Care and cleaning

• How to choose the right tableware
• Tableware trends
• New additions to tableware
• Large platters for sharing
• Care and cleaning

•The majority of modern tableware is now dishwasher safe. New plates usually have glazing over the decoration, so the pattern will not fade.

• Older or hand-painted items won't have a protective glaze, so will fade over time even through hand washing. You can tell if an item is not glazed by feeling for a slightly raised pattern. If in doubt, wash by hand.
• Check manufacturers' instructions to see whether items are suitable for the microwave, oven or freezer. Any gilded pieces will not be safe in a microwave.

Expert essentials – what the pros can't live without

•'Definitely big oval platters. They're great for piling up food to look generous without being messy.' - Bill Granger, chef and restaurateur.
• 'A large pasta bowl that can be used for warming soups in the winter and creative salads in the summer – ideal for alfresco entertaining.' -Stuart Cullen, Villeroy & Boch
• 'A large, wooden, beautiful salad bowl – mine is my grandmother's, along with her beautiful salad spoon and fork.' - Thomasina Miers, Masterchef winner 2005
• 'My lacquered wooden sushi trays and my oriental ceramic plates and bowls I bought from an oriental store in north London.' - Ching-He Huang, author and presenter of Ching's Kitchen

Use our product finder to find the right tableware for you.

Visit housetohome's directory to locate tableware retailers in your local area.
 

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