hi all, just wondering whether you use melamine or China dinnerware. If melamin, are there any particular brands that are not recommended?
sarg said
06:20 AM Mar 28, 2015
I use melamine and got them from Big W. They are a square shape, better for fitting in the cupboard. Nice pattern too.
Packs of 4 per plate for $6 per pack.
brickies said
07:45 AM Mar 28, 2015
We have been using Corelle for 8 years still looks new and feel like China to use but very light and strong , Hasn't got the plastic feel like Melamine , Available at Big W and other stores . And don't have to buy a set just buy what you want.
villatranquilla said
03:21 PM Mar 28, 2015
I have had melamine for a few years with one corelle plate (mainly to use in the microwave) and think I'll replace the melamine as they have become scratched and a bit grotty. So next time I'd go for corelle - always go for a square shape if possible
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Saturday 28th of March 2015 03:21:46 PM
Cupie said
11:49 PM Apr 6, 2015
brickies wrote:
We have been using Corelle for 8 years still looks new and feel like China to use but very light and strong , Hasn't got the plastic feel like Melamine , Available at Big W and other stores . And don't have to buy a set just buy what you want.
Another vote for Corelle.
Have been using ours for 15 years. No breakages. Good to eat off & lightweight.
We store ours in small plastic covered wire frames, like dish drying racks. They stand upright inside overhead cupboards.
My Daughter has a set for her everyday use at home.
The attached photo shows our original set of china plates that we dumped after the first trip. I included it just to show the racks.
I started with melamine but they soon start to show signs of wear...scratches from knives cutting food and also not recommended for microwaves. Melamine mugs warped on the bottom from boiling water constantly hitting it when making cuppas. I now use corelle and find it so much better.... I stack mine in an overhead cupboard with that non stick matting between each ( then using the matting as a place mat when eating )
Joe50 said
12:00 AM Apr 8, 2015
I've been using Melamine plates and bowls for almost two years and they're still in reasonable condition (probably because I'm solo and have four large plates so the wear gets spread around). One double-edged sword is that they get hot when used in the microwave which is fine if you're heating up some food, but get ouchy-ouchy when you pick them up! Doing some hours every week at one of the local op shops at the behest of Centrelink, I've seen a few Corelle items pass through and I like the look and feel of them so thinking seriously of swapping over before I hit the road full time. Love JackieP's idea of non-slip matting to separate when stacking and for place mats - duh, why didn't I think of that? - which conforms with another forum member's (rockylizard?) mantra of everything having a dual purpose.
Joe
PeterD said
04:40 PM Apr 8, 2015
JackieP wrote:
. I stack mine in an overhead cupboard with that non stick matting between each (then using the matting as a place mat when eating)
We have had our Corelle for about 8 years. The cook started with that matting but I quickly got rid of it. (I refused to assist with the washing up if it remained.) The Corelle has not shown any signs of marking or wear in over 150,00 km of travelling. Using separators is just too much trouble.
Cupie said
05:22 PM Apr 8, 2015
I thought that I'd update my gallery of van pics, so I took these showing the Corelle crockery, and I added in the knife rack etc.
We have ample room in the overhead cupboards so this arrangement works for us. Items (sets of 4 of each) are taken from the racks when needed to be laid on the adjacent table & returned straight after wash up. No packing needed before getting on the road.
Corell had my vote. only issue is that the Corell mugs are ceramic.
Cupie said
07:50 PM May 2, 2015
Dunmowin wrote:
Corell had my vote. only issue is that the Corell mugs are ceramic.
Agree .. I exchanged them for a couple of porcelain ones from David Jones. Threw the Corelle ones in the bin!
hako said
08:29 PM May 2, 2015
Look at all the wasted space with plates and bowls in the pictures above! (don't take it personally please). In our 12ft Avan plates/bowls must fit into each other and be packed horizontal. No spares carried.
By the way, noted the plastic ring on the kitchen paper roll in last pic - great idea!!
Regards
Cupie said
12:21 AM May 3, 2015
hako wrote:
Look at all the wasted space with plates and bowls in the pictures above! (don't take it personally please). In our 12ft Avan plates/bowls must fit into each other and be packed horizontal. No spares carried. By the way, noted the plastic ring on the kitchen paper roll in last pic - great idea!! Regards
Space is not a problem in our poor old 21'6" Jayco. So convenience rules.
The only issue is perhaps the temptation of trying to fill up all the space with 'stuff'.
We have restricted ourselves to settings for four with most cutlery & crockery.
Can't help myself with knives though ... most of those shown are cheapie rejects from our home kitchen which have been replaced by Zwilling J A Henckels knives that I get via Norfolk Is. I've got a thing about knives ... All razor sharp too & a couple of butchers/boning knives put away in the kitchen drawers with the stones & steel too. Not particularly practical I know, but just a personal indulgence.
(The 'ring' is a piece of 90mm storm water pipe. I use another piece over the toilet roll in the ensuite. Comes from experiences of whole rolls unwinding onto the floor after a day's driving.)
hako said
08:13 PM May 3, 2015
Cupie - re the knives on the magnetic holder in last pic - do you remove them and put in drawer when travelling and if so how do you stop them from damaging/blunting each other.
Regards
ballast2 said
10:14 PM May 3, 2015
G'day Cupie. where did you get the roll holders next to the knives?
Cheers and thanks
Cupie said
07:53 AM May 4, 2015
I don't move the knives. They just sit there. But I don't do gravel. Got the rack for less than $10 at a temporary stall at a local shopping center.
