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When we cook at home, we can't avoid dirtying pots and pans. However, you can skip dishwashing duties by using the best disposable plates, whether you're using them at home or putting out plates for a backyard barbecue. For less formal or outdoor parties, disposable plates are a great dinnerware swap.
As with searching for disposable drinkware, the key to finding the best disposable plates for any occasion is to look at sturdy, leakproof designs. We like the Dixie Ultra Paper Plates for an all-purpose option that can handle everything from birthday cake to burgers. As a more eco-friendly alternative, the Bambu Organic Bamboo Plates are compostable and are neutral enough to fit in with any table setting. In assessing the best options, we looked at which plates are eco-friendly and compostable, differences in sizes and design, along with strength and price points.
Our top picks for disposable plates
Best overall: Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty Paper Plates - See at Amazon
With Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty Paper Plates at your picnic, there are no dishes to wash and no messy spills.
Best for weddings: Occasions Wedding Party Pack - See at Amazon
Available in 24 designs, Occasions Wedding Party Pack gives you the look of china without the cost or clean-up.
Best bamboo: Bambu Organic Bamboo Plates - See at Amazon
These sturdy plates are made from certified organic bamboo. They are compostable, come in multiple sizes, and are a great neutral color for any occasion
Best compostable: Stack Man Natural Plates - See at Amazon
These unbleached plates are sturdy and hold up to hot and cold foods, making a great eco-friendly choice in bulk for any occasion
Best overall: Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty Paper Plates
Pros: Sturdy paper plates with leak-proof coating, 11-cents per plate with coupons and sales offered frequently, compostable
Cons: Limited design options, cannot be recycled at home if contaminated with food products
After trying numerous brands, I have found that Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty Paper Plates offer the best disposable plate performance for the best price. The plates are just over 10 inches in diameter and will support up to two pounds of food. Thanks to a proprietary coating, they are soak-proof, cut resistant, and microwaveable. While they can't be recycled at home if contaminated with food, they are compostable in established facilities.
The downside of the plates is that design choices are limited. Dixie has several designs but they tend to run seasonally; so if you find a pattern you like, stock up. But at a cost of around $0.15, I can live with a design that might not be my favorite. Remember, they are going in the trash can right after the meal.
Best for weddings: Occasions Wedding Party Pack
Pros: Sturdy recyclable plastic, 24 designs available, affordable
Cons: Pack options are fixed at 120 or 240-count
Unless you are holding the event in a full-service facility, renting china is expensive and borrowing enough plates for everyone is a hassle. Luckily, there are Occasions Wedding Party Packs.
The pack includes 10.5-inch dinner plates and smaller dessert or salad plates that are 7.5 inches. While sturdy enough to support a steak, the white plastic background is quite translucent like fine bone china and looks best on white or very light-colored linens. The plates can actually be hand washed and reused several times. I don't recommend using these in a microwave; however, the plastic is recyclable and BPA free.
My favorite thing about the packs is how many design options are offered. Some cost a bit more but you are still getting plates at a cost of $0.30 to $0.42 each. That's less than $1 per person for a dinner and dessert place setting.
Best bamboo: Bambu Organic Bamboo Plates
Pros: Strong and sturdy, compostable, multiple size options
Cons: High price point per plate, not microwaveable
These bamboo plates are great for everyday use, but they also look nice enough for special occasions. Because of their strength and sturdiness, and depending on what you serve, it's possible to extend their life even further and reuse these plates after a quick wash with a sponge. You don't have to worry about these plates collapsing under the pressure of heavy, wet foods
These plates are made from certified organic bamboo without chemicals or dyes, making them compostable and biodegradable. At $1.00 to $1.50 per plate, they are on the pricier side, but with multiple sizes including 7, 9, and 11-inch plates in packs of 8 or 25, you can choose the best size and number to suit your needs.
Best compostable: Stack Man Natural Plates
Pros: Multiple size options, strong and sturdy, microwaveable, grease resistant
Cons: Limited design, hot foods may cause condensation
Finding an eco-friendly choice is crucial for many paper plate users. This natural option from Stack Man fits the bill. You can choose from seven, nine, and 10-inch round plates, or opt for a nine-inch plate with three sections for those who hate when their foods touch.
These unbleached plates are made from sugarcane fiber, which means they are a sustainable, biodegradable option. They're strong and sturdy enough to hold up to barbecue feasts, along with being grease resistant to keep food from seeping through. Use them in the microwave or freezer and with hot or cold foods, but be aware that hot foods may cause a bit of condensation to form on the bottom.
They come in bulk in packs of 125 plates, so you'll have an eco-friendly, best disposable plate option at $0.13 to $0.22 each.
What to look for
Size: Consider what you're serving. Cupcakes or dinner roles don't require 12-inch rounds, but a full barbecue dinner might. When in doubt, a standard dinner plate size is about 10 inches, so a pack of those will cover your bases.
Quantity: To ensure you don't run out, in general we recommend buying the best disposable plates in bulk if you have the space. Stick them in your pantry and you'll be ready for when you need a break from dish washing or you have unexpected guests.
Material: Though many material options exist, the best disposable plates are sturdy enough to hold sauce and meat without soaking through or becoming structurally weak. We prefer plates that are compostable and made with bio-degradable materials.
Mary Marlowe Leverette Freelance Writer Mary Marlowe Leverette is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in home, kitchen, and gardening. As an expert in laundry and home care, her work has appeared on numerous sites. Mary holds a master's degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. Go Gamecocks! When she is not writing about products for Business Insider, you can find her entering recipe contests and searching for the best shells on the beach.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Read more Read less Molly Allen Molly Allen is a former bakery owner and event planner. Now, a freelance writer and editor covering food and beverage, lifestyle, travel, and parties, she brings her years of experience and industry knowledge to readers across a variety of platforms. Her work has appeared in Taste of Home, Brides, Cidercraft Magazine, among others. Follow her on Instagram @mollyallenmedia. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
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