Your guests arrive in three hours. The food is cooked, the wine is chilling, and your mind is abuzz with conversation starters—but something about your presentation feels off. Your tablescape feels unfinished, despite its very full (and tasty-looking) appearance.
What you may be missing is a proper set of dinnerware. As any four-star chef knows, the secret to elevating any meal lies in its presentation.
To that end, if you’re looking to truly wow your guests, selecting the appropriate dinnerware for your kitchen or dining room table is essential. But with so many dinner plate options, where do you start?
Today, we’re starting with ceramic dinnerware.
Ceramic Dinnerware: What It Is and Why It’s a Preferred Choice
When it comes to dinnerware, ceramic plates are a popular choice because they’re largely affordable, durable, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. Most can withstand the high temperatures of microwaves and dishwashers (though not all, so it’s important to check your specific set). Not to mention, most are chip-resistant.
Within the category of ceramics, there are four different types, including:
- Earthenware
- Stoneware
- Porcelain
- Bone china
The differences between these options (differences that also affect their price points) boil down to the types of clay they’re made from, the temperature at which they’re fired (and for how long) and the ways they’re glazed and decorated.
How Are Ceramics Made?
Ceramics, overall, is the art of taking clay (generally made from a base of aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and water), forming it into a shape or dish, firing (or baking) it in a special oven called a kiln and decorating it with glazes after or between firings. The firing process hardens the dishware, which makes the clay rigid, durable, and moisture-resistant. The glaze can function to further increase a ceramic dish’s moisture resistance.
Sometimes, the pieces are fired to different points of “vitrification,” which is the chemical reaction that occurs in clay when it reaches its melting point, and its minerals morph together to form a crystalline structure. So, these pieces usually do not need to be glazed since they’re very moisture-resistant. The ingredient breakdown of the clay will also have an effect on the tableware it creates, impacting:
- The reaction to being fired
- The resulting color, plasticity, and porosity
Speaking more on porosity, standards organization ASTM International defines a dish’s porosity by how much water is absorbed when it's submerged in boiling water for several minutes and then soaked in room-temperature water for several hours.
The dry and wet weights are compared and used to determine porosity classification and whether it receives an earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain label. Broadly, the higher a piece's wet weight, the higher its porosity and the lower its hygienic quality since it will be more likely to absorb liquids and odors.
Earthenware
Earthenware is generally the most affordable option for ceramic dinnerware types. It’s made from normal clay and is fired at relatively low temperatures—between 1000℃ and 1150℃.
The best dinnerware material is hard, brittle, and slightly porous, so it cannot be used to contain liquids unless treated. Typically, this involves glazing or going through a second round of firing in the kiln to eliminate its remaining porosity. However, once it’s been through this process, most earthenware pieces become dishwasher and microwave safe.
Aesthetically, these dishes bring a rustic feeling to your table: they’re thick, heavy, usually brown or red, and have hand-painted designs since their porosity levels require them to be glazed. But it’s important to remember that these pieces are also prone to chipping. So, if you live in a household with kids and pets, they may not be a wise investment outside of their affordability.
Stoneware
Stoneware is a step up in price and durability compared to earthenware. It’s made from clay which is fired at 1200℃, achieving a partially vitrified product that results in a more durable, denser dish that’s stone-like in appearance and texture.
Because it's partially vitrified, stoneware has a better porosity level than earthenware and doesn’t require glazing in order to be appropriately moisture-resistant. However, manufacturers may nevertheless glaze these pieces for aesthetic purposes.
Because of its durability, stoneware is easy to maintain. It offers better scratch and chip resistance and may be microwave and dishwasher safe unless otherwise indicated by the manufacturer.
While stoneware might lack the refined appeal of porcelain and bone china, it’s a fantastic option for families thanks to its durability and lower price point. And, similar to earthenware, it boasts a rustic charm.
Types of Stoneware
Within the category of stoneware, there are a few sub-classifications—the two most common being creamware and tinware.
