service is best?
Dinnerware is an essential part of any kitchen. It allows you to fully enjoy your meals. The best dinnerware set not only offers functionality for the dinner table or the place where you can dine, but also aesthetics and personalization.
This 40-piece Mikasa set is an elegant and complete set that emphasizes quality materials and longevity. However, the right dinnerware set meets personal needs, varying in appearance, durability and price.
What You Need to Know Before Buying Dinnerware
Tableware
The basic dinnerware set consists of four pieces: a dinner plate, a salad plate, a soup bowl, and a mug. The dinner plate is the largest piece, designed for your main course. The salad plate is a smaller matching piece that can be used for salads or other appetizers. While most salad plates are flat, some may be slightly sunken.
Soup bowls tend to be small, similar to salad plates but with steeper edges. Finally, a mug serves as a generic beverage vessel, although it is usually intended for coffee or tea. In some cases, the mug may be omitted from the collection, resulting in a three-piece set.
Number of parameters
Settings refer to the number of people each collection serves. You typically have the option to purchase a single setting for a single person, a four-person setting for an average household, or an eight- or twelve-person setting for more elaborate events.
Unfortunately, most collections do not have odd numbers. To ensure everyone’s meals are balanced, you will need to buy more than you might need.
Size and shape
Consider size and shape, as not all dinnerware is created equal. Larger options prioritize aesthetics as much as functionality, as they seek to showcase your meal, while smaller sets are best for those with more compact kitchens, cabinets, and cupboards.
Dinnerware sets can vary in shape. Keep in mind that circular items tend to be less efficient in terms of storage than square or rectangular pieces. Consider not only the length or diameter, but also the depth, which will influence stacking in a cabinet.
What to Look for in a Quality Dinnerware Set
Material
The material influences longevity, weight, ease of cleaning, and overall quality. The most common materials used for dinnerware are stoneware, porcelain, and bone china.
- Sandstone is valued for its aesthetics and durability. It tends to be thick and sturdy and allows for the printing of different colors and textures.
- Porcelain It is a finer ceramic, usually white in color. It is also quite expensive.
- Porcelain It is used in the most elegant and expensive tableware. It can be simple or richly decorated and has a long life.
Color and design
Dinnerware sets can fit your style and personality with different colors, patterns, and other designs available. Basic solid colors are the most common and are useful for a variety of occasions. Those with ornate or intricate patterns and designs tend to be reversed for more formal occasions.
Additional components
More elaborate sets include additional pieces and useful extra dining elements, such as an extra plate, bowl, or saucer for your cup. Larger sets may also offer serving utensils.
Versatility
Depending on the material, some dinnerware is safe to use in the dishwasher, microwave, oven or freezer. Some may be suitable up to a certain temperature, so check the limits and work within them.
How much can you expect to spend on dinnerware?
You can typically expect to pay between $15 and $30 per serving, with a slight price reduction when you purchase a larger serving. The material and design will influence the price, with high-end options costing up to $40 per serving.
FAQ about tableware
What is the difference between dinnerware, serving utensils and cutlery?
A. Dinnerware includes the plates and bowls that a person eats from directly. Serving dishes, on the other hand, are more communal. These are the bowls and plates that the entire meal is placed on; each person serves their own portion from the serving dishes. Finally, cutlery includes the utensils you eat with: your knife, spoon, and fork.
How do I store and maintain my dishes?
A. Quality dinnerware is an investment and it is important to follow the best care practices. While most materials are dishwasher safe, it still depends on the quality of your dishwasher: chemicals can wear down the material over time, while any moving parts in the appliance can damage the surface. It is therefore recommended to wash high-end dinnerware by hand. Similarly, high-quality materials should also be dried by hand and stored gently. Be careful when stacking so as not to chip the material.
Regularly used dishes can be stored in a convenient cupboard, while fine china used for special occasions may require a special storage cabinet where it is less exposed.
What is the best dinnerware set to buy?
High-end tableware service
Mikasa Delray Fine Porcelain
What you need to know: This elegant dinnerware set offers lasting quality and aesthetics for a variety of occasions.
What you’ll love: Fine bone china is durable and sophisticated; its white aesthetic is suitable for both semi-casual and formal occasions. It serves eight people and is oven, microwave and dishwasher safe.
What you should consider: It’s a bit pricey, and the lack of color might also put some people off.
High end dinner service for the price
Amazon Basics 18-Piece Set
What you need to know: This simple yet versatile dinnerware set for six comes at an affordable price.
What you’ll love: It is made of lightweight and durable porcelain. Its modern and minimalist design is suitable for casual meals. It is also dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe.
What you should consider: It does not include matching mugs.
To be absolutely checked
Fiesta four-piece set
What you need to know: This single-serve ceramic dinnerware set has a rustic look and reliable construction.
What you’ll love: This four-piece farmhouse dinnerware set is made of glazed ceramic. It also comes in a variety of soft colors to match your personality and decor. It is chip-resistant and safe for your oven, microwave, and dishwasher.
What you should consider: It’s a bit expensive for a single setting.
Prices shown reflect the time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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