Melamine Dinnerware - Not Just For Picnic Sets

What is Melamine Dinnerware?

Melamine, which was virtually unknown in the early 1950s has since then gained immense popularity.

Melamine is a durable, organic-based material that’s used to make a variety of food-safe products. From plates and cups to bowls and cooking utensils, this material is durable, heat-resistant, and practically impossible to break which makes it a popular option for cooking and serving food.

There are many perks to using melamine, including that it’s extremely easy to clean and has antibacterial properties. It’s the best quality food-safe plastic-substitute material on the market today, which makes it a favourite among professional chefs and home cooks alike.

You’ll find melamine that looks similar to ceramic or porcelain, but it’s much easier to handle and won’t shatter when dropped.

Our CouCou Design melamine dinnerware can handle heavy use and won’t show scratch marks or chips. It is partially used as everyday use dishware or for picnics. Lately, we will see a rise in melamine dinnerware with refined aesthetics that compete with its more illustrious alternatives; china and porcelain.

What are the top features of melamine dinnerware?

Durability – The first and foremost advantage of buying melamine dishware is the outstanding durability thanks to the melamine resins. The structure of melamine offers a product that can withstand daily wear and tear.

Premium Aesthetics – If you’re looking for dinnerware, you may be inclined to select porcelain and ceramic because of their high-end premium feel. However, with the latest melamine dinnerware, you will be hard-pressed to distinguish the melamine dinner sets from their counterparts.

Cost-Effective – Looking for budget melamine plates or dishware? Your quest for finding the most cost-effective dishware ends with melamine products that offer the greatest value for money. They are also durable, and hence last longer, thereby saving more cost.

Easy to Manage – Melamine dishware is extremely easy to manage, especially for hotel staff. Hotel staff must haul many plates and dishes; hence melamine plates can make the difference with their lightweight design, they are normally 3 times lighter than porcelain. Moreover, the melamine plates are also easier to clean and require less time to service and increase a restaurant’s productivity.

Diversity – The diversity offered by melamine products is second to none. With unique designs, an extended number of coloured products, and different shapes, all these features make melamine dishware a suitable option for businesses and households alike to consider.

Multiple purpose - Melamine tableware suitable for both hot and cold dishes. Melamine is an insulator, not a conductor. This means that while it may maintain temperatures longer than other types of plastic, it takes a long time for the temperature of the material to change. So, melamine stays cool to the touch when serving hot foods because the food does not produce enough heat for a long enough period of time to change the temperature of the material itself.

What is the difference between melamine and plastic dinnerware?

A common concern with plastic dinnerware is the chemicals used to create hard, durable plastic. These chemicals are extensively researched and tested to assure they are fit and safe for dining. BPA is one of the most common chemicals used in plastic construction. Melamine Dinnerware is completely BPA free.

What is BPA? A concern many have when it comes to melamine products is the amount of BPA they may contain. BPA, which is an acronym for Bisphenol A, is a chemical that manufacturers started using to construct certain plastics and resins starting in the 1950s.

Since 1990, the FDA has since concluded that low levels are not harmful to humans.

However, many products containing BPA, such as baby bottles, have been banned in the United States. Some types of plastic tableware are Polycarbonate, Acrylic etc. They all have different usage, however, compared to melamine dinnerware, which is totally BPA free and not harmful at all.

When taking the whole picture (safety, durability, diversity and cost efficiency), different plasticware have different application situations, melamine seems to cover all the aspects when considering the tableware.

Is melamine dinnerware safe to use?

Melamine, like many other polymers, is an inert plastic-like material whose properties make it ideal for various purposes. The range and diversity of products and the colours and designs offer many options for any user. Since its gaining in popularity, care must be taken while using melamine tableware.

Melamine dinnerware highly depends on the quality of resources, there are three level materials for use in melamine products:

A1 material (not for tableware) - Contains 30% melamine resin, and 70% ingredients are additives, starch, etc.

Features: Although it has melamine ingredients, it still has plastic characteristics. It is highly toxic, intolerant of high temperature, intolerant of dirt, intolerant of corrosion, rough in appearance, easy to deform, discolour, and poor gloss.

A3 material (not for tableware) - Contains 70% melamine resin, and another 30% ingredients are additives, starch, etc.

Features: The appearance is almost the same as the original product (A5 material), but once used, the product is not resistant to dirt, easy to change color, fade, deform under high temperature, and not resistant to corrosion.

A5 material can be used for melamine tableware - Contains 100% melamine resin.

Features: non-toxic and odourless, temperature resistance from -30 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius, bump resistance, corrosion resistance, not only beautiful appearance, lightweight heat preservation, and safe use.

Our Coucou range uses A5 materials for all of the product range.

Is melamine dinnerware dishwasher safe and microwave safe?

Melamine dinnerware can be used in the dishwasher, not recommended for microwave and not for use in and oven.

Melamine dinnerware cannot heat directly with fire.

Is Melamine Tolerant to Hot and Cold Uses?

Melamine is an insulator, not a conductor. This means that while it may maintain temperatures longer than other types of plastic, it takes a long time for the temperature of the material to change. So, melamine stays cool to the touch when serving hot foods because the food does not produce enough heat for a long enough period of time to change the temperature of the material itself. This protects restaurant servers and diners from burn hazards associated with hot plates and other servingware. Thanks to its heat-resistant properties, melamine is also great for kitchen tools that are used when handling hot soups and boiling water.

Because melamine is such a great insulator, it's also ideal for cold food and buffet displays. Melamine food pans are great for cold applications like deli displays, buffets, salad bars, and more. For a stylish catered display, place melamine in an ice-filled container to keep plated items cool.

Is melamine dinnerware kids/elderly friendly?

Absolutely yes!

They are solid, durable and resistant to damage and light in weight. Super suite for kids and elderly.

Is Melamine Expensive?

You can find different lines of melamine in a range of prices, many of which are very affordable. Not only can investing in melamine dinnerware save you money initially, but it's also a smart long-term investment. While chinaware and other ceramic dinnerware shatters when dropped, melamine's durable construction means that it stands up better to use and abuse over time. No more replacing plates, cups, bowls, and other servingware every time they're dropped.

Southern Hospitality provides budget and excellence quality in melamine products. You can browse our products collections here.

What is the Best Way to Care for Melamine?

To extend the life of your melamine dinnerware, try following these simple guidelines:

If you need to soak your melamine products before putting them in the dishwasher, use a a high-quality pre-soak dishwashing detergent.

-Do not use serrated knives on melamine products.

-Do not use melamine products in a conventional oven.

-Do not use melamine products in a microwave oven.

-Do not use harsh abrasive cleaners, steel wool, or metal scouring pads on melamine products. For safe scrubbing, use a light-duty white scrubbing pad.

-Do not use chlorine bleach on melamine products.

Why not visit one of our DIsplay Showrooms to touch, handle and hold the range and see for yourself.

Southern Hospitality has a wide range of  Melamine Dinnerware, Platters and Cups