I have JC Penney brand white dishes. They are very sturdy, but also very heavy. I think just about every vendor/brand/store makes some variation of white so your best bet may be to just search around. I've actually been impressed (though I haven't purchased any) by the IKEA brand of white dishes. Theirs seems sturdy, and the price is definitely right! Bed Bath and Beyond also sells white sets, as does Target...lots of choices around, that's for sure.

I love my creamy white Corelle! It holds up better than any ceramic set I had, and it's thin and light.

My great-aunt used her very simple gold-rimmed Noritake every day and it came down to me - not for every day in my house, with my children. But when people are helping me serve for a holiday dinner, and some of the Corelle comes out with my aunt's china, it looks fine there - no temptation for me to upbraid clueless males for clashing patterns ;)

I know there was a long, long thread on the same topic in the last year with lots of helpful advice--I hope you can find it!

In the meantime, here are my 2 thoughts:

1. Square dishes are soooo easy to chip. I hate them except for occasional serving pieces. But maybe the Corelle ones would be stronger.

2. I have Crate and Barrel white dishes that I love. It's their basic line, and there are lots of pieces to choose from. They don't chip, and hardly ever break. Food presentation is awesome with them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crate and Barrel Aspen Dinnerware

I have corningware white dishes and they're attractive and durable. No chips after a few years of everyday use and I'm not overly careful when loading the dishwasher. One bowl broke but only after I dropped it on a slate floor :-).

They also withstand high heat. I had some basic white dishes before that I returned because they cracked in the microwave.

I have some white dishes from Mikasa and I do not like them. They chip and craze easily. Once they have crazed, food gets absorbed into them. I plan to replace them soon.

This is a timely thread.... I too need everyday dishes. I'm still using some old Blue and White Corelle from my "blue" kitchen days. DH just 5 minutes ago dropped his oatmeal bowl on the wood floor...it hit hard...bounced...rolled...and didn't even crack.

Apparently it wasn't meant for me to get rid of those ugly things.

I will be replacing with a cream or white Corelle set.

Tuesday

I love my Aspen dishes from Crate and Barrel. Not as tough as Corelle...but I've had an aversion to Corelle since the day I dropped a plate and it DID break...into a million tiny shards. Each sharp enough for a surgeon...

You could buy a couple patterns to mix and match, which is visually more pleasing than seeing a stack of the same pattern. Try TJMaxx, HomeGoods, Ross or the best and most inexpensive is the local thrift store.

Our HomeGoods has a bunch of white hotel-style dinner sets on sale right now, so if you have one near you it might be worth checking out.

I like corelle except for one thing: I can't stand the way it feels when you use your table knife on it.

Another plus for Corelle: it is made in the USA, or was when I bought mine four years ago.

Factory jobs for Americans, and no worries about lead.

I looked for a long time for inexpensive white dishes so I could have enough to set the entire table when its pulled out for 24 people. I've had a set of Gibson (pattern in link) white everyday dishes for about 10 years. No chips at all. My only complaint is that a couple of the plates aren't exactly flat. Doesn't bother when they're on the table on a place mat, just noticable when they are stacked. After all they are just our everyday dishes. They are medium weight, not as light as corelle, but not heavy like some dishes. I bought them at Big Lots; got 3 sets for $15 each. Each set is 8 place setting with 6 additional serving pieces in each set. Then found some odds and ends pieces at Goodwill, so I have alot of these dishes. I don't use the cups and saucers very much, but every once in awhile it's nice to have 24 matching cups and saucers.

If you have a bad back, I would suggest putting dishes in a drawer if you can.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gibson White Dishes

Love, love, love my Correlle and don't have or use anything else. The set I'm using is one of the original patterns and is 39 years old.

Several years back I bought a new set with a floral pattern I 'thought' I really liked. Well, I soon tired of it and gave it to a friend who really likes it.

