What materials are made plates for food?

Today, in any store you can find dining plates - they are made from a variety of materials, each of which has both its advantages and disadvantages. Consider what metal dishes differ from ceramic, and what are the pros and cons of earthenware. And also talk about the features of porcelain, glass, plastic and other types of dishes.

The most popular materials for the manufacture of dishes include porcelain, earthenware, ceramics and glass. It is necessary to stay on each type separately.

Depending on the method of painting, there are several varieties of porcelain. The most expensive is considered to be a manufactory, which is decorated by hand - its price is so high that it is quite commensurate with the cost of a Rolls-Royce. Porcelain dishes can be decorated with decal - these are relief ornaments that are applied using engraving or perforation. Bone china is very much appreciated. However, porcelain is often not painted, as this material itself looks rather solemn.

Basically the plates are done in white, because this is the favorite shade of most designers these days. In addition, such dishes are universal - it can be combined with any tablecloth and any style of dining. A slight deviation from white color in the form of a fringing of golden or blue shade is allowed - The main thing is that your plates harmonize with other cutlery. For example, if the dishes are decorated with gold ornaments, it would be useful to place gold-plated spoons, forks or other objects on the table.

Porcelain has a number of undeniable advantages.

• Inertness upon contact with chemicals. Under the influence of food acids and alkalis, as well as detergents, the material does not lose its properties.
• Versatility. Porcelain dishes look important in any interiors, it is above fashion trends, so it can look stylish for many decades.

Of the minuses of porcelain plates, there is a susceptibility to the influence of elevated temperatures: it is not recommended to wash the plates with hot water, food should not be heated in them.

Faience has long been called a cheap analog of porcelain. Plates of this material usually have rounded or compacted edges, they are durable and very comfortable, therefore, they are optimal for holding large holiday feasts. It is easy to distinguish faience from porcelain — if you hit a porcelain plate with a wooden stick, a high melodious sound will be heard, and the faience responds deafly.

From a chemical point of view, faience is a mixture of spar, quartz and kaolin, moreover, the share of the latter accounts for about 85%, which gives the material a porous structure and determines the material advantages of the material:

• low price - Earthenware dishes are available to the overwhelming majority of Russian families;
• heat retention: cooked meals, laid out in faience plates, transfer their heat to them, and the dishes, in turn, maintains the required temperature of the dish.

At the same time, earthenware, like porcelain, does not tolerate too high temperatures.

The main advantage of ceramic tableware is that it has the ability to regulate the level of humidity and heat. Ceramic plates can keep the broth hot for a long time, and chilled okroshka will not heat up in them. In clay dishes it is allowed to heat food in the microwave, and you can also put them in the oven if necessary.

Ceramics have many advantages that customers around the world value:

• ecologically safe composition;
• heat cap;
• heating uniformity;
• ease of care.

It is important that ceramic plates are chemically inert: when interacting with acid-base solutions, they do not change their composition and do not emit dangerous substances, which means that they can be used without fear for serving an adult and children's table. Plates from a mixture of clay and mineral additives have the property of moisture exchange: due to the highly porous structure of the plate, they absorb and accumulate moisture, and then give it back to the products.

The main disadvantage of ceramic plates - the complexity of the care. The fact is that it is almost impossible to clean the grease from such surfaces. In addition, it absorbs all odors and does not tolerate temperature fluctuations - for example, if you pour hot soup into a cold plate, it will immediately crack. On the whole, ceramics is a rather fragile material: even with a slight physical impact, chips are formed on its surfaces.

Glassware can be transparent or colored, its edges must be even, with a slight impact, glass cutlery produces a delicate melodic sound. Most often glasses are made of glass, for the production of plates this material is also suitable, although glass ceramics is mainly used. The popularity of glass products due to the low thermal conductivity, so that the food remains warm longer than when using other types of dishes. Glass is easy to clean, and any cleaning agents, including abrasives, are allowed to clean it.

Yes, and with the choice of tablecloth will have to suffer - it must be combined not only with the dinner service, but also with the contents of the dish. For example, if you lay a pink tablecloth on the table, then the ham spread out on a plate will simply merge with it.

Stand alone plates that are made of crystal - this is the most expensive material after precious stones. Such devices are most often used for table setting and serving cold dishes - salads, fruits, sweets. If you expose the crystal to temperature effects, it will be covered with bloom and dim. At the same time, the material is much stronger than glass, it is distinguished by high strength and spectacular appearance.

In addition to the materials already described, the plates can also be made of Corian, metal and plastic. Such species are less in demand, but they are still in stock.

Sometimes for the production of plates use the achievements of modern chemistry, thanks to which the most unusual materials are born. An artificial stone, called Corian, stands apart among them. Due to its exceptional appearance and physico-operational properties, you can get the most beautiful, durable and easy to care plates.

Usually made of metal forks, spoons and knives. In the production of plates, aluminum, steel and stainless steel are used extremely rarely - rather, they are decorative devices or marching enameled variants that are not recommended to be put on the table as a daily option. If you don’t like walking too much, you can store food for a long time in existing iron tanks. The same applies to stainless steel products.

In the microwave to put such dishes should not be. But cast iron and copper plates have sunk into the distant past - now such products can be found only in private collections and museums.

Plastic is a cheap and practical material that is used to make reusable and disposable tableware, including plates. They are easy to wash, convenient to store, and they are cheaper than all other types of dishes.

However, for a long time, environmentalists have been declaring that plastic is environmentally unsafe: it slowly decomposes, releasing hazardous substances into the soil, water and air. This led to the fact that in many countries it was forbidden to use this material for the production of dishes, in particular, This year a law was passed banning the production and distribution of plastic utensils in the European Union - it will come into force in 2021.

How to choose high-quality tableware, you can see in the video below.