Plates

We have put together our range so that you can find the right catering plate for every dish and order it online. Here is an overview:

• Dinner plates: Dinner plates are the "all-rounders" on the table. The flat plates with diameters between 24 and 29 centimeters are available with or without a rim. They are suitable for serving main courses as well as for the sophisticated draping of starters and extravagant dessert creations. The oval plates or rectangular plates are particularly distinctive.
• Cake plates: This is the small version of the classic dinner plate. The plates are not only suitable for cakes, but also for breakfast or desserts. Accordingly, they are also called dessert plates or breakfast plates.
• Charger plates: With a diameter of over 30 centimeters, the charger plate protrudes beyond the dinner plate. Its task is to protect the tablecloth from leftovers and to provide a decorative covering.
• Saucers: With a smaller diameter than the breakfast plate, the saucer is designed for placing coffee cups or teacups on. It can also be used to serve small snacks or sweet pastries.
• Soup plates: The diameter of these round plates is smaller than that of dinner plates, but they are deeper and round in shape. When setting the table, deep plates are usually placed on top of the dinner or starter plates.
• Pasta plates: As the name suggests, these deep plates with a wide rim are designed for pasta dishes. Thanks to the steep edge of the plate, pasta can be eaten with a spoon or spaghetti can be turned up more easily. Of course, pasta plates can also be used to serve salads or soups in an attractive way.
• Pizza plates: They are designed for round pizzas and therefore have no rim and a round shape with a diameter of often over 30 centimeters. The edge of the pizza plate is usually slightly raised so that the pizza can be cut without the pieces slipping off the plate.
• Bread plates: The bread plate is used to place individual slices of bread on a finely laid table. Its diameter is smaller than that of the dessert plate. It is placed to the left of the row of cutlery.
• Burger plates: The burger plate is a newer version of the food plate. It is round or rectangular and offers enough space to fit a hamburger including fries or a salad garnish. Steak plates are also usually rectangular in shape, but have a higher rim to catch the meat juices.

Even though there are different types of plate, they can of course be used for different dishes. Appetizers can also be served on a pizza plate, just as the charger plate can be used for serving.

Buying plates: The most common materials for dinner plates

• Porcelain:
  Porcelain is the most commonly used material for making plates. As a durable yet fine ceramic, it is ideal for use as a dinner plate. Porcelain plates are made from feldspar, kaolin and quartz.
• Bone china:
  Bone china is a particularly elaborately produced type of ceramic porcelain. You can immediately recognize plates made of bone china porcelain by their characteristic creamy white color. The material is characterized by its high breaking strength and delicate design. Plates made from bone china are more expensive than conventional porcelain products..
• Stoneware:
  Stoneware plates are hard and compact earthenware products with an individual look. Scandinavian-style plates are often made of stoneware and have a simple color scheme in grey or other muted shades.
• Tempered glass:
  Tempered glass was once produced in medieval Venice from a mixture of sand and potash. The Venetians fired the glass at over 1400°C. With its beautiful color effects, it is reminiscent of crystals and impresses with its high brilliance. Plates made of tempered glass also weigh less than porcelain plates.
• Glass:
  Contrary to popular belief, glass tableware is break and impact resistant. Glass is produced by melting at around 600°C. The cooling process takes place so quickly that glass does not form a crystal structure and has a smooth surface. By pressing, blowing, rolling or drawing, the glass is given its final shape as a glass plate. Classic glass is transparent, but can be dyed in different colors from black to red to blue.
• Melamine:
  This synthetic resin has very good material properties as it can be cast and is highly resistant to breakage. Thanks to their low weight, melamine plates are ideal for outdoor catering. However, the material is only suitable for dishwasher and microwaveable at higher temperatures to a limited extent.
• Stainless steel:
  Alloyed stainless steel is highly corrosion-resistant, acid-resistant and very easy to clean. Stainless steel plates are therefore very hygienic.

Ideal for gratinating - ovenproof plates

Ovenproof or fireproof plates are made of ceramic, which is fired at high temperatures. The glaze must also be able to withstand the heat in the oven. If a plate is ovenproof, it can withstand up to 280°C without damage. These products are therefore ideal for preparing lasagne, gratins or casseroles individually in the oven, for example.

Good to know: What is a plate with a flag?

If a plate has a rim, this is called a flag or "plate flag". A synonym is the "plate rim". The rim surrounds the so-called "mirror", the inner surface of the plate. Special products such as pasta plates have a particularly wide rim. The pizza plate, on the other hand, only has a slightly raised rim, but no flag. Classic dinner plates usually have a rim. Modern interpretations of plates in Scandi design, on the other hand, often do not. In technical jargon, a distinction is also made between "narrow flag plates" and "flag plates".

Preheating plates - what temperature should I choose?

If you want to preheat your dishes, especially plates, or keep them warm, you should place them in the oven at approx. 50 to 60°C for a few minutes. The plates should not be any hotter than this, otherwise your guests could burn their fingers. In addition, plates that are too hot can cause perfectly prepared dishes to continue cooking after serving.

What should I look out for when buying plates?

When buying plates, you should make sure above all that the materials are food-safe. With LUSINI, you are on the safe side because all our plate products are tested in accordance with EU Regulation 1935/2004.

If you want your tableware to be as easy to clean as possible, modern plates should be dishwasher safe. When making your choice, check whether this property is specified in the product description. This is the only way to ensure that the plates retain their shape and color after the wash cycle. Plates should be microwave-safe, especially for quickly reheating food. Most of the plates in our range are suitable for use in the microwave. Some of these plates can also be used in the oven for gratinating at temperatures of up to 280°C.

Discover a large selection of beautiful plain or colorful plates for the catering industry at LUSINI, e.g. VEGA plates and PULSIVA plates. Simply buy your breakfast plates, soup plates or other tableware online.