Square white Corelle sounds interesting, but I wonder if in time one would tire of the shape, just as I got tired of the pattern. I'd suggest just getting a small starter set and using it for a while to see how you like the square shape and how it fits your new storage.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Snowflake Corelle

Mine are the diner whites from Fishs Eddy. I love them. Super sturdy but they are a bit heavy when loading in and out of an upper cabinet. Mine are round but they also come in 8" square.

I recently switched over to white dishes as well. I do think they look better with the food and have a nice simplicity about them. I decided to go with a mixture of white Corelle and Lenox everyday China. I got 10 place settings of Lenox 'Aspen Ridge' from Overstock.com for a great price. I love these dishes! They are lightweight (not huge and heavy like my old Pfaltzgraff) and so smooth. They are fine for dishwasher and microwave. They are the perfect marriage of sturdy yet streamlined. The coffee mugs fit just right in my hand, and the bowls are great for cereal.

Next, I went to Walmart (who sells individual pieces of white Corelle) and bought a bunch of the small and bigger bowls. The small bowls are good for ice cream or for my kids to use for cereal. The bigger bowls are good for soup or chilli. I got a few plates and saucers as well.

The whites mix beautifully together. The only issue I have had with Corelle over the years is what the other poster mentioned--when they break they BREAK. It is actually pretty dangerous. If you do break one, it is a few hours of meticulous clean up time, and even then, you still run the risk of stepping on a stray shard that few far away.

The last bit of advice I would give you is to stay away from square plates. They are sort of out of date at this point, and not practical at all. I hate eating off them! They also chip really easily.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lenox Aspen Ridge

I hate eating off them!
I wondered about that too...like it might take some adjustment time or something to get used to them. Guests then, might not ever get adjusted to or like them.

Noritake now makes an all-white casual dinnerware and I can highly recommend them. I've had a set for 16 years and the salad plates and bowls started showing chips just this past year.

I've looked at many brands the past few months but I couldn't find any with a soup/cereal bowl like Noritake's. The other styles had bowls that were either too narrow or too deep so I was very happy to see Noritake came out with a solid color!
You may be able to find some good sales during the holidays.

I don't think you can do better than Corelle for light weight, durable dishes that stack in a small amount of space, As a bonus, they are made in the USA and you don't need to worry about lead or other contaminants, as someone else noted above.

I have the square plates in the Pure White. They are quite large, so I use the lunch plates as dinner plates and I didn't buy the dinner plates at all. That was based on the clerk's recommendation, and I'm glad I took her advice.

I also have the round Dazzling White pattern and I absolutely love them, too. They are classic and a little nicer than the Winter Frost White pattern and will never go out of style.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dazzling White Corelle

I have had the same white dishes since I got married (17 yrs ago!) and still love them. They are from Bennington Pottery in Vermont. They have a white on white glaze that is simple but gives the pieces some depth and character. They are super sturdy, I have only had to replace plates that I fully dropped on the floor.

I originally got them at Crate and Barrel but they don't sell them any more, I order replacement plates from their website.

{{!gwi}}

I have Maison dishes from Crate and Barrel. We bought them 5 years ago when we moved into our home. They are very durable and food looks great on them. I buy all kinds of white serving pieces at Home Goods.

I think if I had kids at home, I would be looking at Corelle also. My sister had her for almost 40 years.

My dishese are Mikasa Italian Countryside, and I love them. They are not bright white, but they are quite durable etc. I got most of mine for my wedding gifts. Both of my sister in laws and my neice all have the same pattern and it's just a great look IMO.

Oh good suggestions - I'll have to check these out. I should have replaced my every day dishes years ago but I haven't found anything I like. And I'm looking for a creamy white too.

I detest the thin white Corelle, it reminds me of the Melmac my MIL had. However I absolutely love my Corning Cornerstone dishes but they were discontinued a long time ago. They were introduced to compete with the heavy stoneware like Pfaltzgraff are more durable. They're thicker and heavier than the thin Corelle but not nearly as hefty as Pfaltzgraff. They also have a completely smooth underside so you can use them on wood tables without worrying about scratches or using placemats. Unfortunately they're now worn out after 25 years of constant use.

