Precautions for Purchasing Ceramic Tableware

When choosing ceramic tableware, it is necessary to take into account safety, practicality and aesthetic value, especially in terms of material safety, craftsmanship details and adaptability to usage scenarios, which need to be carefully selected. The following is an analysis from the core purchasing dimensions, pitfall avoidance guidelines, and usage adaptability to help consumers avoid common misunderstandings:

First, core purchasing dimensions: Equal emphasis on safety and functionality

1. Material safety: Risks of heavy metals and chemicals

Lead and cadmium leaching amount:

If the glaze on overglaze tableware is not fully covered by the glaze layer, long-term contact with acidic foods (such as lemon juice and tomato sauce) may lead to the leaching of lead and cadmium. When making a purchase, it is necessary to confirm that the product has passed the GB 4806.4-2016 "National Food Safety Standard for Ceramic Products" test, or check whether it is marked as "lead-free glaze" or "food contact grade".

Avoid purchasing overglaze tableware with overly bright colors and rough patterns, especially low-priced street vendor goods or unbranded products.

Radiation and Additives

Some inferior ceramics may use mineral raw materials containing radioactive substances (such as zircon sand), or add fluorescent brighteners. It is recommended to choose a regular brand and avoid products without a manufacturer, manufacturer or manufacturer.

2. Craftsmanship and durability

Firing temperature:

High-temperature porcelain (above 1280℃) : The porcelain body is dense, with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%, not prone to dirt accumulation or mold growth, and produces a clear sound when struck.

Medium and low-temperature porcelain (below 1280℃) : It has a loose texture and is prone to water absorption and color bleeding. After cleaning, it should be dried immediately; otherwise, mold spots may occur.

Glaze surface quality

High-quality glaze surfaces should be smooth without pinholes or orange peel patterns. When observed at an Angle under strong light, there should be no bubbles or impurities.

Avoid choosing products with overly thin glaze (revealing the base color of the porcelain) or overly thick glaze (with local protrusions), as this may affect the service life.

3. Shape and Practicality

Size and capacity:

The recommended diameter of the rice bowl is 10 to 12cm, and the depth is 5 to 6cm, which should be ergonomically held.

The opening of the soup bowl should be larger than 15cm and the depth more than 8cm to prevent the soup from overflowing when being served.

Handle and edge design:

The handle should be round and smooth without sharp corners, and its length should be large enough to accommodate three fingers (about 5-7cm).

The edge of the cup mouth should be uniform in thickness (1-2mm). If it is too thin, it is prone to notches; if it is too thick, it will affect the comfort of drinking.

Second, a guide to avoiding pitfalls: Key details for identifying inferior products

1. Process defect warning

Glaze surface defect

Defects such as pinholes, black spots and glaze cracks can become hiding places for stains, increasing the difficulty of cleaning.

If there is smudging or overlapping of the underglaze paint, it may be caused by insufficient firing temperature.

Loose accessories

If there are gaps at the junction of the gold-inlaid or gilded patterns and the glaze surface, water stains may seep in during cleaning, causing the metal to oxidize and discolor.

The cup lid, handle and other accessories need to be checked for firmness to prevent them from falling off during use.

2. False advertising traps

Confusion of the concept of "bone China" :

True bone China should contain more than 30% animal bone meal (cow ashes), have good light transmission, and produce a clear and crisp sound like a bell when tapped.

Some products labeled as "new bone China" are actually imitations of medium-temperature porcelain, lacking bone meal components and having poor light transmission.

"Handmade" gimmick:

Genuine handcrafted ceramics may have minor flaws (such as uneven glaze thickness and slight deformation of the shape). If the product is overly perfect, it might instead be a machine-made one.

The bottom of hand-pulled tableware often has spiral patterns, while those formed by injection molding do not have this feature.

3. The balance between price and value

Low-price trap

Ceramic tableware priced 50% lower than the market average (such as a 6-piece set of tableware for 9.9 yuan with free shipping) may use inferior raw materials or simplified processes, posing safety risks.

