Are you seeking a way to enhance the guest experience at your hotel? Target your dining room.
Free breakfast remains the top amenity that guests seek when booking hotels. Research shows that three-quarters of guests prefer hot breakfast buffets to continental breakfasts. The demand for morning meals at hotels is strong since they’re convenient and help travelers save money.
The food isn’t the only thing that should shine in your dining area, though. Your dishes should, too.
That’s where porcelain plates can help. Let’s explore what porcelain plates are and 10 reasons to invest in porcelain plates for your hotel dining room.
What Is Porcelain?
Porcelain plates are created by firing several smashed raw materials mixed together. These materials include:
- Quartz (hard colorless or white mineral containing oxygen and silicon)
- Feldspar (rock-forming salt material containing oxygen and silicon)
- Kaolin (white, soft clay)
Porcelain makers measure these materials and crush them in different sizes. They remove larger pieces and combine the remaining pieces with water.
The next step is to use a plastic mold to create a dish from the damp mixture. The dish is then heated at a high temperature in an industrial oven called a kiln. This temperature can be as high as 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The firing process generates the non-porous, dense, and hard material we know as porcelain. This material is also called china since the Chinese first developed it between 618 AD and 907 AD. Let’s discuss china’s many benefits.
1. Heat Resistance
A major benefit of porcelain dishware is its heat resistance. This is a top reason why hotel owners frequently choose this dinnerware over metal plates.
These plates can withstand temperatures of more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s because porcelain is created in a high-temperature environment.
A porcelain plate’s surface will resist damage after heat exposure and won’t smoke, burn, or release harmful substances. This makes it perfect to use in a microwave. The material’s heat-resistant property allows for even heat distribution throughout the entire dish.
2. Wide Selection
Another reason to add porcelain plates to your breakfast buffet tables is that a huge selection is available. These types of dishes come in various sizes, shapes, and colors.
Explore various aesthetically pleasing styles to fit your dining area’s decor. Choose white plates for a classy, sophisticated style. Choose colorful plates to add visual interest to your buffet table.
3. Durability
Yet another reason why porcelain plates are among the best hotel dish options is their durability. A porcelain plate may look fragile, but it can last five times longer than its mental counterpart.
These durable dishes resist scratching, cracking, chipping, and breaking. That’s because high temperatures are used to create them as mentioned earlier. They’re a smart investment since they can withstand heavy use for several years.
Metal plates aren’t as strong as porcelain since they may corrode with time. This corrosion (wearing away) may cause food to stick to the dishes, creating a hard mess to clean up. Porcelain plates resist corrosion and tarnishing, and even when they do wear down, they look nice.
Ceramic dishes also have drawbacks. Ceramic plates are made by mixing clay with powders and earthy materials.
The plate maker then uses water to mold the clay mixture into their desired shape. The mixture is dried and fired in an industrial oven.
A ceramic dinner plate may easily break since it’s fragile. It can shatter or crack if knocked or dropped.
This makes ceramic potentially dangerous for parents with young kids and accident-prone individuals. Porcelain plates don’t pose this danger.
4. Safety
Porcelain dishes are safe for hotel guests to use. You won’t have to worry about the plates’ chemicals leaching into their bodies. That’s because their raw materials are non-toxic.
These types of plates are also smooth. This makes it hard for bacteria to develop on and cling to their surfaces.
5. Ease of Maintenance
Porcelain restaurant dishes are easy to use, making them convenient for serving food in busy hotels. Their fine, glassy textures make plating food effortless. The plates’ surfaces are also easy to clean by hand (more on this next).
These plates are more likely than metal plates to remain intact after being placed in a dishwasher, too. Metal plates can become rusty due to corroding, which can result in leaks. Let’s review some porcelain dinnerware hand-cleaning tips to lengthen your plates’ lifespans.
Porcelain Dish Washing
China is eco-friendly since it doesn’t require special care. A mild dish soap, a sponge, and warm water are all you’ll need to instantly remove grease stains from your plates.
Don’t use an abrasive sponge, toothbrush, or cleaner on your plates since they can scratch their surfaces. Use a soft rag to dry your plates after handwashing them.