Creamware is named thanks to its white appearance, which is usually its natural color—the manufacturers will only add a clear glaze to this type of dish. Tinware is tin-glazed, but has an opaque, white appearance as well.
Other classifications of stoneware include:
- Electrical stoneware
- Thermal stoneware
- Chemical stoneware
- Traditional stoneware
- Fine stoneware
Traditional and fine stoneware are typical for dinner sets.
Porcelain
Porcelain, also called “china,” is a type of handmade ceramic dinnerware that’s on the higher end of the price spectrum. Its nomenclature came about because its material and manufacturing process originated in China, and the clay used contains a material called “kaolin,” which originates from a specific Chinese region. Curious about what porcelain is made of? This type of clay is made of fine particles, usually feldspar and quartz.
“China” ceramic plates are fired at temperatures between 1200℃ and 1450℃, producing a shiny, vitrified material that’s white and translucent.
Appearance-wise, porcelain dinnerware can run the gamut:
- Its colors can also range from blue to white-blue
- Its glazes can vary widely
- It can include gold, silver, or platinum decals
No matter your porcelain dinnerware’s appearance, it will undoubtedly add an air of regality and refinement to your table.
Porcelain is very durable and nonporous, often making it dishwasher and microwave safe (unless otherwise indicated by the manufacturer) despite it being very thin and delicate. However, it’s important to note that if you do purchase a porcelain dinnerware collection with metal edges or decals, it’s best to avoid the microwave and to hand wash them, as some detergents can damage these fine decorations.
Bone China
Finally, what is bone china? Bone china is a subset of porcelain, made with some portion of calcified bone ash. The molded dish is then, generally, fired twice—the first time between 1200℃ and 1300℃, and the second time between 1050℃ and 1100℃. This produces an extremely vitrified product that’s more translucent than porcelain and very durable.
Bone china is incredibly heat resistant and effective at keeping food warm. Because of its heavy vitrification, it's considered to be very hygienic since its low porosity will prevent it from absorbing liquids or odors.
Similar to porcelain, bone china is also an aesthetically refined type of dishware. However, because of its cost, it's usually not the best option for households that will use their dinnerware collection for casual meals.
Picking the Best Type Ceramic Dinnerware Set For You
At the end of the day, the dinnerware set that’s best for your household will depend on your personal preferences and your aesthetics. Are you a person who enjoys inviting friends over for casual meals at a set table, or do you enjoy serving five-course experiences with wine pairings? Do you have rambunctious kids or pets? Do you mainly host for holidays? Your answers to these questions can help you determine:
- How often you’d like to use your dinnerware set
- How durable it needs to be
- The atmosphere you enjoy creating while hosting
These considerations, along with your budget, can guide you toward your ideal style of handmade ceramic dinnerware. Some other questions you may want to ask yourself when choosing a dinner set include:
- Does the dinnerware match your existing tableware?
- How heavy or cumbersome is it to store and place on your table?
- Are the handles of the mugs comfortable to hold?
- How is the set sold: individually or together?
- Are there any obvious flaws, such as dripping glaze, plates sitting unevenly, warped rims, pitting scratching, etc.?
- How long has the set been sold, and will you be able to easily replace a piece in the future if necessary?
If you keep your answers to these questions in mind as you peruse all the ceramic options available to you, you’re sure to end up with a set of dinnerware—and a tablescape—that will wow you and your guests for years to come.
Lenox: Bridging Dinnerware and You
Dinnerware sets have a remarkable ability to lend an air of completeness to whatever event, meal, party, or occasion you’re hosting. Whether you’re hoping for a modern dinnerware set or mugs that will withstand the test of time, a set to use on occasion, or you’re simply looking for something pretty to add to your table: Lenox dishware has the perfect set for you.
From classic to modern and everywhere in between, Lenox’s catalog of everyday dinnerware will add a sparkle to your home decor you didn’t know you needed until now.
