Plates/dinnerware question

[syntheticjesso]

So when I moved out of my parents' house, my mom bought me some really cheap plastic plates from Walmart. Well, it's been 4 years now, and they are showing their age. Between just being pretty cheap plates, I've also used them as cutting boards since I didn't have one. I'm looking to replace them, and I want to get "real" plates, the kind that

Comments

[paulistano]

I really like Corelle. They have nice designs, are cheap and are shatter resistant.

[kicker]

Corelle if you smash one, can be easily replaced. They do shatter into a million pieces, but I learned to clean that stuff up when I was little. I grew up on Corelle, it's available at most Wal*marts and Kmarts. I currently have Pfaltzgraff, I've had them 5 years at the end of the month. The only *real* complaint I have about them is that they chip, have cracked in the microwave although microwave safe, AND if you look closely, they are losing their "sealant" and looked like hairline fractions in the middle. If you're looking to upgrade from plastic, Corelle is a decent bet and comes in millions of colors. Price wise, Corelle is decent and of value. if you want to look at its quality, check it out at Walmart or Kmart.... :) Honestly, I'd shop around and see what you like best and make your decision from there. Ordering online is probably cheaper in some cases. I bought mine because I thought the pattern was pretty when registering for my wedding and heard it was high quality. It just hasn't weathered as well as I'd hoped.

[kamaliitaru]

This...but I would like to add. If you live in the US and are close to an outlet mall, most of them have Corelle outlets, and you can get sets or individual plates there for a very good price.

[teal_cuttlefish]

For shopping reference, sometimes they are called Corning outlets but they have the same stuff whichever name they have. I like going to my Corning outlet. Sometimes they have interesting sales.

OP, Corelle is a tempered glass. They won't break for a long time, but they will eventually shatter/explode. Still, they're affordable, fairly durable, and microwave safe. Don't try to warm them up on the stove or in the oven, though. They can't handle that much temperature stress.

[kadevha]

Really? If you want cheapish/decent quality dinnerware, I would get Corelle dishes. Those were my first "real" set and I dearly love them. My mom was a fan of Corelle dinnerware. They are durable and dishwasher safe. They also come in a gazillion colors/patterns. If you manage to break one, it's very easy to find individual replacements for the more popular colors and patterns.

Also, the plates/bowls are super thin which I like.

[buckeyeschild]

Thirding the Corelle. I have nice plates that I use when company is around, but for everything else, it's Corelle. They're so durable and thin and they come in all sorts of functional shapes. Love them.

[andiandiandi4]

Going with Corelle again! I'm still using dishes from the 70's that match my favorite Pyrex pattern!

[payoffpitch]

Get Corelle. Seriously. They're so indestructible and pretty.

[tisiphone]

Basically, there are three main materials you're likely to run into for "real" tableware - vitreous glass (Corelle), stoneware, and porcelain. Corelle is sturdy, and is reputably more difficult to break, but when it does break it shatters into about eight million tiny little slivers and is impossible to clean up. I can't stand it, personally, but I know a lot of people that love it. Stoneware tends to be sturdy, and it looks it. It comes in a wide variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and so on, and basically you can find anything you want. It's a good choice for everyday, I think. Porcelain (or china) is more delicate, and tends to be more finely decorated. Depending on the decoration, it may not be dishwasher-safe, and it breaks easily. I'd recommend that if you're looking for something a little bit fancier.

(You may also find things made of clear glass, wood, pottery, and a few other materials, but they tend to be rarer.)
In terms of actual recommendations, I have these. I've had them for years, and they are amazing - sturdy like

[amerrydeath]

This for the cutting board--I can't stand the thought of those plastic things. They trap bacteria, especially if they're low end, and look horrible after they've been used once...wooden boards last forever if you take care of them and bamboo is antibacterial. Personally I'd spend money on wooden chopping board and eat off that if I was stuck for cash, but I don't think they're really that expensive. And so much more furnishing!

[tisiphone]

You can get them really cheap at TJ Maxx, I got two for under $20. They're nice, too - they've got little grippy legs on the bottom so they don't slide all over the place, which is awesome considering that half the time I am lazy and just chop things on the stove. I just to have the flexible ones, they were OK but they got scarred up rapidly and I never really felt they were clean.

[whisperstar]

On the subject of cutting boards:
How are glass cutting boards? I heard that they make your knives dull... but
are there any plus sides?
Also, with a wooden cutting board, how do you clean them off? Don't they get
ridges cut into them from cutting with a knife? ^-^

Such basic questions, but I look forward to hearing more about this! :3