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Wondered what everyone else uses for plates and dishes.

I am using the melamine ones at the minute but hate them. I would like to use the same ones I use at home. Do any of you use the china plates etc and how do you prevent them from breaking whilst traveling?

Hi

We use melamine plates and bowls, but like you don't like them much. I think we'd break too many china ones.

We do use proper china mugs for our tea though, melamine just isn't right..........

Cheers

Paul

We used melamine for years, everytime we ate of them we moaned, for some strane reason when hot food was placed on them they bowed slightly and would spin when eating.  This season we packed china (not real china LOL 20p plates from Ikea) stacked as normal in the cupboard.

On first trip we stacked them bewteen the melamine which we still used for cold food, sandwiches etc but have since forgotten and have had no breakages!

We have always used china mugs, and have 2 glass beer glasses and two proper wine glasses with us..

Ikea do a great budget range and you won't worry about them breaking!

We caravan in style mow! 

Wendy

China and glass everytime!  I have one of those plastic trays to hold the plates, glasses and mugs and just put bubble wrap between them to travel.  No breakages to date!  Asda and Matalan do good budget ranges too.

Jazzycats.

Lol Thanks guys.I don't mean real china either just didn't know how else to describe them lol.

 I have always used china mugs hated the taste from the melamine ones and also have  glasses. I don't mind the melamine dishes but with the plates the knives scrape them terrible if your cutting something. I have decided to just take the bigger china plates so at least any hot meals can be served on a decent plate.

Interesting that although we hate the melamine we still use them

China, definitely!  We've had the same set of plates over 16 years!  Unbelieveable but they've lasted longer than they do at home.  We also have glass bowls, china bowls, and glass wineglasses and tumblers.  We leave them in the plate and mug racks whilst travelling, and in the cupboard with the glasses we have some of that non-slip matting, so they don't move around. Our caravan does have shock-absorbers, which definitely helps stop things shaking about.  We've never had melamine - I just hate the feel of it when you're cutting food up - it's one of those things which 'makes me cringe'. 

We also have nice Egyptian cotton sheets, pillow cases, and duvet cover - and lovely down four seasons quilt.  Better than being at home, really!

Last year in France we met a couple from Wales who used 'real' china - teacups and saucers - which was really lovely.

We use the very thin white pyrex, which is almost like china & glass tumblers, but seeing as we have to pack them under the bunk everytime & OH moaning about the weight, was thinking of changing to Melamine against my better judgement ,I do keep a couple  for sandwiches in the picnic bag but don't like them for main meals

But after reading this  I will have to stick my guns, me-thinks

I use melamine, don't really mind it apart from tea staining the cups. I assume you can't put melamine plates in the microwave?

Anne

Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 30/4/2009

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I use melamine, don't really mind it apart from tea staining the cups. I assume you can't put melamine plates in the microwave?

Anne

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Anne, one of the reasons we prefer china plates, we can reheat food in microwave if we don't time dinner spot on eg calling kids for dinner and taking ages for them to come back!!!

You are right, you shouldn't put melamine in microwave..

Wendy

I've just had this desision to make.I hate melamine and wanted white china in our new van.Gazbag put his foot down and said no.I wanted a 6 person setting for when we have visitors.The weight was unbelivable.The other problem with melamine is,I think the plates are small.I had a good look round and got these

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?type=4&campid=5336267448&toolid=10001&customid=&mpre=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D330322335178QQssPageNameZMERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=330321982377&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%26itu%3DUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

They make the sets up how you want them.The plates are nice and big too.As for them sliding around,Lidl do a non slip mat on a roll for 79p.It makes 4 mats.

I would also love real glasses but we break that many at home,I wouldn't dare.Asda have got some loverly perspex ones in.They are nice an thin feel like real glass.

Don't like melamine for hot food and drinks.

We started using "proper" cups plates and glasses but have found that a number of glasses have broken in transit even when held in the supplied storage clips in the van locker.

Still have a good supply of spares but have been looking around for quality non breakable replacements. At the last NEC show saw some very good wine, beer and champers "glasses" but no brandy glasses and there are what we are likely to run out of first. Anyone come across any? I do like my XO after dinner in a brandy glass and don't see why it should be different when away in the van