Paper or plastic?

[AppleValley2]

Hi everyone -- I am in the process of setting up the kitchen in my motorhome. We plan to take a local trip to the beach for our first outing. I was wondering if I could get advice on what type of dishes do most people use in their RV's. I figured that we would stay away from glassware for obvious reasons, but was not all that excited about paper plates. The hard plastic plates I've seen at Target are not microwave-able. What advice can you give me?
Thanks, Tamara

[wildtoad]

We have a set or corel dishes and they work just fine. We stack them but separate them with some foam to keep them from noise and damage. We also have a set of really cheap plastic dishes I use for transporting food from the grill to inside. Plastic drink cups, some insulated.

[Melmoses]

I use a little of both kinds. I have a few corelle dishes for when we are inside eating and want something I can put a knife on without scratching. I use some hard plastic dishware that I got online from Amazon that are microwavable for when we have lots of folks or eat outside. If I had one choice I would go with the plastic set as we use that most of all.

[num1dgh]

Ditto with the corelle. When we bring our teenaged daughter and her friend with us, we tend towards paper plates, but they can be a pain. The paper plates, not the teenagers. We don't even separate the individual corelle dishes in transit, but do separate them by type (using rubber padding between the plates and bowls for example).

[dieselclacker]

We have a set of corelle that has served us well for over 10 years. We also use el cheapo paper plates for microwave heating, sandwich serving etc., and use some styro foam bowls for use with cereal and soups, they work well and don't require washing. We rely on plastic drinking glasses, except for a set of glass wine glasses, (hey, some things you just gotta have the real thing). We use travel cups for coffee, and also carry a set of mugs for when we are at our destination.

Dieselclacker

[TXiceman]

We keep a set of Corelle dishes on the trailer as well as a set of SS flatware. We do keep some paper or foam plates for the rare occasion we do not want to mes with doing the dishes.

One thing we do to keep camping more fun for me as well as the wife is to share kitchen duties. If she does most of the cooking, I clean up the dishes. If I do most of the cooking, she does the dishes. But generally, we both work at it and share duties and makes camping fun for both of us. And YES, I can cook.

[lllkrob]

We use Tupperware hard plastic dishes, cups, bowels, and glasses. Won't break and microwave safe.

[GPW]

Fine China and Waterford crystal for us ... just keep it well padded for travel ...

[Pairajays]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPW Fine China and Waterford crystal for us ... just keep it well padded for travel ...

You bet, why spend $150K or more for a home and eat out of paper plates.

Jim E

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pairajays You bet, why spend $150K or more for a home and eat out of paper plates. Jim E

To avoid washing dishes.

At home and for myself, I use paper plates. For guests, I would use the good stuff. I'll do the same when I start full timing.

[Bill Adams]

We full time so while some may think folks are joking about china, we are not.
We carry a full service for 8 of Blue Danube china as our everyday eating ware, cut crystal carafes for our liquor, silverware for our silverware and real wine glasses, martini glasses and hi-ball glasses (kept frozen in preparation for cocktail hour). We take care to ensure things are not going to be broken during travels but it's not any extra daily work for the dishes but it does take a bit of pre-planning. We also have paper plates and plastic glasses (need these when we head to the hot tub with a glass of wine or a Manhattan from time to time).
If you live in your RV then you should "live" there! We got cut off by an inconsiderate driver a few years back and we had to slam on our brakes to save ourselves from a nasty accident. This cost us 4 dinner plates, 2 cereal bowls and 2 salad plates. I guess considering that we have been full-timing for over 11 years that's not a bad record. We do still drop stuff from time to time, but we did that when we lived in a house as well so I don't count those loses!

[traveler of california]

Paper plates all the way. We use the Dixie plates available at Costco or Sam's Club, the 8.5" size. Tried the plates thing and it is a pain.

Nick

[mustang652]

We carry both Corelle, nice dinner ware and crystal and disposables. While in route to a location, especially stopping for lunches, or just weekend trips we use paper and try to stay away from foam or hard plastic. Once on site for a stay it's the type dishes and table ware that we would use at home.

[LibbyLA]

Corelle. I just got rid of a set that I'd had for at least 35 years and I think my mother has had her set several years longer than that.

It's lightweight and sturdy.

liz