Do you regularly use disposable plates?

[momof1princess]

we use paper plates almost exclusively, but use real bowls and utensils. i don't have a dishwasher (except my own two hands) and, although i love cooking, i HATE washing dishes. i also buy plastic spoons, but those are pretty much just to throw in DD13's lunch; i do grab one every now and then for soup or chili, if i'm in a hurry.

 

[AKL_Megs]

When I COOK we use "real" plates.

If we get take-out, pizza (even DiGiorno), or the like, or for sandwiches and lunches, we use styrofoam plates.

 

[njmom47]

I usually have paper plates in the house, because we don't eat as a family much (oldest dd doesn't really live home, middle dd works/is out w/friends, ds eats cereal 5 times a day it seems, dh sleeps during dinner bc he works nights) so it's easier to use them than to wait for the dishwasher to fill up when really only 1 person is eating. When I do cook on the weekends, though, we use real plates.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We hardly ever cover stuff in the microwave. When we do, I usually just use a paper towel. I do have those plastic tupperware things to cover with, I just forget about them. It would never have occurred to me to use a paper plate, though. I guess that's since I don't have them around, except for the stray leftover party ones (they come in packs of 8, and I always have to buy 16 when I just need 12).

We are constantly using the microwave to heat stuff up and it would be a sloppy mess if we did not use a paper plate.

 

[cassandrap83]

This is so funny.

We never ever use paper plates. We have never had a problem running out of plates either -- we run the dishwasher once or twice per day.

My family doesn't use them for parties or anything. The only time a paper plate is used is for birthday cake!

I think it is incredibly wasteful.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

We only use paper plates for parties. I'm also surprised at how many people use them regularly. I'm not judging, either, but for me, I'm a reduce, reuse, recycle kind of gal and I would feel really wasteful using paper plates all the time. We also have the same plates we got for our wedding 18 years ago. A couple have a small nick but mostly they are in great shape.

I'm curious though, for those that use paper plates all the time, do you also use plastic silverware?

Also how else do you cover the stuff in your microwave?

I have one of these: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/outlet/food-prep-&-storage/microwave-cover/f32883

 

[ols386]

We use mostly paper plates, and paper bowls too. If we have company, we might use china plates though.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm curious though, for those that use paper plates all the time, do you also use plastic silverware?

I have one of these: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/outlet/food-prep-&-storage/microwave-cover/f32883

Oh yea, I am going to want to wash that? Um not.

We use real silverware. Plus I use real plates and bowls as well.

In fact I will use 2 paper plates to heat stuff up. One under the bowl that gets too hot and one on top of it for splatters.

Maybe you love to do dishes or something? If I did not use paper plates I would have to run the dishwasher 3 times a day.

 

[Meriweather]

Hardly ever.....just for parties. That's pretty much it.
I prefer real plates and love mine, so they are what we just all the time. Not even sure where the paper ones are since we moved 8 months ago.

 

[Disney Doll]

Paper plates for picnics/barbeques. Occasionally I will use them for a quick meal like pizza or something. As a general rule we use real plates.

 

[disneychic2]

We hardly ever use paper plates. I use wax paper when covering food for the microwave. I love eating on different plates. I have several sets of two or four and they are smaller than regular plates to aid with portion control. I also have a full set of snowman plates that I get out at Thanksgiving and use until mid-March. If you're just eating pizza or sandwiches, it's just a quick swipe and they're clean. I don't find it to be a ton of extra work to do that or throw them in the dishwasher.

 

[RadioNate]

Rarely, I'm sure I don't have any in the house. If I were having a birthday party or something I'd probably get some to use.

We certainly don't use them on any sort of regular basis.

I have a dishwasher. I use plates and run it. I see no sense in spending money to create more trash.

 

[ols386]

Oh yea, I am going to want to wash that? Um not.

We use real silverware. Plus I use real plates and bowls as well.

In fact I will use 2 paper plates to heat stuff up. One under the bowl that gets too hot and one on top of it for splatters.

Maybe you love to do dishes or something? If I did not use paper plates I would have to run the dishwasher 3 times a day.

It's only the two of us, but if we did not use paper plates/bowels, we'd probably need to run our dishwasher every day or every other day. We use real silverware too.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Everyday, we even use paper bowls most of the time. We hardly ever use the real plates, and I have a brand new set. But, I can't stand to drink out of a paper/plastic cup, unless at a picnic, outside, or at work

I work at least 40 hours a week, Dh works at least 40-50 hours a week, and it is just DH and I, we work opposite shifts and he doesn't do dishes, and with the age of our house and the sewage system, we can't have a dishwasher.

Suzanne

 

[Pinkpony]

Paper plates and silverware every day...unless it's steak, then we use real plates because the paper plates do not hold up to the knife. (we buy the thin cheap ones)

 

[mommasita]

Always.

Due to my illnesses, I drop EVERYTHING. I was breaking at least one type of dish/cup a day, and this is SOOO much easier.

I do hate the waste , and if it is just toast or something of the like, I will wash it and reuse it.

 

[mtemm]

rarely if ever. sometimes in the summer when we bbq, but even then we mostly use regular plates. I did pick some up at target this past week because they had a ton on clearance. 37 cents a pack could not be passed up! I expect they will last us years, though.

we are a family of 5 and run the dishwasher once a day. works for us!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Oh yea, I am going to want to wash that? Um not.

We use real silverware. Plus I use real plates and bowls as well.

In fact I will use 2 paper plates to heat stuff up. One under the bowl that gets too hot and one on top of it for splatters.

Maybe you love to do dishes or something? If I did not use paper plates I would have to run the dishwasher 3 times a day.

To each their own, but it's not hard to wash it. A quick rinse and it's clean, unless something particularly oily splattered onto it, then it might take an extra 5 second wipe with a sponge. And it gets thrown in the dishwasher when it needs it, too.

Funny how different people perceive things differently. I use potholders for hot bowls in the microwave, too. To me, it seems like it would take more time to get out a paper plate and throw it in the trash than to grab a potholder. I don't love to wash dishes, but I have a dishwasher and everything goes right in there. We do eat out probably a little more than average, but with 4 people, most of our meals are at home and we only have to run the dishwasher about every other day, unless I've baked or something.

 

[boyob13]

We tend to use paper plates most of the time, but we also have a two sets (a blue-rimmed and some Polish pottery ones) that we use for more hearty meals. On the other hand, we always use regular bowls and switch between the ones that came with the plates and the Polish pottery ones (which I prefer using). We also use regular utensils, as we bought a new pack about 6 months ago to replace the ones we've had forever.

 

[tar heel]

This thread is truly surprising. I use paper plates once or twice a year. There's four of us home now. I run the dishwasher when it's full, which usually works out to five-six times a week.