Why look at new Dinner Plates?

New Dinner Plates - Four Tips

So you’ve just been and splashed out on a brand new set of dinner plates which match beautifully with your new dining room décor. Whether you have chosen bargain basement items or a top of the range dinner service, I am sure that you want to look after your new dinner plates as well as possible. If you damage and break even one item from a set of dinner plates it can be a nightmare trying to replace it with something similar without having to buy a whole new set. Here are the answers to some common questions about how to best look after dinnerware.

Is it damaging to the dinner plates if I put them in the microwave?

To answer this question you need to check the dinner plates that you own themselves. Many will have a mark on the plates themselves if they are ‘microwaveable’ or ‘microwave-friendly’. If there is no mark on the plates then you should check the box the dinner plates came in. The reason I say this is that while it is not damaging to dinner plates that have been specially treated, there are some sets which have characteristics making them entirely unsuitable. For example any plates which have metallic paintwork or leading will cause sparks in the microwave. Also with glass dinner plates there is a high risk that they will smash if they have not been specially tempered for the heat.

Is it safe to warm my new dinner plates in the microwave?

The short answer to this is no. To heat food microwave ovens rely on water particles and these will not be present in your plates in the same way that they are in food. This means that the microwave will not heat properly and could be dangerous as well as possibly damaging your new dinner plates. The best idea is to heat them in the oven, especially if you are already using it to cook with.

Is it safe to put my dinner plates in the dishwasher?

This is really the same answer as that for the microwave. You need to look on the dinner plates themselves for a marking which says ‘dishwasher safe’ or ‘dishwasher-friendly’. If there is no marking you should also check on the box the dinner plates came in. If you still see nothing then it would be safest to not use the dishwasher for your new plates.

Is it damaging if I leave my dishes out in sunlight?

UV light from the sun has the potential to damage most items and is particularly bad for bleaching the colour of bright items. The risk of damage from UV lighting is worse for softer materials rather than porcelain plates. The coatings which are given should offer some degree of protection. However if you are at all worried then it is best to store your dishes somewhere out of direct sunlight, especially if they are brightly coloured. This doesn’t mean that you have to pack them away completely, just ensure that they are not on display anywhere that the sun’s rays fall directly on them.