The 5 Best Salad Plates

Salad plates are the dinner plates smaller best friend: the perfect size for a downsized version of dinner if you're watching your waistline, serving lunch, or simply for serving salad. They even work well as an appetizer serving dish when you're entertaining friends (think wings, fresh veggies, or a cheese plate). As a bonus, they don't take up much room in your cupboards because they're inches smaller than their dinner plate counterparts. But when it comes to setting a table, how do we choose which salad plate to go for? We all want a beautiful, unique plate design that speaks a bit to who we are. Do you tend toward functionality? Dainty plates? Colorful designs? What you pick in a place setting says a lot about who you are, whether you're aware of it or not. Our personal spaces always speak to that, in fact, and dinnerware is simply an extension of our personal aesthetic. If this sounds a bit overwhelming, don't worry. We've perused thousands of options and come up with the best 5 salad plates to update your dinnerware set.

Corelle Winter Frost Plate Set

As Functional as it Gets

Corelle's lightweight, durable salad plates are highly functional, simple, and pretty: a fantastic choice for the every-day salad plate.

Best Overall

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The simple white of these salad plates is a pretty addition to any dinner table. With the ability to dress-up or dress-down these plates (think: placements or colorful dinner plates underneath), these plates are delightfully uncomplicated. With the smooth white of each 8.5 inch round plate, you’ll also be adding a bit of minimalist design and functionality to your tablescape.

The secret behind Corelle’s popularity is Vitrelle glass, a three-layer glass firing technique that leaves the plates incredibly strong and virtually chip-and-crack proof. Vitrelle is a specialty glass that is made in the USA and, as a bonus, comes with a 3-year warranty. There are multiple size setting options as well, from 6 plates all the way up to a 24 piece salad plate setting.

Pros:

Casual dinnerware. No frills, no fuss.
Microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe.
Non-porous, lightweight glassware that is extremely easy to clean.
Durable, long-lasting plate set.

Cons:

For a more fine or formal table setting, these dishes might be a bit too casual.

Delling Ceramic Rectangular Salad Plates

An Updated Classic

A much needed switch-up from the familiar round salad plate: a beautiful rectangular ceramic design.

Runner-Up

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Kicking the simplicity of a round, white plate up a notch with an unexpected rectangular shape, this set offers a refreshing take on the traditional salad plate. Made from a sturdy porcelain, these plates are easily stackable, will not warp with time or use, and are even tolerant of high temperatures (590 degrees F), making them safe for use in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher.

Delling’s superior company practices also ensure that these are made to be compliant for FDA and SGS kitchen safety certification. And while most salad plates come as a flat plate, these rectangular ones have a gentle curve around the edges for a streamlined functionality that effortlessly updates your place setting. The result? A chic, classy look.

Pros:

A bit larger size for a salad plate, measuring 5″ x 8″ x 1″, which makes them appropriate for a delicious salad as well as being useful for an appetizer serving platter.
Clean, white, smooth porcelain that is easy to clean and versatile.

Cons:

If you’re vegan, stay away. These are made from bovine bone powder with a process that creates a durable plate, but with ingredients that are obviously not vegan.

Sweese Salad Bowl Plates

Understated Color and Sleek Design

The lip on this design by Sweese is a bit higher than is typical, creating an extremely versatile salad plate.

Best Plate-Bowl

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Sweese’s not-quite-a-plate, not-quite-a-bowl design are a gorgeous take on the original salad plate. Available in three color schemes, you can add a pop of color to your table with this set. Our personal favorite? The cool ombre-blue option. While the design and colors of these plates certainly make these plates a contender, it’s the functionality that truly wins us over. With a 22 ounce capacity, these salad plates can be used for everything from pastas to fruit bowls to burrito bowls to yes, salads. The lip of the bowl is substantial enough to keep dressings and sauces contained, while not so high as to function as a deeper bowl.

These professional-grade, FDA-approved salad plates are made of a lead-free, non-toxic ceramic that is chip-resistant and hardy…while also being safe to use in the dishwasher, microwave, oven, and even the freezer. Sweese has a variety of other tableware, as well, with a wide choice of colors and shapes to choose from. Standing alone with your current place set, they are a wonderful addition. However, you can also mix and match among their other products, creating a unique and fun tablescape that can be both appropriate for casual and fine dining parties.

Pros:

Professional-grade porcelain that is very durable.
Easy to clean.
Colorful options for each set of six salad plates.

Cons:

Plates are a bit heavier than the typical salad plate.

Premier Housewares Monkey Pod Salad Set

Monkey Pod's Wooden Plates are a Hit

This deeply toned, rustic-looking wooden salad plate set is understated in its beauty and yet highly functional.

Best Wooden Plate Set

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If glassware, porcelain, or pottery aren’t your thing…perhaps these gorgeous, deep-tone wooden bowls are. Made by Premier Housewares (an Amazon Global Store), and coming in a 7 piece set, this is a unique option for updating your salad plate setting. Although typical place settings for finer dining might not include wood, you’d be surprised at how beautiful the presentation of a salad is in a simple wooden bowl. Because of this distinct look, this set is totally appropriate for a more formal dinner party. It’s also durable, easy-to-clean, and practical for every-day use. While the most common complaint among customers was the smaller size of these bowls, this is a high-quality salad plate set that looks lovely no matter the occasion.

This set comes as a 7 piece set, with four salad bowls, one large serving bowl, and a large wooden fork and matching wooden spoon for serving.

Pros:

Wooden dinnerware is not typical, so this set has a unique factor.
Full salad set, not just plates.

Cons:

Small size.
Requires a bit of upkeep. It is best to hand wash this set without submerging in water. You’ll also need to periodically oil the entire set to keep it from drying and cracking.

Certified International Tunisian Sunset Salad Plates

Funky Pop of Color

Certified International's fresh, colorful salad plate set is like artwork for your table.

Most Colorful

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If you’re looking for a more boho-inspired pop of color on your table, this colorful and funky salad plate set by Certified International will definitely serve that purpose. Made with lead-free ceramic, these plates are incredibly colorful with hand-painted, detailed designs.

This set comes in a set of four, with each round plate measuring 8.75 inches. There are other plate settings from this company with accompanying colors and designs, so you can create a truly fresh look. Or, if you have more simple, plain place settings, adding these salad plates will bring a bit of cheerful color to your tablescape. Just a fair warning: some customers found these to be so pretty, they’ve scrapped using them as salad plates and instead use them as wall art.

Pros:

Dishwasher safe.
Vibrant artwork on each plate in contrasting but coordinating color and designs.

Cons:

Although technically microwave safe, customers found they easily overheat.
Only come in a setting of four plates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average size of a salad plate?

The typical size for a salad plate actually comes in two sizes. The smaller size is 7 to 7.5 inches, while the larger size is 8 to 8.5 inches. This size plate also works well as a dessert plate, so the two are often interchangeable. Additionally, this is a wonderful option as a lunch plate, or simply for those that like to eat on smaller plates.

Is it okay to use salad plates as dinner plates, and forego the larger size altogether?

As stated above, salad plates are often used for those who like to eat on smaller plates, foregoing larger dinner plates altogether. This can have an added benefit. If you’re looking to trim your waistline, it can be beneficial to eat your meals on smaller plates. The less room on your plate, the less chance you have of over-eating. This is why it has become popular to purchase salad plate sets instead of dinner plates.