A complete guide to buying tableware

There are so many kinds of tableware on the market. Are you worried about how to choose high-quality tableware?

The tableware materials currently on the market can be roughly divided into: ceramic products, bone china products, strengthened glazed porcelain, strengthened porcelain, white porcelain, crystal, glass, etc.

Tableware Category

●Pottery products are mainly made of clay. They are brown or gray in color, thick and loose in texture, and easy to break, but they are rich in history and culture. Main supplies: Chinese and Japanese teapots or tea sets; suitable for people: those who like tea, or those who pay attention to tasteful life; market price: a wide range.

● According to the bone china standards set by the UK, bone china products must contain at least 30% tricalcium phosphate from animal bones, and the finished product must be translucent to be called bone china.

The texture of bone china is high-end. Compared with ordinary traditional porcelain, bone china has better light transmittance and can present an elegant, bright and clean texture like jade. In addition, bone china has the characteristics of high plasticity, smooth glaze color, bright and attractive painting, hard and durable texture. Main supplies: Complete sets of bone china tableware, bone china mugs; Suitable for the crowd: Complete sets of bone china tableware are most suitable for family and friends reunions, for family drinks, and can also be used as gifts for relatives and friends on weddings and housewarmings; Market price: Complete sets of bone china tableware are High-end tableware generally has a higher price.

●Mixed with reinforced glazed porcelain kaolin and silica oxide, it has been strengthened by high temperatures above 1250 degrees. It is not easy to break, has a hard texture and is light and thin. It has the dual characteristics of strengthened glass and strengthened porcelain. Main supplies: coffee to cup; suitable crowd: more suitable for young people; market price: market price is generally relatively high.

●Reinforced porcelain contains magnesium and has the characteristics of high strength, acid and alkali resistance, no lead poisoning, and not easy to be damaged. Main supplies: general tableware; suitable for the crowd: ideal supplies for various families. Market price: relatively moderate.

●White porcelain, which is also fired at high temperatures, is the most common type of porcelain and is relatively easy to break. Main supplies: general household tableware, such as mugs, etc.; suitable for: ordinary families. Market price: lower.

●Crystal products Crystal is a silicon oxide composite, which contains lead oxide, potassium carbonate, potassium nitrate, arsenic, etc. Each manufacturer produces or has different formulas.

Crystal products are relatively easy to break. Main supplies: high-end decorative artworks, wine vessels, fruit plates, etc.; suitable for people: those who pursue a higher living standard; market price: usually relatively high.

●Glass products Glass products are also made of silicon oxide. Although they are not as radiant as crystal products, they are still clear and natural. Glass products, like crystal, are easily broken. Main supplies: various cups or vases, etc.; suitable for the general family; market price: relatively cheap.

●Heat-resistant glass products Heat-resistant glass products are based on glass products with added heat-resistant materials. Main supplies: flower teapot, etc.; Suitable for: general families; market price: mid-range.

Purchasing Points

●Crystal (Glass) Crystal and glass are very similar, how to tell them apart?

The first is visual identification. First check whether there is a mark. Usually crystal products will be marked with 24% Pbo, which is lead oxide. Then, look under strong light to see if there is any colorful light reflected. Crystal is colorless, transparent and has a high refractive index. This is normal. Glass products don’t have it.

The second is tactile discrimination. If it cannot be confirmed visually, you can pick up the product and weigh it. Because crystal contains lead oxide, its weight is heavier than glass. If it is a cup, you can use your fingernails to clamp the rim of the cup and pull it out. If you hear a crisp clang, The echo can prove that it is a crystal product.

●The texture of ceramics is not as delicate as other porcelains, but this also makes ceramics loved by many design craftsmen, who use them to express a leisurely style of work or traditional cultural charm.

So the key points of selection are: whether the vessel is out of shape, and whether the painting process is fine.

●White porcelain is actually porcelain without color decoration.

Selection of strengthened porcelain: mainly depends on whether the vessel is deformed; selection of bone china: first weigh, look, listen, listen and do four things. The first step is to weigh it in your hands to see if its weight is moderate; the second step is to look at its surface, whether it is glazed like a mirror and has high gloss, whether the color is soft and jade-like, and whether the color of the picture is bright. The third listening means if you tap it lightly with a hard object, listen to whether there is a crisp sound like gold and stone; the fourth listening is to lift the porcelain to the light source to see its translucency. Good bone china has a high translucency.

It should be reminded that since ceramics contain lead, low-quality tableware will cause harm to the human body after long-term use, so do not buy cheaply on the roadside or at street stalls. In daily use, there are some things that must be paid attention to:

Before using newly purchased tableware, you can soak it in vinegar to dissolve most of the lead; during use, do not use colored ceramics Use tableware to hold acidic foods to avoid chemical reactions; avoid placing utensils with metal decorative lines and patterns in the microwave; when washing, add detergent to warm water, wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse with clean water. Then wipe it clean with a soft towel. Do not scrub with a rough brush or cleaning cloth to avoid damaging the glaze of the tableware and causing scratches.

Maintenance methods

●Crystal products, crystal decorations, will not be discolored due to long-term exposure to the sun or light, so you only need to use small chicken feathers every once in a while. Dust it gently to remove the dust, or wipe it with a soft cloth dipped in a little cleaning fluid.

For supplies crystals, first of all, avoid sudden changes in temperature difference to avoid cracking; crystals are hard but fragile, so try not to bump them hard; when cleaning, first add a little detergent to warm water to wash away the stains. Rinse with clean water and stand upside down on a dry cloth.

●It is best to wash porcelain products by hand or use a dishwasher to prevent the gold edges and colors from fading. If it is difficult to clean, just add a little vinegar and then clean it. Rub a little vinegar on the gold edge to make it as bright as new. If the product itself does not have a label saying it is for microwave use, do not place it in the oven; tableware with metal patterns, such as gold or silver edges, cannot be placed in the microwave oven.

Tips

1. For tableware that you are worried about, you can soak it in vinegar for a few hours. If you find that the color has changed significantly, you should discard it;

2. Pay special attention to those tableware with patterns that can be wiped off by hand. This kind of tableware has a very high amount of lead and cadmium dissolved;

3. When purchasing, you should pay attention to whether the color of the pattern is bright. If it is not bright, it may It's because the temperature when baking the flowers did not meet the requirements. The amount of lead and cadmium dissolved out of this type of tableware is often higher;

4. For utensils used to hold acidic foods, products with fewer surface decoration patterns should be used as much as possible;

5. When purchasing porcelain ware for microwave ovens, you should avoid products with metal decoration, such as products with gold or silver rims or inlaid patterns with gold paper or metal wires;

6. Products that can be washed in a dishwasher For products, it is advisable to choose products with thicker edges and reinforced edges such as arcs, because such products are not easily damaged during the washing process.