Why are enamel plates useful as outdoor tableware?
Enamel plates have been used for decades as camping essentials. Whether you were in the Girl Guides or Scouts, enamel dishware was a must have when collecting your badges. Minimal in design yet long lasting, these retro-style enamel coated plates have had a renaissance in recent years for the luxe-loving campers. And for good reason too! These practical enamel plates are 100% fit for purpose. Made of porcelain fused onto heavy-gauge steel, they are strong, long-lasting and ideal for being transported from adventure to adventure. Whatever the setting, these white enamel camping plates with blue rims will ensure that you can dine in style.
As these enamel picnic plates are made from steel, they can be recycled once they have come to the end of their long, long life (don’t worry, the enamel coating does not impact its ability to be turned into scrap metal. By recycling the plates, the steel will be repurposed into something else - most often, cans! The use of scrap steel saves up to 74% of the energy needed to make steel from virgin materials which is incredible and why we should all be trying to recycle as much as we can as well as use products made of recycled materials.
Why are enamel plates useful as outdoor tableware?
Enamel plates have been used for decades as camping essentials. Whether you were in the Girl Guides or Scouts, enamel dishware was a must have when collecting your badges. Minimal in design yet long lasting, these retro-style enamel coated plates have had a renaissance in recent years for the luxe-loving campers. And for good reason too! These practical enamel plates are 100% fit for purpose. Made of porcelain fused onto heavy-gauge steel, they are strong, long-lasting and ideal for being transported from adventure to adventure. Whatever the setting, these white enamel camping plates with blue rims will ensure that you can dine in style.
As these enamel picnic plates are made from steel, they can be recycled once they have come to the end of their long, long life (don’t worry, the enamel coating does not impact its ability to be turned into scrap metal. By recycling the plates, the steel will be repurposed into something else - most often, cans! The use of scrap steel saves up to 74% of the energy needed to make steel from virgin materials which is incredible and why we should all be trying to recycle as much as we can as well as use products made of recycled materials.
Enamel on steel is hard and strong but like all good ceramic materials, it may chip if handled roughly or dropped. If this happens, don’t panic. The plates are still perfectly safe to use as the steel will naturally oxidise. Plus, we think it adds a bit of vintage character anyway! We like to think of these enamel plates as the Levi jeans or Chanel bags of the outdoor tableware world. Classic, reliable, long lasting and they just get better with age. We’ve got enamel cups ourselves which are still going strong after 20 years!
What contexts can I use these enamel plates in?
These luxury outdoor plates are perfect for anyone who wants to add a touch of aesthetic extravagance to their outdoor adventure. If you are a ‘picnic in the park’ sort of person, these plates can be stacked and packed into your cool bag. If long camping trips and mountain adventures are your sort of thing, these plates also fit the bill!
Chimney Sheep HQ is based just on the edge of the Lake District. That means we are lucky enough to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors rather a lot and we love it! Lots of our colleagues love walking, camping, picnicking, and exploring. They have tested these enamel dinner plates out and have given them a big thumbs up!
Have you got matching items to make enamel crockery sets and enamel tableware sets?
Yes, we do! Our Classic Set is a full range of enamel dishware. To match this enamel plate set, we have an enamel dish set, enamel camping mugs, enamel tea cans and enamel espresso mug. You can mix and match all of these to create your ultimate luxury enamel dinner set for the outdoors.
Why have you created enamel tableware when you already have recycled plastic tableware?
Although we stock a fantastic range of recycled plastic outdoor tableware some people just don’t want to use plastic anymore due to concerns over where our plastic recycling goes. This, of course, is completely valid which is exactly why we have added our Classic Set of enamel tableware to our selection of outdoor tableware.
These enamel plates are much stronger than our recycled plastic alternatives which ensures that it lasts throughout all camping and travel adventures for years and years. In the context of single use plates, enamel plates are a more sustainable alternative, reducing the use and disposal of many sets of paper and plastic dishes. Although a little more expensive upfront, just think about cost per use!
Our enamel plates from our Classic Set are also a bit weightier and feel a bit more ‘special’. There are some contexts when recycled plastic tableware just don’t fit the bill. Some people don’t really like the ‘taste’ of eating hot food from plastic plates, so these enamel picnic plates are a great alternative.
Sometimes plastic (recycled or not) isn’t the right material to use for certain uses. For example, cooking on gas stoves whilst camping can cause difficulties when using plastic camping gear. These enamelware picnic plates can withstand temperatures of up to 270 degrees Celsius so can not only be used when camping but on BBQ racks too. This means that unlike the plastic alternatives, enamel picnic plates can be used for heating and serving (less washing up – hooray!). We quite like using our enamelware bowl as a mini saucepan and use these plates as a lid to make the heating process faster.
