Plastic tableware is an outdoor dining staple in most homes, and its popularity as everyday dinnerware is on the rise. Nowadays, plastic dishes come in a vast array of styles and colors, including dinnerware sets that mimic the look and feel of ceramic or stoneware dishes.
Most
With 15-plus years as a restaurant-grade
Best Plastic Dinnerware At-a-Glance
Here’s a quick look at our top plastic dinnerware picks, read on for more details on each.
Vera Cruz Melamine Plastic Dishes by Certified - Set for 4
Mauna Melamine Dinnerware by Gibson Home - Multicolor Set for 4
Unbreakable Plastic Dinnerware Set by Shopwithgreen - Set for 4
Melamine Plastic Dinnerware by Gufaith - Set for 4 in Blue
Laurie Gates by Gibson Mauna Melamine Dinnerware Set, Service for 4 (12pcs), Light blue
Top Picks in Melamine Dinnerware
Melamine plastic dishes lead the pack when it comes to design options and long-term durability in the dishwasher. They’re also the most scratch-resistant and break-resistant
Melamine Dinnerware by Gibson Home
Melamine tableware by Gibson Home is hard to beat. Gibson produces many plastic dinnerware styles and designs, all very economically priced. Gibson also offers very nice finishes ranging from rustic patinas to sleek modern looks.
- Ultra-durable melamine plastic dishes
- Heavyweight, stoneware-like feel
- Dishwasher-safe
- Choose from 10+ solid-color or multi-color sets
- Good value for the money
- Not recommended for microwave use
Gibsone melamine dinnerware also leads the pack in decorative sets with stripes, polka dots, and more. Whatever your style, Gibson Home likely has the look to match. Amazon carries a full selection of Gibson Home melamine tableware. Gibson dishes are also available in kitchen and department stores, but Amazon has the largest selection I’ve seen year-round.
User reviews of Gibson Studio melamine dishes are good overall. It’s made of quality melamine plastic which is dishwasher-safe and very break-resistant. However, it’s not recommended for microwave use. We cover some top microwave-safe dinnerware sets below if that’s what you’re looking for.
Melamine Tableware Sets by Gufaith
Gufaith is another brand that creates standout
- Comes in many decorative styles, colors and finishes
- Ultra-durable melamine plastic dishes
- Bowls are generously sized versus some melamine brands
- Great value for the price
- Not recommended for microwave use
You can find Gufaith’s full melamine dinnerware collection on Amazon. Buyers consistently give Gufaith collections top reviews, with great styling, feel, finish, and weight noted among the top comments.
Negative comments center around the plates not being microwave-safe, but that’s true of all melamine dishes. If you know that going in, you won’t be disappointed in Gufaith melamine dinnerware.
Certified International Melamine Dinnerware
Certified International makes both ceramic and durable melamine plastic tableware in many terrific styles. They offer one of the largest plastic dinnerware collections available, and you can always find a great assortment of melamine tableware sets in both solid colors and hand-painted-inspired designs. Many sets even offer coordinating serving platters, which is unusual in most melamine collections.
- Ultra-durable melamine plastic dishes
- Break-resistant and dishwasher-safe
- Gorgeous patterns with hand-painted appeal
- Heavyweight, stoneware-style look and feel
- Coordinating serving bowls and platters available (not common in many melamine lines)
- Not recommended for microwave use
Along with stunning looks, I’m always impressed with the quality feel and finish of Certified melamine products. The thick, ceramic-like pieces appear hand-painted, plus they offer a number of coordinating serving pieces in most patterns.
Melamine Dinnerware by Zak Designs
Zak Designs is another
- Stunning old-world style with a rustic patina
- Heavyweight, stoneware look and feel
- Break-resistant and dishwasher-safe
- Includes coordinating serving platters and bowls - not common in most melamine collections
- Not recommended for microwave use
Confetti’s unique color-speckled styling is a real eye-catcher and is one of Zak Designs best-selling lines. Confetti is also crafted of recycled plastic, so it’s a greener tableware choice, too. It’s no surprise that Confetti products have been featured on Rachael Ray and in many home and kitchen magazines and blogs over the years.
