Let’s take a tour around the typical kitchen. You will see various bowls, plates, mugs, and cups, but have you ever stopped to consider what they are made out of? Your typical dinner set is made out of three main materials, namely earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Most of us have heard of these materials before, but don’t know what the differences are. This article will help to shed some light on this issue…

Earthenware
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Earthenware is what is known as a “low-fired” clay. This means that it is fired at a low temperature (usually around’15 degrees Fahrenheit). Made from a white and porous clay, it is sometimes called “ceramics” or “ceramic ware”.

Stoneware
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Stoneware is a “high-fired” clay, and as a result, is much stronger. It is fired at about 2185 degrees Fahrenheit, and becomes vitreous (i.e.: having the nature of glass). After firing it becomes sturdy and chip-resistant.

Porcelain
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A number of different ingredients are used to make porcelain. The main material is a pale clay, like china white. Other materials that are incorporated are: glass, feldspar, and granite…which are ground, and then added to the clay. Water is added to make the mixture easy to work with. Worked into the desired shape, the mixture is then fired in a bisque kiln (at a moderate temperature). After glazing and then a “high-temperature” firing, the result is a piece of pottery that is both translucent and delicate.

Telling the Difference
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With this bit of a background on what makes them different, how do we tell them apart? Here’s the breakdown:

1) Is it porcelain? The first thing to keep in mind is that porcelain is translucent, while stoneware and earthenware are not. Hold the item up to the light. Can you see the light shining through? If so, then it is porcelain.

2) If it’s not porcelain, we know that it must be either stoneware or earthenware. What do we do next? We need to check out the weight of the item. If it’s rather heavy for its size, then it’s stoneware.

3) Stoneware also has a “look” of hand-made pottery. This means that stoneware will have a texture to it. Earthenware will not.

4) Does the piece have a chip in it? If so, then examine it further. Is it very white and does it have a “chalky” look? Use your fingernail. Can you scrape off a bit more material? If the answer is “yes”, then it’s probably earthenware. Earthenware (once fired) has this white, chalky look, while stoneware has a darker, textured look.

5) If any part of the piece is unglazed, take a look to see if textured clay is showing through. This means that it is stoneware.

This completes our journey into the world of porcelain, earthenware, and stoneware…the main ingredients of today’s popular dinner sets. If a particular dinner set fancies you, then we have a lot more information on our web site.

Looking to find the best deal on a great dinner set, then visit www.DinnerSetReview.com to find the best advice.