Crockery - China or Melamine?

[Silas]

Hi.

Although we are fairly seasoned ex-caravanners we have always used China plates and bowls in the past. Is melamine a better option?

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I've never heard of Corelle so I looked it up. Looks very good. Anyone else tried it?

Yes, I have a load of it (bought in the USA at less than half UK prices) and it bounces. Need not worry about the worktop as they are solid resin in the van.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Me too. Proper crockery. Wouldn't dream of drinking St. Emilion from anything but a proper wine glass.
Had to suffer Melamine along with Camp coffee, Walls Skinless Sausages, Vesta packet curries and temperamental Primus stoves when tenting back in the 60's.
Ugghh!

Quite agree about the glasses. Hate plastic ones (unless dishing out industrial strength pimms to other funsters) and the thinner the better. Same with mugs - has to be bone china, not dog bowl material. The valet sources it from Harrods, of course.........

 

[Yorick]

If you invite the Greek neighbours for a spot of drinking and plate smashing, you'll look a bit silly with melamine plates.

But on the othert hand, you'll save a few bob

 

[sueandjohn]

Me too. Proper crockery. Wouldn't dream of drinking St. Emilion from anything but a proper wine glass.
Had to suffer Melamine along with Camp coffee, Walls Skinless Sausages, Vesta packet curries and temperamental Primus stoves when tenting back in the 60's.
Ugghh!

Steady on there! Don’t dis Vesta chow mien

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[berni109]

We have used glass 'crockery' for the last 25 years and it still looks as good a new.

 

[gus-lopez]

Paper & throw away saves washing

 

[Xabia]

I secure our plates with this Fiamma device - https://www.grasshopperleisure.co.u...TvVRjL7jGMhntWUiMXsscJdcmm0zcZKMaAvZuEALw_wcB

 

[Spriddler]

- has to be bone china, not dog bowl material. The valet sources it from Harrods, of course.........

There's a coincidence!
After many years a cartoonist pal finally noticed my special arrangements at 'Strictly tents only' motorbike camps.

 

[two]

In spite of needing to watch the payload, we chose china and glass. We want to enjoy ourselves on holiday and drinks do not taste the same out of plastic.

One thing that I don’t think has been mentioned is the heat capacity of Melamine, compared to other materials: it’s next to nothing. What that means in practice is that you don’t need to warm Melamine plates up before using them. Of course, you don’t have to warm other types of plate up but, if you don’t, food will cool-off much quicker.

We store ours flat (not on end) with a layer of cloth between each item.

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[Deleted member 29692]

Yes they were probably English made come to think of it.

They are mugs after all

Whereas if they were welsh made they would fall to pieces the first time anyone from New Zealand passed within 50 yards

 

[jezport]

I've never heard of Corelle so I looked it up. Looks very good. Anyone else tried it?

We use the Ikea white toughened glass plates, they are very similar to corelle but are a fraction of the price.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

We use Corelle.

 

[AnnK]

Another vote for the Ikea plates & bowls

 

[Bailey58]

We're still using the Melaware set we bought to tour Norway in a trailer tent in 1976 although we use china mugs for drinkies. It's been through two caravans and two motorhomes since. If it ain't broke etc. etc.

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[two]

Melamine is light and durable but you are likely to find that the cups/mugs stain easily.

 

[olley]

Bought our melamine plates, saucers, cups and knives and forks of Townsend Thoresen when they closed their hire division at Felixstowe Dock around 1980, still use everything apart from the cups, they don't like boiling water from when you make tea and crack, apart from that super.
bought unbreakable wine glasses of the net a few years ago, they are ok but many washes later they have fine scratches on the inside, the wife prefers proper wine glasses, says it taste better.

 

[Jonno1103]

I've never heard of Corelle so I looked it up. Looks very good. Anyone else tried it?

Yep we are another with Corelle, large and small plates, bowls and mugs. All bought as a pack from the NEC stand.

 

[peterc10]

I've never heard of Corelle so I looked it up. Looks very good. Anyone else tried it?

We use Corelle for all of our plates and dishes. It is an American company. Our daughter and SIL use it in their house so we got used to it when we stayed with them over there. Much prefer it to melamine

 

[sallylillian]

Corelle, with small pieces of non-slip in between for travelling, and of course cut glass for wine in a foam holder for travelling.

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[Mr porky]

You could try bamboo plates light yet strong.
Sainsbury’s do them but these we got from John Lewis

 

[shawn&emma]

Sainsburys basic white china set and proper glasses for us. Tempting fate I know but only one broken glass in 8 years.

 

[Silas]

I think real glasses are essential.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think real glasses are essential.

Without them I can't read the label on the wine bottle.

 

[TheBig1]

we use a corelle set dating back to the 70s. last year we added some ikea plates which are just like corelle and pretty much unbreakable. We prevent rattling with non slip matting from the pound shop cut into squares

oh and real mugs and glasses

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[Pausim]

Another vote for bamboo. Very light and they don’t rattle.

 

[munkey_bwy]

Melamine here, too clumsy for anything else.

 

[Hellski]

Melamine for plates and bowls but for us, it has to be china mugs for coffee and tea

 

[scotzsue]

Using arcopal at the moment and some french stuff we bought in intermarche, can't remember the name. Bone china mugs and stemless glasses, great for wine and G&T and sooooooo difficult to knock over. We use plastic tumblers for the children, but they use the same plates as us except cereal bowls, then it is whatever light stuff i can find before we set off. Not seen the IKEA stuff, but will be looking out for it next visit, now there is an excuse.

 

[two]

I think the Corelle cups/mugs are made from a different material. Same pattern, to match the rest, but something more stain resistant.

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[Manic]

I've never heard of Corelle so I looked it up. Looks very good. Anyone else tried it?

Yes we’ve used it for about five years now, far better than melamine in our opinion.