Anti-cracking and maintenance tips for ceramic tableware

Ceramic tableware is both beautiful and practical, but if it is not used or maintained properly, problems such as cracking are prone to occur. Here are some maintenance tips for preventing cracking of ceramic tableware:

Before use

Check the integrity: For newly purchased ceramic tableware, carefully inspect the surface for any cracks, notches or hidden damages before use. Even minor flaws may expand during use due to factors such as temperature changes and collisions, eventually leading to cracking. You can gently touch the surface of the tableware with your hand to feel if there are any uneven or rough areas. In a well-lit area, carefully observe the edges, handles and patterns of the tableware. These areas are more prone to hidden damage.

Correct unpacking: If the ceramic tableware is purchased online or transported through packaging, be careful when unpacking. Avoid using sharp tools to scratch the packaging to prevent damage to the tableware. After opening the box, take out the tableware steadily. Do not discard the packaging materials at will, so that they can be used for transportation or storage in the future.

In use

Avoid sudden temperature changes: This is one of the most common causes of cracking in ceramic tableware. For example, cold dishes just taken out of the refrigerator should not be immediately put into a high-temperature oven or microwave for heating. Similarly, hot tableware just taken out of a hot stove or oven should not be placed directly on a cold countertop or poured into cold water. If hot ceramic tableware needs to be washed in cold water, it should be allowed to cool naturally for a period of time to gradually lower the temperature. When heating food in a microwave oven, pay attention to controlling the heating time and power to avoid local overheating of the tableware.

Handle with care: Ceramic tableware is relatively brittle in texture. When taking it out and using it, handle it gently to avoid collision, dropping or friction with other hard objects. When passing tableware on the dining table, be careful to prevent it from slipping. When washing tableware, do not stack multiple pieces of tableware together and scrub them vigorously to avoid mutual collision and damage.

Serve food properly: Do not use ceramic tableware to hold overly heavy or sharp food. Heavy food may exert excessive pressure on the bottom of tableware, and long-term use may lead to cracks at the bottom of the tableware. Sharp foods, such as bones and crab shells, may scratch the surface of tableware, damage the glaze, and make the tableware more prone to cracking or bacterial growth.

Use appropriate cleaning tools: When cleaning ceramic tableware, choose soft sponges or soft-bristled brushes. Avoid using rough cleaning tools such as steel wool balls or hard-bristled brushes to prevent scratching the surface of the tableware. For stubborn stains, you can first soak the tableware in warm water, add an appropriate amount of detergent, and after the stains soften, gently wipe them.

After use

Timely cleaning: After using ceramic tableware, it should be cleaned promptly to prevent food residues from staying on the tableware for too long, making stains difficult to remove. At the same time, it also prevents acidic or alkaline substances in food from corroding the tableware. When cleaning, pay attention to cleaning all parts of the tableware, especially the edges, handles and patterns, as these areas are prone to dirt accumulation.

Natural drying: Cleaned ceramic tableware should be placed in a well-ventilated and dry area to dry naturally. Do not wipe it with a towel, as the fibers on the towel may scratch the surface of the tableware. If you need to dry quickly, you can turn the tableware upside down on the draining rack to let the water flow out naturally.

Proper storage: When storing ceramic tableware, avoid squeezing and collision. Tableware can be placed in a dedicated tableware cabinet, classified and arranged according to size and shape. Soft tissues or cloths can be used to separate the tableware to prevent mutual friction. For some tableware with unique shapes or fragile items, they can be stored separately to avoid being mixed with other tableware.

Handling of special circumstances

Repairing small cracks: If you find that your ceramic tableware has tiny cracks but they haven't completely broken, you can try using professional ceramic repair glue to fix them. Before using the repair glue, the surface of the tableware should be cleaned and dried first, and then the operation should be carried out in accordance with the instructions for using the repair glue. The repaired tableware should not be used to hold hot food for a short period of time. It can be used normally only after the repair glue has completely cured.

Dealing with cracked tableware: Once obvious cracks are found in ceramic tableware, its use should be stopped immediately. Cracked tableware is prone to further breakage during subsequent use, which not only may damage the tableware itself but also may cause food to spill or fragments to hurt people. Cracked tableware can be properly disposed of to avoid misuse.