I looked at Mikasa Italian Countryside but several people have told me that they scratch easily. I guess it's time I start researching again.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornerstone

Here's one of the threads about dishes from last year- golddust started in.

Here is a link that might be useful: What pattern is your everyday dishes?

And here's a more recent one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Everyday dishes

You can't beat Corelle for sturdy and lightweight. I still use some of it for breakfast and lunch. For dinner I prefer bone and porcelain china. Have a mix of Wedgwood, Johnson Bros., and Villeroy & Boch ... all purchased at TJ Maxx or Marshall's.

I have a set of Gibson fruit dishes. The huge turkey platter is SO heavy! And yes, it takes a lot of stacking room. I've had it for years and still like it, though.

But I also have an old set of Corelle Meadow (this dates me!):

It's the Corelle that I use every day because it's lightweight, break-resistant, microwave-able, and stacks neatly.

I have my mother's Spode -- Fairy Dell -- but it's sentimental.

If you're wanting space-saving stacking and versatile good looks, have you considered clear glass? They don't impart color to your food. They stack neatly. You can always mix and match. They add a lot of sparkle to a table and look great with cut crystal and fancy goblets. They never go out of style. You could even have fun finding an older pattern that you love and collecting them.

I have Villeroy & Boch Manoir. Technically "retired" but basic pieces still available on V&B's eshop site. Versatile and sturdy yet thin enough that they don't become ridiculously hot in the microwave.

Thanks for all of your recommendations, everyone! I'm going to check out the ones mentioned and posted.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

I miss my Corell. I have a set of Mikasa that was great for about 2 years and is now starting to chip.

I have had my Mikasa italian countryside for going on 7 years and have no vible scratches, I did have one bowl chip but that was my fault as I haphazardly banged it into the others when putting it away. miscalculated where it needed to go..

try white Fiesta Ware, also made in the USA!

My son has had the square, white Coralle dishes for several years. They look great and are very functional (don't understand the "hate eating off them" comment). They are easy to accessorize with colorful linens, etc. If reaching is an issue for you, I would think that their light weight would be a real asset. I have begun to notice the weight of my stoneware dishes lately and am considering adding a set of Coralle myself. Years ago I had a set of bright white Corning brand dishes (pre Coralle) and found them to be very versatile.

I have a smile on my face seeing Corelle Meadow---I received those dishes at my bridal shower! (1987)I never really liked how thin they were, but reading the responses I can see that I am in the minority.
I like plain white these days, and have the Aspen Crate and Barrel. I recently bought a set of 4 white plates and bowls from Ikea, and highly recommend them...they are very inexpensive and look terrific.

I was looking for something else and noticed that Macy's has 3 different white patterns (round, square and fluted rim) in their after Christmas 2 day sale -- 42 pc set (6 place settings with extra bowls) for $39.99. Those are Gibson and made of porcelain.

My everyday white is the Hotel Collection bone china. I waited to get them on sale, with the extra percentage off for using a Macy's card and opened a new account when they were giving another 20% off for 2 days with a new account. I realize bone china is not typically everyday ware, but I love the lighter weight, silky feel and durability of bone china, and I got them for a better price than about half of the porcelain options I was looking at.

Lenox's Tin Can Alley and Aspen Ridge are both great patterns. A family member selected them for their wedding registry (she mixed the patterns) and I really liked them.

"If you're wanting space-saving stacking and versatile good looks, have you considered clear glass? They don't impart color to your food. They stack neatly. You can always mix and match. They add a lot of sparkle to a table and look great with cut crystal and fancy goblets. They never go out of style. "

This is what I use for parties and family gatherings. I got mine from Bed Bath & Beyond years ago, and Oceann's right-they are so versatile. They look as nice when 'dressed up' with all the trimmings she mentioned at my Thanksgiving party as they do for my more simple book club luncheons. A couple of years ago I lucked out and happened to find 2 dozen glass salad plates in the same style, on clearance for a dollar a plate. So now I've got those as well. VERY handy to have around!

Ann

I love dishes, except Corelle. It's the polyester double-knit of china.

Yeah, yeah, we've heard it before.