Cupie said
08:02 AM May 4, 2015
ballast2 wrote:
G'day Cupie. where did you get the roll holders next to the knives? Cheers and thanks
That's a hard one. Didn't keep the receipt, which is unusual for me.
I had been on the look out for a replacement for its predecessor for some time.
I think that it may have been Howards Storage.
A good feature is the the top tube containing the cling wrap just lifts off to make it great for using straight out of the roll. I modified it by inserting a couple of dowels to stop it bouncing out.
ballast2 said
09:58 AM May 4, 2015
G'day Cupie. thanks will go looking
Cheers
hokianga said
02:03 PM May 7, 2015
Cupie, what a great set up you have there.
Cupie said
04:52 PM May 8, 2015
hokianga wrote:
Cupie, what a great set up you have there.
Thanks for the feedback.
It's possibly the result of an idle person & overly active mind.
I am always on the look out for ideas to improve things related to the van.
I have done many mods to the 1999 Jayco over the years, many of which now seem standard on the current series of vans, or at least available as after market add ons, but strangely several of the best (& low cost) are not.
chaslib said
07:57 PM May 11, 2015
I use Corelle square set and use cheap paper plates and bowls to separate ... Does not take up any extra space using the paper plates ... I always have a supply to save washing up during short stays Or when I am just too lazy to,bother! They all just stack on top of each other in a deep,drawer.. We do not,have anything of,any weight in top cupboards as a safety thing ... light plastic and fabric only in them ... Hubby's Rule #35!!! As someone else mentioned, the non slip matting also makes great placemats!
the rocket said
04:09 PM Feb 6, 2017
Hi sis, we used melamine for a year but much prefer corelle. A bit heavier but much nicer
hi all, just wondering whether you use melamine or China dinnerware. If melamin, are there any particular brands that are not recommended?
Packs of 4 per plate for $6 per pack.
I have had melamine for a few years with one corelle plate (mainly to use in the microwave) and think I'll replace the melamine as they have become scratched and a bit grotty. So next time I'd go for corelle - always go for a square shape if possible
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Saturday 28th of March 2015 03:21:46 PM
Another vote for Corelle.
Have been using ours for 15 years. No breakages. Good to eat off & lightweight.
We store ours in small plastic covered wire frames, like dish drying racks. They stand upright inside overhead cupboards.
My Daughter has a set for her everyday use at home.
The attached photo shows our original set of china plates that we dumped after the first trip. I included it just to show the racks.
Joe
We have had our Corelle for about 8 years. The cook started with that matting but I quickly got rid of it. (I refused to assist with the washing up if it remained.) The Corelle has not shown any signs of marking or wear in over 150,00 km of travelling. Using separators is just too much trouble.
I thought that I'd update my gallery of van pics, so I took these showing the Corelle crockery, and I added in the knife rack etc.
We have ample room in the overhead cupboards so this arrangement works for us. Items (sets of 4 of each) are taken from the racks when needed to be laid
on the adjacent table & returned straight after wash up. No packing needed before getting on the road.
Corell had my vote. only issue is that the Corell mugs are ceramic.
Agree .. I exchanged them for a couple of porcelain ones from David Jones. Threw the Corelle ones in the bin!
By the way, noted the plastic ring on the kitchen paper roll in last pic - great idea!!
Regards
Space is not a problem in our poor old 21'6" Jayco. So convenience rules.
The only issue is perhaps the temptation of trying to fill up all the space with 'stuff'.
We have restricted ourselves to settings for four with most cutlery & crockery.
Can't help myself with knives though ... most of those shown are cheapie rejects from our home kitchen which have been replaced by Zwilling J A Henckels knives that I get via Norfolk Is. I've got a thing about knives ... All razor sharp too & a couple of butchers/boning knives put away in the kitchen drawers with the stones & steel too. Not particularly practical I know, but just a personal indulgence.
(The 'ring' is a piece of 90mm storm water pipe. I use another piece over the toilet roll in the ensuite. Comes from experiences of whole rolls unwinding onto the floor after a day's driving.)
Regards
Cheers and thanks
I don't move the knives. They just sit there. But I don't do gravel. Got the rack for less than $10 at a temporary stall at a local shopping center.
That's a hard one. Didn't keep the receipt, which is unusual for me.
I had been on the look out for a replacement for its predecessor for some time.
I think that it may have been Howards Storage.
A good feature is the the top tube containing the cling wrap just lifts off to make it great for using straight out of the roll. I modified it by inserting a couple of dowels to stop it bouncing out.
G'day Cupie. thanks will go looking
Cheers
Thanks for the feedback.
It's possibly the result of an idle person & overly active mind.
I am always on the look out for ideas to improve things related to the van.
I have done many mods to the 1999 Jayco over the years, many of which now seem standard on the current series of vans, or at least available as after market add ons, but strangely several of the best (& low cost) are not.
I use Corelle square set and use cheap paper plates and bowls to separate ... Does not take up any extra space using the paper plates ... I always have a supply to save washing up during short stays Or when I am just too lazy to,bother! They all just stack on top of each other in a deep,drawer.. We do not,have anything of,any weight in top cupboards as a safety thing ... light plastic and fabric only in them ... Hubby's Rule #35!!! As someone else mentioned, the non slip matting also makes great placemats!
Hi sis, we used melamine for a year but much prefer corelle. A bit heavier but much nicer