Although porcelain is actually stronger than stoneware and can be crafted into thinner pieces, stoneware tends to make a more durable choice for dinnerware. Everyday pieces from almost any era are most likely to be stoneware, while fine dining items may be porcelain.
Advantages of Porcelain
Porcelain is fired at a higher temperature than stoneware. This leads to a harder and more durable composition that's much less likely to break.
First of all, the pieces are slightly heavier than porcelain and it does not allow for very thin or translucent shapes. This is because stoneware is more fragile in fine shapes. In addition to this, the high temperature firing costs make the price considerably higher, in some cases approaching that of porcelain.
We recommend getting porcelain, bone china, stoneware, or Vitrelle glass for everyday use because such pieces are affordable, easy to care for, and sturdy. We recommend starting with one set of dinnerware that's casual enough for morning cereal but still elegant enough for a dinner party.
Stoneware is more rustic, it has an earthy texture and stone-like quality with a more unrefined finish. Stoneware is typically a bit heavier than porcelain. Our stoneware has tiny specks of iron in it that will bleed through the glasses and leave tiny little 'freckles' on the surface of the glaze.
Bone china is lightweight and thin, but it is considered the most durable ceramic dinnerware. It is also the most expensive material.
Most stoneware plates are microwave safe. Porcelain plates are made from a more refined clay (feldspar, quartz and kaolin) and fired at much higher temperatures than earthenware or stoneware, approximately between 1200°C / 1450°C, resulting in a hard, white, non-porous pottery.
Melamine dinnerware is the ideal solution. These dishes look and feel almost identical to traditional dishware, but they're light, shatter-resistant, and usually dishwasher-safe.
Stoneware is one of the most durable types of ceramic. Whether it will chip easily is very dependant on the clay and glaze used during manufacture. The clay and glaze should expand and contract during firing at a similar rate. If not, the glaze can be under contraction and more likely to chip.
The Benefits of Using Stoneware
Heats evenly across the surface and retains heat well. Creates crispy crusts, moist interiors, and perfectly browned finishes. Provides a toxin-free cooking option (so it's free of lead and chemical coatings).
Over time, flatware may leave silver or grey deposit “scratches” on stoneware; repeated use of a mild abrasive cleaner (as needed) may help minimize their appearance.
Scratching is a normal part of the use of stoneware and porcelain as well as other dinnerware surfaces. As part of normal use of silverware on the plate surface, you may see scratches or marks on the surface. This is not a defect in the product.
Stoneware pottery is strong, hard and nonporous. It's durable, elegant and versatile; capable of being anything from a customized trophy to a baking dish. In our case, it can also stand up to the heat from a microwave, dishwasher or even an oven under the right conditions.
Yes, stoneware is oven safe. Additionally, it's microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe. However, you'll want to confirm this information with the manufacturer before use, as these features can be affected by certain glazes or paints. Avoid extreme temperature changes when using stoneware.
Although Stoneware is dishwasher safe, hand washing with warm soapy water and a nylon scrub brush is recommended to preserve the cookware's original appearance. Citrus juices and citrus-based cleaners (including some dishwasher detergents) should not be used, as they can dull the exterior gloss.
Corelle dishes are made of Vitrelle, a glass laminate of three thermally-bonded glass layers.
If you are going for something more durable and classy for your dinnerware, the choice should be between stoneware and porcelain. Choosing between Stoneware and Porcelain is often a matter of look and price. If you want the maximum durability and if you want to avoid chipping, the porcelain is your go to.
A porcelain surface is hard and resistant to chipping or cracking. Noritake reports that porcelain and bone china are the most durable materials for dinnerware, and conducted tests to compare its porcelain products with everyday china to prove this claim. The same tests reveal that porcelain is also dishwasher-safe.
Stoneware should never be left in the microwave to heat food for too long, as it will become too hot and can even crack or break. Additionally, stoneware should not be used in the microwave if cracked or chipped. Doing so can cause the stoneware to become too hot and lead to injury or damage.
One of the safest options is glass, particularly soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, and glass ceramic. While it may contain lead, it does not easily or noticeably leach out.
Texture is the easiest way to distinguish between pottery types. Stoneware will have a gritty, sandy texture. Earthenware will feel chalky and the bottom of the piece will be glazed and appear shiny. Porcelain will be smooth and white.
Stoneware is more durable than ceramic cookware. Usually, stoneware is enhanced with extra glass material; it's non-porous, waterproof, and doesn't chip. In contrast, ceramic cookware is porous and chips easily, making it less durable than stoneware.
While bone china feels very delicate, stoneware has a sturdier quality. Both are nonporous, but unlike stoneware, bone china is translucent. Stoneware is opaque. Bone china and most Portuguese dinnerware are microwave and dishwasher safe.