What if you notice cracks in your porcelain dishes? Don’t try to clean them until a professional has repaired them. Bacteria may grow in the dishes’ cracks.
Porcelain Dish Handling and Other Tips
Following a few best practices will help keep your hotel’s porcelain dinnerware looking like new long-term. It’ll also help protect your guests and employees from being injured.
Handle your porcelain plates with care since they can crack or chip if banged against solid surfaces. Stack the plates carefully in their storage area to avoid chipping or scratching.
A layer of cloth or paper should go between each dish to provide a cushion. Butcher paper or bubble wrap may also be used to wrap each china piece.
Store each bowl or plate on its side to keep pressure off the center. Use sturdy cardboard dividers to protect bowls, mugs, and glassware.
Avoid exposing your porcelain dishes to sudden temperature changes. Placing them in a freezer or hot oven may cause them to shrink and break.
6. Decor Versatility
Porcelain plates are a smart investment for hotel dining rooms because they come in a variety of designs and styles. You’ll find China dinnerware in multiple sizes, shapes, and colors. This is why porcelain dishes are frequently used for both casual family meals and formal dinners.
These dishes’ versatility makes them fitting for all types of hotels, ranging from two-star to five-star hotels. Two-star hotels provide basic amenities, such as a TV and phone, and continental breakfasts (light breakfasts of rolls, coffee, and cereal). Five-star hotels feature elegant rooms and gourmet restaurants.
7. Quiet Sound
Another perk of porcelain dishes is their quiet sound. Metal plates may be noisy if guests knock them around. Porcelain plates don’t make much noise, making them perfect for creating a calm, headache-free guest environment.
8. Non-Absorbent Quality
Hotel owners embrace porcelain plates because they’re non-absorbent. They won’t absorb odors or liquids from hotel guests’ meals, including cold and hot food. You can pour soup into a porcelain bowl and not worry about the soup soaking into the bowl.
That’s because their coatings provide seamless and non-porous surfaces that resist acidic food. A porcelain dish’s non-porous surface is created when the material is fired at high temperatures during the dish creation process. This means your hotel’s porcelain plates will preserve your food’s aromas and ingredients while remaining odor-neutral.
Chemical Coating Warning
Some porcelain plates are covered with chemical coatings to produce colorful, vibrant designs. These chemicals may include cadmium or lead, soft metals that can be extremely toxic to individuals even at relatively low concentrations. Avoid these plates.
Not sure if the porcelain plates you’re considering buying are chemical-coated? Ask the seller if their products are cadmium-free and lead-free. Some dishes’ labels indicate this, so check these, too.
Another way to avoid porcelain plates covered with chemicals is to stick with white plates. Ones with manually painted designs, bright colors, and metallic decorations may feature cadmium and lead, especially if they were made in countries with more lenient regulations (e.g., China).
Avoid using china that is faded, cracked, or chipped. The cracks may expose the dinnerware’s clay, which might contain cadmium and lead.
9. Beauty
Quality wholesale china is worth investing in at a hotel due to its elegance and beauty. It’s usually more alluring than other kinds of dishes, like ceramic plates. This is why restaurant and hotel owners often prefer them for serving food and tea.
Ceramic dishes are thicker and more opaque (not transparent) compared with porcelain ones. They look rustic. Porcelain dishes look more translucent, thinner, delicate, and attractive.
Porcelain plates can add sophistication and style to your dining area whether they feature colorful designs or are classic white. This might make your guests appreciate your establishment even more.
10. Cost Savings
Porcelain plates are an excellent choice for hotel owners since they’ll save your hotel money long-term. That’s because these dishes are usually less expensive than other kinds of plates, like metal dishes.
China’s durability also makes it a more cost-effective option as mentioned earlier. It’s an excellent investment for hotel owners with limited budgets.
Order Our Porcelain Plates
The top reasons to invest in porcelain plates for your hotel dining room include their durability and heat resistance. These plates are also beautiful, easy to maintain, and relatively affordable.
At the Hode Group, Inc., we offer a wide variety of hospitality and food service industry products. Our products range from dinnerware to tableware, glassware, buffet carts, and banquet furniture. Contact us to learn more about our offerings, and order today!
