Melamine dinnerware has been used for a good number of years.Some of the earliest melamine tableware dates back to the late 50s and early 60s.Due to its flexibility and popularity as a product, it became, at least for a while, a threat to ceramics.Today, melamine is still popular for both residential and commercial use. Thinking of buying melamine for dinnerware? Here are the pros and cons you need to know:
Pros
Malamine durability
Melamine dinnerware probably won’t last forever but with proper care, it could last a good number of years. One advantage to this type of material is that it doesn’t break easily with normal use.
Choice in color and design
Melamine was once a strong contender as a replacement for ceramics because it was so easy for production companies to come up with different designs and colors using this material. This made melamine a favorite among customers who like to have choices. The possibilities in melamine dinnerware run the gamut from classic plain monochromes to the most popular patterns to Asian melamine styles to the funkiest melamine, craziest, or loudest designs and colors.
Excellent flexibility
Because of the nature of the material, melamine can be turned into almost anything in terms of dinnerware or tableware. From plates and bowls to cups, saucers, spoons, ladles and various types of food containers. It could also vary in thickness, depending on the intended use of the specific type of dinnerware.
Melamine dinnerware is also excellent for use in both homes and public facilities such as restaurants and cafes because it’s easy to clean. Unlike earthenware, melamine is light and easy to carry, a stand-out quality when it comes to serving with ease.
Melamine is Recyclable
Another advantage to melamine dinnerware is that it can be recycled, something that eco-friendly homes and restaurants are quite happy about. In fact, there is much melamine dinnerware being sold today that is made from 100% recycled melamine.
Price, cheap dinnerware
Melamine dinnerware are some of the most affordable in the market, making them popular among starter homes, small restaurants and cafes, high-traffic cafeterias, diners, Asian restaurants, and anyone who prefers a more cost-friendly way to serve food.
Cons
Will stain and scratch
Melamine would probably have become the king of dinnerware, effectively bulldozing ceramics, plastics and glass had it not been for its weaknesses. Because it’s made from resin, its surface can be scratched by commonly used objects such as spoons, forks and knives. Rough handling can also result in chipped edges. Another disadvantage to melamine is that it tends to stain over time. The problem is that once the stain appears, it’s next to impossible to remove.
Cannot resist high heat
Melamine dinnerware can be used with most warm foods and even hot soups and entrees. It could withstand heat but only up to a certain point. This type of resin cannot be trusted in high heat. As such, melamine dinnerware are neither microwave-safe or oven-safe. They are also not recommended for sustained exposure to heat, even at temperatures they can handle.
Source material
Some people are wary of using melamine. After all, this organic compound is made with formaldehyde, a chemical used not just in the production of fertilizers and resins but also in the preservation of organic materials. However, many commercial melamine dishes have the NSF approval, the food service safety standard in the US, reassuring consumers about the safety of the particular melamine they are purchasing.
