Functions Dinnerware

Food-related
Non-food related
Types:
Materials
Shapes
Sizes
Selection
Care and Maintenance
Dinnerware:
 Sometimes used to refer to a wider or more
general term closely related to tableware.
 In this report, however, it is a kind of
tableware referring generally to plates
and saucers.

 …which
are mostly used in the table setting.
Functions

 To serve food
 To serve things that go with food
(condiments, etc)
 To place things that go with things that serve food.
(cups, bowls, etc)
 Food Storage
 Non-food

 For decoration
 For religious or ceremonial purposes
 Collector Plates
 Odd and Statement plates
Type: Materials
 Fine China: Fine China is the most expensive and
the highest quality dinnerware, and is basically
another name for porcelain. It is very durable,
contrary to what most people think, and is made of a
non-absorbent ceramic that has been fired at the
highest kiln temperatures. Fine china can come with
patterns that have metallic designs to them, such as
a platinum or gold ribbon running around the
perimeter of the plate, that give them a bit of
elegance. Fine china is often showcased in homes
when not in use because of its beauty and
sophistication.
 Fine china
 Earthenware: This is the
oldest form of
dinnerware and is fired at
the lowest kiln
temperatures. It does
contain impurities and is
absorbent and fragile
because of the low kiln
temperatures. It can be
glazed or unglazed, and
has a very natural look to
it.
 Stoneware: Stoneware is more-
chip resistant than earthenware
because it is fired at higher
temperatures. To increase the
durability and strength of
stoneware, quartz, feldspar and
flint are added to the clay. The
appearance of stoneware is very
casual and is a popular choice for
“everyday” dinnerware.
Stoneware is microwave and
dishwasher safe for convenience.
 Pottery: Pottery is even more durable than
stoneware, but should be soaked in warm
water before using to make the pieces more
chip-resistant. Pottery dinnerware can be used
in the microwave and dishwasher as well.
 Bone China:
 Bone china is the most durable of casual
dinnerware. Bone ash is added to the mixing
process to lend strength to the dinnerware. The
ash also creates a whiter, more translucent
ceramic that makes bone china an excellent and
upscale choice for everyday dinnerware. Bone
china does perform well in a microwave or
dishwasher as long as there is no metallic
detailing to it.
 Glassware:
Glass is easy to
clean and can be
used in areas of
high
temperatures, but
is more fragile
than the others.
 a. Lead Glass
 b. Milk Glass
 c. Borosilicate
 d. Pyroceram
 Plastic:
b. Thermoplastic: soft plastic softened with
heat.
c. Thermoseting: Melamine plastic, of a harder
type not easily affected by ordinary heat.
 Woodware: Made from either camagong,
monkey pod or tanguile and finished with a
dull varnish. It is not very practical for
constant use, and non-absorbent woodware
is usually expensive.
 Paperware: Comes in various thicknesses,
sizes, shapes and designs. Needs to be
coated with wax to prevent absorbency.
 Metalware:
 Enamelware: made of base metal coated
with a liquid plus finely ground glass fused
with the metal.

 Brassware: tabak, made of an alloy of

copper and zinc. Common in the Mindanao
regions, where brass is abundant.
 Styrofoam: Similar to paperware but slightly
less expensive.
 Other
improvised
material:
 Sizes

Dinner plate: 10’’ used for the main dish. Also for
the entrée in formal dinners.
b. Wide brim
c. Narrow rim with embossed edge
d. Narrow rim with plain edge
e. Wide rim with scalloped edge
f. Narrow rim with square body
g. Narrow rim with scalloped edge
h. Plain couple shape
i. Rimless scalloped edge
 Place plate: 12’’ used as an underlining in dinners.
 Luncheon plate: 9’’ multipurpose plate for daily
dining
 Soup plate: 9’’ soup plate for formal sitdown dinners
 Bread and butter plate: 6’’ for cereals, desserts,
salads or rice.
 Salad plate: 7’’ used for salads, desserts or
underliners for stemwares.
 Saucer: used for underliner, with an inner groove
which fits the bottom of the cup.
 Demitasse saucer: smaller than usual saucers
Shapes
 Most plates and saucers are circular shaped.
 However, some have other shapes, some
regular and others irregular.
Selection
a. Shape of each piece
b. Versatility of use in the table
c. Type of material used
d. Flexibility of design
e. Workmanship
f. Availability
g. Cost and durability
Care and Maintenance

 China should be rinsed immediately after

use.
 Use rubber or soft cloth to scrape
 Soft sponge for washing
 Use hot water if possible
 Dry properly
 Do not throw, fling or break plates
 Decide on what type of dinnerware you wish to
purchase. Bone or porcelain china is best for more
formal occasions while stoneware stands up to
daily use.
 Hand Wash antique china. Antique china could be
fragile due to age and use of the dinnerware.
 Hand Wash Method: Scrape plates and wash in
warm, sudsy water dishwater. Rinse well. Let dry.
 Place a clean dish towel, or sink mat, at the
bottom of the sink to help pad it. This helps
prevent breakage of both fine dinnerware and
crystal.
 Wash glassware, dinnerware, flatware and finally
pans in that order when washing dishes by hand.
 Modern china, stoneware and earthenware can be washed in
the dishwasher.
 Dishwasher Method: Load the dishwasher so the dinnerware is
not subject to rubbing of dishes during the wash cycle.
 Keep flatware and any other metallic objects away from the
dinnerware. Rubbing between the metal and dinnerware can
cause gray marks.
 Gray marks can be removed by scrubbing with a mild cleanser.
 Wash dinnerware on the shortest cycle. These cycles are usually
called light wash or china.
 Store plates with paper towels, cloth or dish protectors between
each plate.
 Hang tea cups on hooks, if possible. Stack tea cups, with a
protector between cups, in stacks of two.
 Stay away from using lemon scented dishwasher detergent as
this type of detergent may damage dinnerware.
 Storage

 Dinnerware should not be stacked too high.

 Stack similar sizes together.
 Prevent scratching by placing fabric between
plates
 Segregate flatware from the dinnerware to
avoid rubbing.
 Know which material is best for food storage.
References:
 Leocardio, Corazon, Essentials in Meal Management, 1998
 http://www.alibaba.com/product
 http://www.alwaysbrilliant.com/aa/DT-01192009/aspx-
products/PID-236/PD-52130/bb/Melamine+Dish+Set.htm
 http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Cedar-Wood-16-Piece-
Dinnerware-Set/3163986/product.html
 http://www.surlatable.com/product/id/125428.do#
 http://www.mypapershop.com/019586.html
 http://pfaltzgraff.com/Dinnerware-Set%2c-20-pc./37013500,default,pd.
 http://beginnersguide.com/kitchen/dinnerware/types-of-dinnerware.php
 http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann
 <http://www.wikihow.com/Purchase-and-Care-for-Dinnerware>