Buying new plates can be a daunting experience. There are so many variables that can influence your decision: size, color, shape, feel, and weight, just to name a few. There are also many different names for plates. Whether you choose to call it a salad plate or an appetizer plate, or a dinner plate vs. an entrée plate, they all pretty much mean the same thing. Since we’re going to be talking about the size of plates, it is important to know that since they are usually round, the size measurement is going to be the diameter of the plate. In this post, we’ll take a look at the differences between the sizes of the following:
- Appetizer Plates
- Dinner Plates
- Serving Platters
- What to Look For When Purchasing Plateware
Dinner Plates
Dinner plates are most commonly 10 inches in diameter. This size is ideal since dinners usually have more than one aspect to them. A 10-inch dinner plate can hold a protein, a grain, and a vegetable without feeling too overwhelming. If you choose to use smaller plates, say 7 inches or 8 inches, as a dinner plate, your plate will be overflowing with food, or you may even need more than one plate to feed yourself adequately. A larger plate, like 12 inches or even 13 inches, can lead to two things: larger portions than necessary or a plate that feels empty. When buying dinner plates, your best bet is to go for a 10-inch plate, as it is perfect for portion control and is large enough to fit all components of a traditional dinner.
Appetizer Plates
Every great meal starts with an appetizer. With a smaller portion size that leads up to dinner’s main event, appetizers are a perfect way to introduce guests to the meal. We recommend using a plate that is around 8 inches for an appetizer plate. An appetizer plate is also great for family-style meals, where sharing is encouraged. Anything smaller than 8 inches, and you start to creep into bread plate territory, and anything bigger could work as a dinner plate.
Serving Platters
Serving platters are a great way to round out your tablescape. Most serving platters are oval, which provides a nice contrast to dinner and appetizer plates’ roundness. Serving platters should be substantially larger than both your dinner and appetizer plates and should be at least 12 inches. Serving platters can also serve as a plate if your dish has different components, and you want to consolidate your experience. For example, if you’re making Hainanese Chicken Rice, you could place a mound of rice on a serving platter with the sliced chicken next to it. Lastly, put the broth in a small bowl on the serving platter so that everything is confined to one location. This will make your dining experience smoother and more enjoyable.
What to Look for in Plateware
Now that you have more information on what size a dinner plate should be, it’s essential to know about other characteristics that make plateware superior. First, your plateware should be fully vitrified, meaning that it eliminates pores from the surface, resulting in a much stronger and scratch-resistant plate. This is the gold standard of the hospitality industry. Your plateware should also have a fully glazed back, meaning that stacking is an entirely harmless task. You also want plateware that is dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe!
So whether it’s an American dinner plate or a European-crafted one, the size of your plate is instrumental to your dining experience. Shop Made In’s collection of plates, bowls, and serving platters here!
