Opinions on enamel - enamelware dishes?

PNWtabber

Time to ditch my old plastic camping dishes.  I am leaning toward enamelware, but have never actually used any.  I am interested in opinions on it from those who have used it (or do use it).  I'm particularly wondering about heat transfer.  Do you need to be careful if you have hot food on it and does the food cool too quickly?  Any other issues with it I should consider?   Thanks, all.

Verna

I love my enamelware. Yes, the plate, bowl or cup will be warm/hot. I just use a silicone pot holder under the bowl of plate if I’m holding them.  No, they do not cool down quickly. 

They are sturdy, won’t break, and they should last decades. 

falcon1970

They can chip though.

CrabTab

We use enamelware  coffee cups, plates and bowls in our T@B. The only problem we've ever had was a piece of scrub pad that got stuck on the rolled edge of a cup.
The enamelware water bath canning pot and crab steaming pot we use at home are both over 30 years old. They'll last a lifetime so pick a color or pattern you like.😊

PNWtabber

@falcon1970 - have you had enamelware that chipped?  Is it vulnerable to rusting if it chips?  I'm wondering if something could be used to coat the chipped area to protect it.

Mellow_Yellow

There are some beautiful, high end melamine dish sets that are much nicer than plastic. For mugs, I love a hot coffee in a stoneware mug, but they do require more TLC.

PNWtabber

@Mellow_Yellow -- I've been reading mixed opinions on the safety of melamine.  

VictoriaP

PNWtabber said:

@falcon1970 - have you had enamelware that chipped?  Is it vulnerable to rusting if it chips?  I'm wondering if something could be used to coat the chipped area to protect it.

Yes and yes. Anyone who’s ever been antiquing can attest to the fact that enamelware can chip and it can rust if that happens—loads of battered pieces can be found in any antique store or flea market. Anything you tried to coat it with would have to be food safe. Enamelware that is currently made is often less durable/lower quality than the vintage stuff, so if buying new, be sure to read the reviews thoroughly.

I love the vintage look of the stuff, and quality enamelware is fairly durable, but I went with melamine for my trailer dinnerware.

Verna

I’m going on 4 years and we’ll over 30,000 miles and I can attest to no chips. If it chips, I’ll research it and fix it. I love to do mods😂

VictoriaP

PNWtabber said:

@Mellow_Yellow -- I've been reading mixed opinions on the safety of melamine.  

Which is correct...but then I’d ask how often you think you’ll be eating off of it? If you were full time and using it 3 meals a day 365 days a year? Probably not the best choice. At which point, I’d personally look at Corelle, but that’s me. For the relatively infrequent use in my trailer, melamine doesn’t really worry me.

@verna, please tell me you found RED enamelware to match the rest of your trailer? 😁 It looks like Coleman makes a red set.

Verna

@VictoriaP, I didn’t like the “normal” price I kept finding even on EBay, but I found an open box on Amazon that was a set for 4, all pieces included, for a low price. 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 cups.   I know where there is an assortment of different patterns and colors, at Lehman’s Hardware in Ohio (I love that store). Check it out on-line. And I didn’t say they had good low prices....just good assortment! 

falcon1970

@PNWtabber
Yes I have a chipped enamelware bowl.  However, with normal use it probably won't chip.  My set is probably 30 years old so I don;'t know how fragile newer stuff is but my Bowl jumped out of the overhead at me one day and chipped a bit when it hit.  It also bent slightly.  However that was a pretty hard hit.  I think you will OK as long as you don't sling it around any more than you would with any other plate or bowl.

CrabTab

Another source for good quality enamelware  (albiet expensive) is Golden Rabbit. They have many patterns. You can find them on their website or Amazon.

ChrisFix

Not enamelware, but just to list one other alternative, that has worked extremely well for us, is Corning Corelle. It is made in a wide variety of patterns...and is extremely durable, food safe, and pack very compactly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RCD1NK9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Marceline

Maybe not what you're looking for, but I bought a set of these last year and I'm really digging them. Inexpensive and indestructible. And the little "handle" on the plate is useful when you're sitting around the campfire eating. 

PNWtabber

@Marceline -- I had not heard of Preserve dishware before, I like that they are made of recycled material and they say they are BPA-free.  I'll look into it further.  Thanks.

Tampakayaker

ChrisFix said:

Not enamelware, but just to list one other alternative, that has worked extremely well for us, is Corning Corelle. It is made in a wide variety of patterns...and is extremely durable, food safe, and pack very compactly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RCD1NK9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We had Corelle for years, got it as a wedding present.

Only drawback on it, is if you break one it explodes like a hand grenade with pieces all over the place.

PNWtabber

@ChrisFix and @Tampakayaker -- when my kids were little, I picked up some plain Corelle seconds at a Corningware outlet store.  They lasted a long time, definitely another possibility for me to consider.  I am intrigued by the enamelware for camping, though.

Sharon_is_SAM

We use paper plates with a melamine plate underneath to add strength.  Really simplifies cleanup, helps keep the gray tank clean and reduces water use.

xdr

PNWtabber said:

@Mellow_Yellow -- I've been reading mixed opinions on the safety of melamine.  

Can you say more? We were looking at melamine plates recently. 

PNWtabber

@xdr -- you can google "melamine safety".  There is a variety of information out there.  Who knows what the most accurate is?

Verna

@VictoriaP, there is a set of red Coleman enamelware with silverware on Amazon, by the way....

qhumberd

We have melamine plates and they are very sturdy but we were not aware you cannot use them in the microwave. Other than that we know of no safety issues

JeffroNC

Plus 1 on the exploding Corelle. Always open the overhead cabinet slowly. As a funny flight attendant (remember those days?) once said: "As we all know, shift happens." :-)