The 14 Best Dinnerware Sets for Those Everyday Meals

Probably the first thing noticed when someone looks at the kitchen or dining table, the right dinnerware set is the easiest way to show off (or if necessary, detract from) our culinary skills. If you are someone who keeps a separate dinnerware set for special occasions and are looking for one of the best dinnerware sets for everyday use, or you prefer dinnerware that can be used for both formal and informal dining, then continue to read on.

Things to Consider Before Buying A Dinnerware Set

When choosing a dinnerware set, avoid just thinking about what design and color of dinnerware you like, also consider the colors and style of your kitchen or dining room and look for dinnerware than will complement your existing space and dinnerware or table accessories.

When buying new dinnerware decide how many people you regularly need to serve. Most sets start at a four serving and then increase to six and then eight. If there are just two of you in your home, then a larger set can mean less washing up in between meals, but of course will take up more storage room.

How much storage room do you have available for your dinnerware? It is always worth checking measurements just to make sure that the plates will fit. If you do have limited space, then stackable sets are a real advantage as these allow the bowls and mugs to be stacked together.

Dinnerware which is oven and microwave safe makes it easy to heat food or leftovers and a dinnerware set which is dishwasher safe means easy and hygienic washing up. Some dinnerware is also freezer safe, making it ideal for pre-freezing before serving cold desserts.

If you want to test out if your new dinnerware set is truly microwave safe, then place a plate in the microwave with a cup of water. If you are testing a dinner plate, then you can place the cup of water on top of the plate. Set the microwave timer for one minute on ‘high’ and turn on.

After the timer has finished, take out both the cup and the plate. The water in the cup should be warm but a microwave safe plate or bowl should still be cool. If you had to place the cup of water on the plate, then check around the edges of the plate as it will be warmer in the middle where the cup was sat. If the plate has started to heat up, then it is not microwave safe.

Choosing Colors and Patterns of Dinnerware Sets

When choosing the best dinnerware sets for everyday use, white dinnerware is often high on the importance list. Not only will plain white dinnerware match in with existing dinnerware, it is able to display food well, does not fade or lose its color through washing and perhaps more importantly, it is much easier to match up a replacement white plate rather than having to buy a new dinnerware set.

If white is your preference, then you could always add some color with placemats and napkins, or you can place some colored or patterned charger plates under the white plates for extra style.

If your tastes are more for colored dinnerware, then a pattern with fewer colors can be easier to coordinate other table items to. If you need to buy more than one set of dinnerware you can also choose a second set in a complementary or contrasting color to add some variety to the table.

The pattern designs on dinnerware tend to be classic, which are designs such as rococo or neoclassic. They can be romantic, which will incorporate designs of living things such as flowers, fruits and birds. Modern or contemporary designs are usually geometric or abstract.

If you want to mix patterns with your dinnerware, then a handy tip is to mix at a ratio of 2:1, or two ornate plates and one plain or two plain plates with one ornate.

If brightly colored and/or heavily patterned is your preference, then using neutral colored and plain linens and other accessories can help stop a bold dinnerware set from overpowering the table.

Western dinnerware is typically rim-shaped plates which allow the juices from food to collect in the middle of the plate while coupe-shaped plates do not have a rim. These style of plates are usually used for Eastern foods as many foods are cut into smaller pieces in the kitchen before being cooked (rather than at the table) which means that a number of different courses can easily be placed onto a coupe-shaped plate.

The Best Dinnerware Materials for Everyday Use

Although a bone china dinnerware set will always bring elegance to the table, for everyday use, these are often far from practical. In terms of resistance to damage, porcelain is the hardest ceramic compared to bone china which is the strongest. Stoneware, semi-porcelain, ironstone, creamware and faience then follow, but of course not all of these may be oven, microwave, freezer and/or dishwasher safe.

Vitrified glass is often known as Corelle – the best known vitrified glass manufacturer in the US. Usually opaque, Corelle and other vitrified glass is fired at a ultra-high temperature to make it non-porous and almost indestructible; rarely breaking or chipping when dropped onto a hard floor. This makes it one of the best dinnerware materials for those with younger family members.

Vitrified glass is also lightweight and usually thinner than other types of dinnerware materials, allowing it to take less room up in your kitchen cabinets. It is also dishwasher and microwave safe.

Corelle contains Vitrelle® which is a proprietary mix of raw and recycled materials. The Vitrelle is three layers – a core center layer that has a top and bottom layer of clear glass laminated to it - and it is this that makes the dinnerware thin and translucent yet keeps it extremely strong. Unlike other types of glass, Vitrelle is not fragile or porous and was actually developed for use in television screens back in the 1940s.

Earthenware is sturdy and often has a casual design, making it ideal for everyday use. It can also be very budget-friendly. It can be very heavy though and if used in the oven or microwave there is a risk of damage, which limits its use for every day heating and reheating of foods. Depending on the type of glaze, earthenware can also be prone to staining.

Stoneware has an impermeable finish from the glaze that is used to give it a smooth finish. Ironware such as Pfaltzgraff is also a type of stoneware. Generally, stoneware is more durable than earthenware, but care should still be taken when exposing it to higher or low temperatures. It is usually dishwasher safe although do check as some designs may require hand washing.

These types of dinnerware can look well with heavier tableware such as wooden bowls and loose woven linens but remember that earthenware and stoneware can be more prone to chipping than porcelain.

If you have served acidic foods such as vinegars or tomatoes on any glazed dinnerware then always rinse off the residue, or place in the dishwasher after the meal, as if left on the dinnerware, there is a risk that the surface may become pitted.

Porcelain (sometimes called fine china) is non-porous and usually durable as it is fired at higher temperatures. Porcelain dinnerware is usually thicker than bone china although lighter in weight than stoneware; making a porcelain set one of the best dinnerware sets for everyday use.

Porcelain is also freezer, microwave and oven safe, although if you choose a porcelain set with a metal accent such as a silver or gold rim, be aware that this cannot be used in the microwave and may also be hand wash only. Otherwise, porcelain is usually dishwasher friendly, making it ideal dinnerware for daily use. As porcelain usually has a smooth surface it can complement silverware, crystal glasses and tight woven linens.

Porcelain is often graded which reflects the level of defects in the finished piece and it can be helpful to be aware of this when choosing porcelain dinnerware sets. As a natural and delicate material, porcelain always contains defects such as bubbles, glaze cracking, color fault and more. Porcelain that contains no defects from a set list of defects will be graded as A. Grade B porcelain can have between two and four defects from the recognized list, while Grade C ceramics can contain six or more defects.

Melamine is the family-friendly dinnerware material for inside or outside the home, as it is difficult to chip, crack or break. Unfortunately it cannot be used in the oven or microwave although it can usually be cleaned on the top rack of the dishwasher. Melamine is also lightweight and free from any BPA. Depending on what foods you want to serve on melamine, you may want to consider buying a darker color as foods such as tomato can stain it. 

As well as choosing the best dinnerware material for your needs, also look to buy plates that will sit flat on the table and do not have warped rims. The glaze on the dinnerware should also be free from spots and bubbles and the colors should be consistent (considering any lower grading for porcelain faults).

Conclusion

In this article we have taken a look at some of the main materials for everyday dinnerware sets as well as looking at other aspects that you should also consider when choosing one of the best dinnerware sets for everyday use – even if you want to use it for formal as well as casual dining.