Paper Plates vs. Hard Plates?

[NickTheoBennett]

Wagoneer, I hear you. I grew up in a household that didn't even remotely know the meaning of the word clean. As an adult I have become a fairly clean person, but perhaps my immune system is stronger because of it. I've also been told that my stomach must be made of cast iron and I can't remember the last time I was sick from even a common cold. It's been at least a couple of years.

 

[ArtW]

some stuff i eat straight from the pan, less to clean that way
some stuff I'll use a paper plate, some stuff i use hard plates
On the hard plates, I refuse to use plastic, and especially to heat things, due to the nasty chemistry involved, so at the moment my plates are all stoneware
Problem with those is the break if dropped, I need those tin plates HDR mentioned, WalMart used to have them, maybe they still do
on the cleaning front, I wipe my salad bowl out with a paper towel or washcloth, period, my Iron skillet, the same, my non stick pan, too, unless there's grease involved
my food prep surfaces get sprayed with straight bleach and wiped with a towel
any time I've been sick from food, it's been from eating out, except one time the soup went bad in the fridge because it was just too much for the dorm fridge I use

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

. . .  so at the moment my plates are all stoneware
Problem with those is the break if dropped, I need those tin plates HDR mentioned, WalMart used to have them, maybe they still do

I've used stoneware for 5 years without dropping any; 23 if counting in my S&B.  I carry 1 spare.  I do have aluminum plates you used to get in the cheap nested cookware kits but I don't like eating off them.

Wally world does have enameled steel(?) plates but they 'prettied' them up by putting a shiny ring around the outside.  I think those would be a good hiding place for bugs as it would be impossible to clean under there without immersion in hot water that is in short supply in the desert in my rig.  REI carries both enamel ($) and small SS ($$) plates, if you are interested.

 -- Spiff

 

[Bast]

I know a 10% bleach solution will kill almost anything. However, I can't figure out how you would get rid of bleach water in an rv. You can't, I've been told put it down the sink because it will rot the seals on the tanks.

 

[highdesertranger]

leave the bleach solution outside in the sun(where pets cannot not get to, obviously) the bleach will break down in the sun rather quickly like 2 days at the most depending on the uv intensity. even in city water mains choline's break down after about a week. highdesertranger

 

[bigsallysmom]

My bachelor great uncle used to clean his plate with a slice of bread then turn it upside down on the table. Said the germs couldn't get to it like that. Then again he didn't have any window screens on his house and the chickens would come in. Had an incredible old refrigerator which let off a spark every time it started. His eyesight wasn't the best. Didn't notice the propane heater hadn't lit. Blew the windows out of the house.
I don't recommend his method or his lifestyle.

 

[Tussah]

Vinegar is one of the things that can't get past the slime barrier.  You MUST wash with detergent and hot water first, and THEN you can use a disinfectant (or vinegar).  But if you don't break down the slime coat, you're wasting your time.

I can't speak to the vinegar vs. detergent comparison,  but I guarantee you that hot water is NOT a requirement unless you live in the tropics or have medical issues that warrant special care.  My preschool daughter and I lived in northeast China for 2 years.  Nobody had hot water to wash dishes in, so we just squirted a little dish detergent on to cut the grease, and washed them in cold.   In restaurants, the plates usually came to the table wet from the previous cold water washing, so diners generally wiped them dry with a paper towel before putting food on them.  

Neither of us ever had tummy troubles.  Of course, we both have good digestive systems.  Perhaps delicate tummy people should be more cautious.

If you do want to wash in hot water, the easiest solution is to add some cold water to your cooking pan, let it heat up on the stove and use that hot water to wash your dishes up in.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

 As a kid, I remember we sometimes used paper plates set in a reusable woven wicker "base plate," which also made eating easier.

I bought a set of 4 plastic plate backers at Walmart last summer. They were only a few bucks and they do make using paper plates so much easier.  

We have those wicker backers at the family summer home though, they work just as good and are probably going on 50 years old.

Amazon has some of the bamboo backers........horrible reviews though
https://www.amazon.com/Mainstays-Ba...46&sr=8-1&keywords=wicker+paper+plate+holders


And plastic ones. With much better reviews, but they were a lot cheaper buying similar ones in Walmart.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Bar-B-Q-4...46&sr=8-9&keywords=wicker+paper+plate+holders

 

[Willy]

Paper plates are wasteful and weak.. I eat outta the pot or, at most, use a hard plastic bowl. For cleanup, I apply my dawg and haven't gotten sick yet (tho some of my cooking would gag a maggot). ..Willy.

 

[Hippiechk]

Paper plates are wasteful and weak.. I eat outta the pot or, at most, use a hard plastic bowl. For cleanup, I apply my dawg and haven't gotten sick yet (tho some of my cooking would gag a maggot). ..Willy.

The maggots die from the 3 minute boiling & you know it Willy! For such an awesome human who is currently on my roof hooking up solar...you can be I tad discussing!

Dear mods...I read this aloud to Willy so you don't need to worry, he has no feelings!

***He is actually like the younger brother I never really wanted & can't imagine life without!***

 

[mothercoder]

My degree is in biology. We had a germophobic microbiology professor who had us perform several experiments using different cleaning agents on dinner plates. We would clean the plates using all the methods (including the vinegar option and using a dishwasher) and then take a swab of the clean plate to see if anything would grow. All the plates (including the ones washed in a DW) had some growth ranging from staph to e-coli to salmonella EXCEPT for the plates which received a follow up rinse with boiling water. Not hot water from a tap but water brought to a rolling boil in a kettle. After seeing this, I used to rinse all my dishes with boiling water...for about a month. Then I decided that ranked right up there with obsessive use of hand sanitizer. I rarely get colds or stomach viruses. I use common sense but I don't go overboard. I'm big in reuse and recycle and low carbon footprint. I haven't decided what cleaning method I'll use but I won't be boiling precious water to douse my dishes.

 

[wagoneer]

It's my tried and proven theory, when you expose yourself to all kind of bad bugs your body learns to fight them,when you try to battle the bugs with chemicals to keep them away you will fail. Just stay healthy enough for your bod to fight the fight, you will thank your body later

 

[Willy]

It's my tried and proven theory, when you expose yourself to all kind of bad bugs your body learns to fight them,when you try to battle the bugs with chemicals to keep them away you will fail. Just stay healthy enough for your bod to fight the fight, you will thank your body later

 AFAIK, there's actual evidence to back that up going back decades. People these says are TOO clean and their immune systems can be compromised because of that. ..Willy.

 

[LoupGarou]

Which is better, paper or hard plates?

I use both, with the paper plate backed up with a hard plate for support.

Assurance Extra Large Pre-Moistened Disposable Washcloths, 96ct work well for cleaning up spills.

 

[steamjam1]

The only time I use paper plates is when I am in a hurry, and just want to stuff food down my gobb. Other wise its stainless-steel for everything.

 

[TrainChaser]

The obsession for absolute perfection is a waste of time and energy.

 

[Ticklebellly]

I have a couple of stainless steel plates. Wipe with a paper towel and rinse with boiling water. I also have the bottom centimetre of a cast iron frying pan I found. It had the handle broken off so I took to it with a cutting disk on an angle grinder. Most anything getting fried, like bacon and eggs, gets cooked and eaten off this cast iron plate. Best part about the arrangement is that the food stays hot longer and I have one less thing to wash up. No bugs last long when it goes on the flame next time it comes out of the camp box.

Got a stainless steel 400ml cup too. Goes straight on the gas flame to boil water for a cup of tea.

I find disposable plates and bowls more of a hassle than handy, but that's just me and habits of a long time.

 

[johnny b]