Whether you’re buying a serving dish, platter or tray for yourself or someone else, the right set will add elegance and flair to any meal. That’s why it’s important to consider two factors when shopping for serveware: function and style.
To help you make the best decision, we asked chefs and food writers to share their insights on the most useful and stylish serving pieces out there. Using their insight, we rounded up this list of the best serving dishes and trays for every occasion.
Bread and Butter Plate
If you’re looking for a serving dish gift for all your friends and family, this large bowl is the one to choose. It can be used for everything from fruits and salads to hearty stews and popcorn, so you’ll be sure to get your money’s worth out of it.
This is a great gift for anyone who likes to cook, especially when it comes to barbecues on sunny weekends. It also makes a stylish storage place for items like keys and phones that you’d rather not be out on the table while cooking.
The bowl is made from melamine, which means it won’t shatter as easily as chinaware, and is able to handle all of the abuse your kitchen is bound to throw at it. Not only does this material withstand a lot, but it also won’t scratch as easily, which means it will last for years to come.
The large bowl is the icing on the cake, and it is a nice touch that you’ll find in many homes today. A large bowl is also the perfect size for displaying a single piece of art, or even an interesting book. The best part is, you don’t have to worry about cleaning this bowl because it’s dishwasher safe. So you can spend more time enjoying your new find and less time fussing over it. This bowl is sure to be a hit for all of your friends and family members, and it can be the most thoughtful present you’ve ever given.
Serving Plates
Whether you’re serving snacks or displaying freshly baked desserts, the right set of serving dishes makes all the difference. They help you elevate your dining game and avoid a mess at the same time, which is especially important when it comes to entertaining guests.
There are many different types of serving dishes, so it’s essential to know their differences and uses. This way, you won’t embarrass yourself when you attend a formal event that requires tableware that isn’t your usual everyday set.
One of the most common serving plate materials is ceramic. Artisans make plates out of ceramic by heating clay to a high temperature and then hardening it. This helps them to produce the best quality serving dishes without making them too dense and absorbing more water than porcelain.
Another popular material is melamine, which is lightweight and extremely durable. It’s also easy to clean and has a shatterproof composition that’s perfect for parties with kids.
If you’re looking for something a little more modern, opt for plates with monochrome edges. This is a style that’s becoming more and more popular, as it adds a sleek look to your place settings.
Alternatively, go for serving boards that let you display entrees, appetisers and cheese beautifully. They’re ideal for hosting and come in a range of sizes to suit any occasion.
Soup Bowl
A serving dish is one of the most important pieces of tableware as it helps complement the visual aspect of food and thus enhances its presentation. It also plays an operational role by helping in retaining the temperature of soup and keeping it hot for long periods, especially when preparing it ahead.
Soup bowls come in various sizes and shapes, which are used to serve different kinds of soups. They range from large coupe bowls with a shallow bottom to smaller lug soup bowls.
Choosing the right type of soup bowl is very crucial, as it determines how fast the soup will cool down when you pour it into it. For light and clear soups, broader and shallower bowls are recommended, whereas for thick and brothy ones, it is better to opt for deeper bowls that retain the heat.
Another essential serving dish for every kitchen is the ladle, which can be used to transfer liquids from one container to another, such as the pot, jar or bowl. It is useful for transferring any kind of sauce, gravy or soup from the pot to the bowl and vice versa.
There are also a variety of other types of serving dishes that can be purchased, such as the soup mug and the tureen. Tureens are usually larger than soup mugs and are ideal for drinking thin soup directly without using a spoon. They are also great for cold soups, like gazpacho and cream soups.
Salad Plate
A salad plate is a small plate designed to hold a portion of a salad. This dish is a favorite choice for serving tossed greens, colorful chopped vegetables and crunchy nuts or seeds. A light homemade vinaigrette is a perfect dressing for this delicate meal.
Salad plates come in a variety of styles, from round to crescent-shaped, and are typically part of dinnerware sets. This makes them easy to find and use.
They also make for great gifts for those who want to give a little something extra to someone special. These serving dishes are versatile enough to be used in conjunction with a wide range of different table settings, so they can be a fun addition to any kitchen or dining room.
If you’re looking for a unique gift idea for a friend, family member or coworker, consider giving them a salad plate. This serving dish is a fun way to show them that you care about their well-being, and it can be the perfect finishing touch to any meal.
Whether you’re looking for a simple, elegant white set or a colorful Thanksgiving plate, this is a gift that they’ll love using every day. They’ll think of you whenever they’re enjoying a meal on it.
Salad plates are great for a variety of meals and snacks, including luncheons and lighter main courses. They’re also perfect for serving fruit, savory cheeses or roasted vegetables.
Tureen
The tureen, a serving dish that is especially designed for hot foods, usually consists of an oval bowl with handles and a domed lid. Tureens are most commonly made from porcelain or another ceramic base, but some are also crafted from silver.
Although they are generally used to serve soups, tureens can be used for other dishes as well, such as stews or chili. The tureen is an elegant piece of serveware that adds a touch of sophistication to any table.
As one of the most popular dining room serving pieces, tureens are available in a variety of shapes and styles. They can be rectangular or shaped like animals, flowers or abstract art.
When it comes to choosing the perfect tureen for your home, consider how much you need and want. The size of your tureen is important, as it determines how many people can be served at once. If you have a large family, a larger tureen will be more practical.
The best tureens are made from high-quality materials and are made to last a lifetime. Some are even made of glass or mirrored surfaces. Shop for a tureen that will impress your guests and stand out among the rest.
Finger Bowl
Every one of us has probably been to a restaurant that provided finger bowls for guests to wash their hands after dinner. This bowl is half-filled with lukewarm water and a slice of lemon and the guest is supposed to dip their fingertips into it.
Although this practice goes unnoticed by most people, it is an integral part of Indian dining scenes. So, if you are going to have Indian food and you want to enjoy it to the fullest, then it is important that you know how to use your finger bowl correctly!
In a formal meal, the finger bowl is brought to the table at the time of the dessert course and guests set it aside for use after the last course. In less formal service, the finger bowl may be brought after more than one course that involves fingers or served in conjunction with fruit courses.
The most important thing to remember while using a finger bowl is to only immerse your fingertips into the water and not the entire hand. You should also make sure that you dry your hand with the napkin as discretely as possible.
Once you’re done rinsing your fingers, you should set the finger bowl to the top-left area of your dinner plate (near your bread plate). The doily that came with it can be placed in this spot as well.