Catering Supplies - Plates have long been used for serving food at special events. Even ancient civilizations displayed, served and ate their food from a variety of plate styles. Whether it was wood or some other type of ceramic, the plate was more than just functional - it had to do with the display. Plates were as much an art form from artisans, and many families prided themselves on displaying food on high quality, attractive plates. To this day, catering companies still rely on quality plats and china to show off their style at events.
With all the variations in culture around the world, there's no shortage on imaginative plate design. While we're used to seeing rounded, white dinner plates there are uncountable variations in color, shape, design, material and more. Here are some of the more common types of plates used around the world in catering and how well they hold their heat.
Paper Plates - You wouldn't normally expect to see paper plates at catering events but some clients will actually request it in the interest of saving money. While they do have their place at the dinner table and less formal events, they don't hold heat well at all. Paper simply does not conduct heat well enough to keep food warm but it is a convenient way to make sure there are enough dishes for everyone.
Plastic Plates - Plastic plates don't always look like plastic plates. The giveaway is usually in the weight of the plate. The manufacturing process and the customizable nature of plastics make it easy to create plastic plates that mimic more expensive dish designs. Because plastic can be easily colored, plastic plates can be found for virtually any event or theme. The downside is that plastic plates don't retain heat and getting plastic too hot can result in warping or melting of the material.
Stone Plates - Stone plates are far less common, often due to the expense. Unless properly finished they also pose a problem with sanitation which makes them scarce in the catering industry. Given the weight and how fragile stone is, they're far too easy to break and difficult to transport. On the upside, stone plates can hold heat fairly well so they can make for effective serving platters depending on your service.
Ceramic Plates - Ceramic plates are by far the most popular. Quality ceramic plates are sturdy, attractive, clean easily and can hold heat for long periods. Some dinner plates fashioned from ceramics can hold heat for as long as 30 minutes. Ceramic dishes that are prewarmed before serving food can help keep food hot through the entire meal.
Wood Plates - Wood plates are great options for themed catering events where a certain feel is desired, like old world, rustic or Asian themes. Wood can be cleaned easily but unless the finish is maintained they may stain with certain types of foods or colors/dyes. Wood plates also don't retain heat very well and can leave food cold after only a short period of time.
Laminate - There are various types of plates on the market that use resin or laminated tempered glass like Corelle dishes. While the multiple layers of laminate can make the plate lighter while remaining durable, any type of tempered glass is weakened by temperature fluctuations and they perform poorly in heat retention.
If you're in the market for new
catering supplies, whether you need a
cereal dispenseror the highest quality
coffee dispenser, you've come to the right place. Click through to CateringEquipment.com and discover how quality can help transform your catering business.