Brand premium

The premium of well-known brands mainly comes from design, quality inspection and after-sales service. If you are pursuing cost performance, you can pay attention to the brands of contract manufacturers that have shifted from export to domestic sales (quality inspection reports need to be confirmed).

Third, usage adaptability: Select based on the scenario

1. Frequent daily use

Recommended type:

Bright glaze high-temperature porcelain: Easy to clean and wear-resistant, suitable for holding Chinese food with heavy oil stains.

Underglaze painting or white porcelain: There is no risk of heavy metal leaching, and it can safely come into contact with all kinds of food.

Lightning protection type:

Matte glaze and crackle glaze tableware: Cleaning is time-consuming, suitable for low-frequency use or as decoration.

Gilded and edged tableware: Metal parts may fall off due to corrosion by cleaning agents. Hand wash is required and the soaking time should be shortened.

2. Special scenario requirements

Microwave oven/oven usage:

Confirm that the product is marked as "microwave oven suitable" or "high-temperature resistant", and avoid using tableware with metal accessories (such as gold edges).

Bone China has poor heat resistance due to the presence of bone meal (it is recommended not to exceed 200℃), while ordinary ceramics can withstand temperatures above 250℃.

Dishwasher compatibility

Tableware with smooth glaze and no three-dimensional reliefs is suitable for dishwasher washing, while tableware with gilded or hand-painted patterns needs to be hand-washed.

Avoid washing tableware of different materials (such as ceramic and metal) together to prevent scratches caused by collisions.

3. For children and the elderly only

Anti-slip design

Silicone anti-slip pads can be added to the bottom of cups and bowls, or tableware with grooves at the bottom can be chosen to prevent slipping.

The edge of the cup mouth can be thickened (2-3mm) to prevent children from bumping and getting injured.

Lightweight materials

Bone China or thin-walled porcelain is relatively light in weight, making it easier for the elderly to hold. However, it is necessary to avoid choosing products that are too thin and fragile (the recommended thickness is ≥2mm).

Fourth, purchasing tips and practical suggestions

1. On-site purchasing skills

Touch sensation test

The glaze surface should be smooth without a granular feel, the edges should be free of burrs, and the handle should be round and not cut.

Sound judgment

Tap the tableware gently. The sound of high-temperature porcelain is as clear as metal, while that of low-temperature porcelain is dull.

Light transmittance inspection

When observing bone China against a light source, a light-transmitting effect can be seen, while ordinary ceramics do not.

2. Key points for online shopping

Check the quality inspection report:

Require the merchant to provide the lead and cadmium leaching test report, or confirm that the product has passed the national standard certification.

User Evaluation Analysis

Pay attention to the issues such as "color fading", "cracking" and "unpleasant smell" mentioned in the negative reviews to avoid falling into traps.

After-sales service

Confirm whether it supports damaged replacement (ceramics are fragile during transportation) and the return and exchange policy.

3. Long-term use and maintenance

Before first use:

Soak in white vinegar water (vinegar: water =1:10) for 2 hours to remove any possible residual industrial wax or impurities.

Daily cleaning

Avoid using cleaning agents containing bleach to prevent corrosion of the glaze surface.

Metal accessories and tableware should be wiped with a soft cloth to avoid contact with 84 disinfectant.

Storage suggestions:

Place anti-collision cloth between tableware to prevent the bottom from cracking due to pressure when stacked too high.

Fifth, Brand and Origin Reference (not advertising)

Domestic brand

Red Leaf Ceramics (Porcelain for state banquets, mainly high-temperature white porcelain)

Huaguang National Porcelain (Leading bone China technology, exported to Europe and America)

Songfa Ceramics (High cost performance of daily-use porcelain, simple design)

International brand

Wedgwood (a classic British bone China with exquisite relief craftsmanship)

Villeroy & Boch (German quality, combining functionality and design sense)

Origin characteristics:

Jingdezhen: Inheritance of handcrafted blue and white porcelain and pastel painting techniques, suitable for collectible tableware.

Chaozhou: The output of daily-use porcelain is large and the cost performance is high, but it is necessary to pay attention to the identification of the craftsmanship level.

Dehua: White porcelain has good light transmission and is suitable for simple and elegant style tableware.