I also love my glass dishes, like runninginplace. But I have to say that after twenty years of miserable water and crummy dishwashers they have etched. I especially like my flat, rimmed soup bowls/salad plates and wish I could find replacements for those, but all the glass I can find these days has small deep bowls instead. Not nearly as good for nice presentations.

But if you're interested in glass, try your local thrift stores. I've seen some really pretty glass sets in the ones around here.

Oceanna, I had those same Gibson dishes for years! I love them especially the GIANT mugs. Unfrotunately i was down to a few plates so they had to go.

So funny this thread is up, I was going to get Corelle, could find 2 sets of square locally and just ended up with some dished I love from Kohls. They are white with a ridged edge. Love white dishes!

As far as I'm concerned nothing can compete with Corelle. It is made in America too.

Does anyone have a set of the Sur La Table Porcelain 24-Piece Dinnerware Set? I like the looks of it and
it's on sale with free shipping.

Another who thinks Corelle is cheap looking as well as actually cheap. Ideefixee put it well! LOL!
But there are some occasions when polyester double knit and corelle are OK. I have finally amassed enough plain white Haviland Ranson plates so serve about 45, but if I hadn't run across that last pile of about 20, I would have gone to the outlet mall and bought a stack of Corelle where they are $1 each. May still do that and ditch the old Melmac that I use for casual picnics and tailgates.
There are lots of other inexpensive dishes that are lots nicer than corelle.

Linda, aren't those Corelle dishes great for serving bear?

Corelle might not be the coolest kid in town but I happily ate off of them for 20 years. The only reason I gave them up was when I got into blogging and acquired a bedroom and half a garage full of dishes and such. So it's definitely not the money part; I'm looking for something that is light enough for me to move around by myself and that will fit into a compact space. I'm moving from a large house to a two bedroom condo where I will no outside storage or attic or any of that. Really that's what got me thinking about Corelle again. And I figured getting the white ones would be classic and go with everything.

I went with the Corelle and went out today and got settings for eight for less than $100. I actually kind of feel like I'm "coming home again." I was never a dish snob until I got in to blogging. And what I ended up with are tons and tons of heavy dishes that take up a lot of space and are chipping left and right after only a couple years' use.

Tammy, any chance you know Jain from the once in a blue moon blog? Talk about dish (and everything else) overload!

Natal, I do know Jain. Her blog has been one of my favorites. And you're right; she's got a ton of stuff. Jain's posts could always take me away as if to an exotic location. I love the pretty pictures she posts in her gardens and such.

Blogging just got to be too much for me. Besides all the dishes, I acquired numerous amouts of table linens and candles and candleholders.

I have found that porcelain holds up best. My Apilco dishes from Williams-Sonoma have been going strong for 20 years (omg, can't believe I've been married that long...). W-S has many white patterns, PLUS all tabletop is 20% through tomorrow.

To each his own when it comes to dishware~~Corelle, China, Stoneware, or even vintage Melmac. Expensive OR cheap, if you like it, who cares.

I bought a creamy white set from Penney's almost 8 years ago, and still love them as much as when they were new. The cabinet they're in is a dark stain w/glass doors, and it's a nice look, very clean. I don't think you can go wrong with white, ivory, or taupe dishware. ;o)

Segbrown, thank you for posting about your Apilco porcelain. I'd never looked at dinnerware sets at WS and wasn't familiar with the Apilco. After you mentioned it, I went on their Website today and ordered eight of the plates to start. And so great with the 20% off. Like I said in my previous post I did buy settings for eight of the Corelle. I'll use those for everyday and then I can pull out the Apilco occasionally and mix in as a lot have said do with their white dishes. Reviews for the Apilco said that store compactly and one person said that she has arthritis (I do too) and that they are light enough for her to handle, so they should work well for me.

Pattycakes, you're right that neutral dishes are great for a classic look. I've always had patterned dinnerware but I'm looking forward to starting out in my new place fresh with clean white dishes.

I have two different patterns of white dishes that I bought at Ross and they were really cheap. They've really help up well! I'd suggest looking there.