Guide to Buying Dinnerware, Flatware and Drinkware

Whether you are feeding family, friends, business associates or some combination thereof, a properly and attractively set table sets the scene for what's to follow. Dinnerware, flatware and drinkware offer a variety of options for casual, formal and outdoor entertaining.

Key Decisions

• Decide what you need for your table. Are you looking to purchase dishes, silverware, and/or drinking glasses? Do you want an entire set or do you simply need to complete an existing set? • Determine your style preference for tableware. Where does it fall on a spectrum from casual to elegant? This will help you select from the wide range of patterns, materials and specialty items available. • Consider your threshold for care and handling. Do you need dishwasher-safe dishes? Are you willing to hand-wash your glassware? Must your dishes be microwave-safe? Check the manufacturer's information before buying tableware to be sure it will suit you.

Dinnerware

Dinnerware includes dinner plates, salad/dessert plates, soup bowls, salad bowls and bread plates. Sets of dinnerware with the same pattern and made of the same material also typically include serving pieces such as platters and tureens, as well as specialty items such as sugar bowls, creamers and gravy boats. Patterns for dinnerware range from traditional to funky to modern, with every possible option in between.

Manufacturers usually sell casual dinnerware in complete sets of four to eight place settings, and you can use the pieces for everyday meals and outdoor entertaining. Formal dinnerware is typically sold by the individual place setting and is often made from fine, delicate materials.

Casual dinnerware made from durable plastics such as melamine or polycarbonate is particularly suited to outdoor dining but is not oven safe. Also, all plastics are not microwave- and dishwasher-safe, so check the manufacturer's information before buying plastic dinnerware just because you want dinnerware that is easy to use and wash.

Wooden dinnerware — often made from bamboo — is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic dinnerware. However, the pieces are not safe to put in your microwave, oven or dishwasher.

Low-cost ceramics such as earthernware and stoneware represent a third option for casual dinnerware. Earthenware pieces are fired at low temperatures and must be glazed to become waterproof. This gives earthenware plates and bowls a pottery- like look. Stoneware pieces get fired at higher temperatures, which makes them impervious to water and resistant to chips. Certain brands of both types of ceramic dinnerware may not be safe to put in your microwave, oven or dishwasher, so check the manufacturer's information before buying. Porcelain is the most versatile material for dinnerware, being used for both casual and formal pieces. A ceramic fired at very high temperatures, porcelain is tough, strong and translucent. Even though you can see through a porcelain dinner plate when you hold it up to a light, you can't chip it or scratch it easily. You can also place most porcelain pieces in your microwave, oven and dishwasher. You do need to remove food from porcelain dinnerware pieces as soon as possible to prevent sticking, caking and staining, especially from highly acidic foods such as tomatoes. When using fine porcelain such as bone china, you should hand-wash the pieces.

Flatware

Flatware — or, more commonly, silverware — includes salad forks, dinner forks, table knives, soup spoons and teaspoons. Many manufacturers sell flatware in five-piece packs containing just those utensils. Other pieces of flatware you need for your kitchen and table include serving spoons, serving forks, ladles and tongs. Like dinnerware, style options for flatware range from traditional to modern, with something for everyone in between. When putting together your flatware set, keep an eye on patterns so you don't wind up with dozens mismatched pieces.

Stainless steel flatware does not rust, pit or stain. The pieces also stay shiny and sharp for years, and you can wash stainless steel flatware in your dishwasher.

Flatware made from sterling silver or gold requires a good deal of care, as it is more prone to becoming scratched or bent. The pieces also tarnish when exposed to air. You need to polish silver or gold flatware by hand and store it in a padded drawer to protect it from damage. Wooden flatware — again often made from bamboo — is eco-friendly and relatively inexpensive, but the pieces break down if you run them through your dishwasher.

When looking at flatware with handles made from ceramics, wood or plastic, think about how the utensils will feel in your hand as your use them in your kitchen or at your table. Ceramics and plastics can get slippery, while wood can provide a place for bacteria and viruses to grow. Wood can also make pieces unsafe for the dishwasher.

Drinkware

Drinkware includes the range of glasses, tumblers and mugs you use to serve everything from water to wine. Leaded and lead-free crystal pieces belong on your table for any formal dinner, while glass, ceramic and plastics drinkware can meet your everyday needs. Heavy plastic cups are a must for dining, working or relaxing outdoors.

Stemware. Literally glasses with stems — make the perfect vessels for wine, champagne, margaritas and martinis. The stem prevents your hand from contacting and heating the drink. Wine glasses with or without stems often come in different shapes to maximize drinkers' enjoyment of wine varieties such as chardonnay or cabernet. Tumblers are 8- to 12-oz. glasses perfect for mixed drinks over ice, water or juice. All-purpose drinking glasses of various shapes and sizes can be used for water, juice, soda and beer, although specialty beer mugs and glasses are available. Ceramic cups and saucers are intended for coffee and tea.

You can run most glass and plastic drinkware through your dishwasher, but you may want to use the delicate cycle to reduce the chance of breakage. Crystal drinkware and most stemware require hand-washing with mild detergent and a soft cloth.

Setting the Table

You can use casual dinnerware for any number of occasions, ranging from picnics and barbeques to dinners with friends and family at home. There are no hard and fast rules for setting a casual table, but it's always nice to pick a theme and carry it out through the menu and place setting. You may want different sets of dinnerware, flatware and drinkware depending on what regional cuisine you serve on a given night, the season or whether you're setting your table for a holiday, birthday or anniversary dinner.

If you serve meals by course, you need multiple bowls, plates, glasses and sets of flatware for each place setting because you remove the dinnerware and some pieces of flatware once every guest has finished with a course. Also, dessert is typically served along with coffee or tea. If you decant dessert wines, you need to provide clean wine glasses.