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Best Dishes for RV Camping

Anyone else hate doing the dishes as much as me?  It’s one of those necessary evils that we all must endure, and even more so when we’re camping!  At least in an RV you usually have a sink with running water.  I grew up washing our camping dishes with a bucket under a spigot.  Old school!

If you’re looking for the best all-around dishes for your RV, I suggest a set of Corelle dishes.  They are virtually unbreakable, sturdy, easy to clean and will probably last longer than your camper. 

So why not get the best glamping dishes possible? I have taken the liberty of reviewing a few options to help you decide:

• Premium – Corelle 18-piece Dinnerware Set
• Value – Preserve 12-piece Tableware Set
• Budget – IKEA 36-piece Dinnerware Set
  
  

	Corelle Premium Choice	Preserve Value Choice	IKEA Budget Choice
No. of Pieces	6 – Dinner Plates 6 – Bread Plates 6 – Bowls	4 – Plates 4 – Bowls 4 – Cups	6 – Plates 6 – Bowls 6 – Cups
Includes Utensils	No	No	Yes Knives, Forks, and Spoons for 6
Use	Dishwasher, Microwave, and Oven safe	Dishwasher safe	Microwave and Dishwasher safe
Material	Triple-layer strong glass	100% recycled BPA-free plastic	Polypropylene
Cost	$$$	$$	$

Premium Choice Dishes – Corelle

Let’s start with the higher option first. The Corelle 18-piece dinnerware set is their basic package. You can choose from a number of colors and designs to suit your style, but the price varies with other selections.

I have a set of Corelle dishes in my 5^th wheel that were handed down to me.  They have held up great and we don’t put anything between them when stacking them in a cupboard.  We have traveled down some bumpy roads and they haven’t cracked or chipped.

Now as you can see in the chart, this set does not include utensils or cups.  It is service for 6 with a dinner plate, bread plate and soup/cereal bowl. Another thing to point out with this set is that is the only one of the 3 options that is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. That’s a big deal.

Click here to check out the Corelle colors and patterns on Amazon

Value Choice Dishes – Preserve

Next we have the Preserve 12-piece tableware set. This set differs in that it is a non-breakable material and is 100% recycled and BPA-free plastic. It offers service for 4 with plates, bowls and cups.

Also no utensils in this bundle but they do offer a 24-piece set you could add on for roughly $9.00. While these are dishwasher safe, they do not say microwave safe. So keep that in mind for all the ways you might be using these dishes.

Click Here to see the Preserve Dishes price on Amazon

Budget Choice Dishes – IKEA

Lastly we have the very colorful IKEA 36-piece dinnerware set. This one is an all-inclusive service for 6 including plates, bowls, cups and utensils. All made from polypropylene, a type of plastic. But also, intended for children. So unless you’re traveling with youngsters or you just have a really small appetite, you might want to rule these out.

Click Here to see the IKEA set on Amazon

Quality vs. Quantity

Now that we have a general understanding of what each product is, our next task is to take a closer look at what you’re really getting. A lot of times we try to get the most “bang for our buck” but there’s another saying that warns us, “you get what you pay for.” Let’s see if that’s true with these options.

With the Corelle set, you are buying a household name. This company has been making dishes since I think before my great-grandparents were alive. Corelle boasts of a highly durable, break and chip-resistant dish. So while this may not seem like the obvious choice to take camping, believe it or not, they might last longer than you think.

Preserve also has a superior product that apparently can be used for decades without degrading. So if you’re still nervous about having slightly breakable plates, maybe Preserve is a better option for you. However, keep in mind you are only getting service for 4 and would therefore be doubling your cost if you needed to buy more than that.

The IKEA set is actually designed for children 3 and up. It’s not really meant to be adult dinnerware. They are definitely durable and you sure do get a whole bunch for your money, but the actual size of each piece is very small. You would almost want to at least find a larger dinner plate option to go with this set. But if you’re looking for something that can get beat up and you won’t feel bad that you spent a ton of money on it, then these might be for you.

Customer Reviews

So what do people have to say about these options in the real world? Well the first piece of good news is that each option I’ve discussed has gotten at least 4 ½ stars on Amazon, so we know they are widely enjoyed. But I’d like to point out a few specifics that I noticed about each product’s reviews.

Corelle

Many people commented on its durability and how lightweight it is. Quite a few mentioned that it is a great set for using outdoors and even one mentioned this is their preferred set for their RV! One other thing I found helpful was the repeated mention of being able to easily get replacement dishes if they did break.

Preserve

A consistent positive review I saw on these was that many people were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the plastic. A few did mention that the dishwasher does have an effect on them and they are better off hand-washed. But otherwise, they seem like a good plastic option without all the chemicals in them.

IKEA

Well seeing as how all the reviews I read on these were about peoples’ kids, I would reinforce what I stated earlier. I think if you just need a set for little snacks or quick bites, then this would work. They would also be good to have on hand for hiking trips or little excursions away from the RV. But I personally would not choose them as my main dishes set.

Wrap Up

These of course are not the only options out there, but more of a representation of the different price range choices you have. I recommend using the Corelle set if you think you will mostly be eating meals inside your RV kitchen or at a table. It can be a nice comfort to eat on a real plate sometimes. But if you only want to travel with non-breakable then the Preserve set or something similar will be your best option. While you do not get as many pieces as the IKEA set, you do get a safer quality plastic and adult-sized dinnerware.

If you also need help deciding on what cookware to stock you RV’s kitchen with, checkout this article with my favorite cookware for your camper.

All this talk of dishes is making me hungry. So go enjoy a delicious meal around the campfire for me!