Top Picks for Microwave-Safe Plastic Dinnerware
Microwave-safe plastic dinnerware is generally made of polypropylene and polypropylene blends. These plastics don’t absorb heat in the microwave, unlike melamine. However, overheating the food on the dish can still damage the surface of some microwave-safe dishes. It’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s heat recommendation for plastic dishes you plan to use in the microwave.
ShopWithGreen Microwave-safe Plastic Dinnerware
ShopWithGreen makes a polypropylene plastic dinnerware line that combines style with great durability. These dishes are lighter in weight compared to most melamine dinnerware, but still very sturdy. They are also extremely break-resistant and safe for both dishwasher and microwave use.
- Sturdy, virtually unbreakable polypropylene plastic
- Dishwasher and microwave-safe plastic dishes
- Sharp, modern styling and colors
- Set includes coordinating mugs
- Great value price-wise
- Microwave reheat recommended limit of 120-degrees F
- Best for quick reheating, not longer cooking times
ShopWithGreen plastic dishes are sold in mixed and single-color sets, plus they offer a full collection of kid’s dishes, serving pieces, and more in their online shop.
Microwave-safe Plastic Tableware by US Acrylic
US Acrylic’s popular Newport dinnerware and drinkware sets are crafted in ultra-durable polypropylene plastic and come in several colors. Newport dishes are lighter-weight compared to melamine, but the full line is dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, and virtually unbreakable.
- Unbreakable plastic dishes in several colors
- Dishwasher-safe, ok for light microwave use
- Lightweight but sturdy, ideal for kids and seniors
- Great pack-alongs for camping and RV-ing
- Great value for the money -- set includes tumblers
- Made in the USA
- Not heavyweight ceramic-like plastic dishes
US Acrylic also has a new dinnerware line called Everest, which sports a modern, rimless style. Everest dishes and coordinating bowls are sold separately in assorted color sets.
- Modern rimless styling
- Coordinating bowls available (sold separately)
- Choose from several colors
- Ultra-durable, virtually unbreakable plastic dishes
- Dishwasher-safe, ok for light microwave use
- Great pack-alongs for camping and RV-ing
- Good value for the money
- Not heavyweight, ceramic-like plastic dishes
US Acrylic also offers a full selection of clear and colorful
NordicWare Microwave-Safe Plastic Dishes
Nordic Ware microwave-safe plastic dishes offer simple, everyday styling at a great price, making them a best-seller year over year.
- Designed for longer heating times in the microwave
- Sturdy 10-in plates great for meals and snacks
- Dishwasher safe and virtually unbreakable
- Great for outdoor dining, camping and RV-ing
- Good value price-wise
- Not a full tableware set
Made of the same high-heat, BPA-free plastic used in their extensive microwave cookware line, Nordic Ware microwave plates and bowls perform well long-term, plus they tend to withstand higher heat than other microwave-safe brands.
That’s a Wrap
That wraps up my Ultimate Guide To The Best
6 Responses
I am trying to order item #CR066-616
complete with only the spoon and fork.
I am having considerable difficulty finding it anywhere on your site.
If you will email the order to me, I’ll respond with my purchase/mailing information.
Hello, the plate and the utensils are sold separately and the utensils are only sold in the 3-pack. Here are the links to order:
Plate: https://simplysmartliving.com/shop/multi-plastic-dishes-dinner-plate/
Utensils: https://simplysmartliving.com/shop/multi-plastic-utensils-3-pc-set-fork-spoon-knife/
You can find very creative designs in plastic tableware, and the colors are also very appealing to the eyes, I would not advise to use them daily for food. But they can be used during a party or when you need to present food in a very artistic way.
Restaurant-quality plastics are 100% food safe and used in hospitals, care facilities, schools, restaurants, and homes worldwide every day.
Which dinnerware set material is best for health?
All quality plastic dinnerware is made from FDA-approved materials, but for those concerned about plastic due to the circulating online reports from various “experts,” glass and ceramic/stoneware is what health “gurus” find to be the best. Of the plastics, polypropylene is one that these “experts” and “gurus” seem to have the fewest complaints about. It really depends on what you choose to believe and balance that to your personal needs.