I tried flipping a can on Nitori and Corelle's unbreakable plates! Will the dining table change in an emergency?

To maintain a dining table close to daily life even in emergencies such as disasters, I used Corelle and Nitori's unbreakable plates. This is an experiment to see how the appearance of the dining table changes when flipping a can.

Non-breakable plates for a disaster-ready dining table

It seems that more families are preparing emergency food items like canned goods in case of disasters. However, there may not be many opportunities to consider the dining environment as well. Canned foods and instant meals can be eaten straight away after opening, but they tend to feel somewhat out of the ordinary.

Therefore, we will intentionally plate some canned goods that could serve as emergency food. What I prepared are canned sardines in oil, grilled chicken skewers, and canned mandarins.

What I have prepared are Corelle medium plates and Nitori's plastic plates. Corelle is a strong glass material that is thin and 21cm in size. Nitori's plates are made of lightweight and easy-to-handle plastic, measuring 24cm in width. Both have a design suitable for everyday use, yet are unbreakable dinnerware.

Does plating change the atmosphere of the dining table?

Canned sardines in oil, which can be a lifesaver when you only have one can to spare, is rich in calcium and convenient to have stocked up on regularly.

When I placed the canned sardine oil on the table, the oil spread out on the surface in a remarkably masculine sight. It looks simple, but it certainly gives a modest impression for the dining table.

When I transferred the contents to a plate, it surprisingly appeared to be a small amount, but it does look a bit more elegant. I would like to add another dish for an everyday dining setting.

Next is "yakitori with sauce." This is also convenient to have in a can, and it's great as a snack with drinks when taken on a camping trip.

As expected, it feels more like camping when it's still in the can. It's delicious when heated, but it gives a disappointing impression for a regular dining table.

With the canned yakitori, simply plating it makes the shine and texture clearly visible, contributing to the sense of an actual meal. The thickness of the sauce and the color of the grill marks become more discernible, giving a better impression as a dish compared to when it’s still in the can.

However, this 21cm plate might be a bit large, making me want another dish.

Canned "mandarin oranges" that can be eaten regardless of the season. It's nice to transfer them to a glass dish and enjoy them elegantly, but it's also delicious to boldly arrange them on bread to make fruit sandwiches.

Having dessert during emergencies can uplift the spirit, so it's definitely a good idea to keep such fruit cans on hand. Canned mandarins are a hit in households with children, and they bring a bit of brightness to the dining table.

Even when transferred to a plate, it looks quite manly. You can enjoy them all to yourself or poke at them with toothpicks together with everyone. Although I thought a black plate might not match, surprisingly, it also looks quite glamorous.

Just to be thorough, I also tried serving them on a white plate. I intentionally poured in all the syrup, and in the end, I drank up directly from the plate. I realized that just serving them differently changes the impression compared to a can that only has its mouth open.

The white from Corelle naturally blends in with the dining table.

The Corelle medium plate is completely white with no decoration, and the surface is smooth. The oil from sardines, the glaze from grilled chicken, and the color of oranges are highlighted as they are, making it look natural and versatile for any use.

When actually used, it felt comfortable and blended seamlessly into everyday dining settings. Although it's made of tempered glass and doesn't seem unbreakable, I felt it would be reassuring for both daily use and emergency dining.

The black plate from Nitori has a distinctly different impression.

The black resin plate from Nitori is made of resin, so you can feel its lightness when picked up. The silver from the sardines and the contrast of the grilled chicken are clearly visible. It gives a sense of color enhancement. The canned oranges also appear vibrant, significantly changing the visual impression.

When sauce or oil spreads, it seems to blend into the black of the plate, sometimes creating a somewhat heavy impression. Because the visual changes are significant, it may be a matter of preference.

Are unbreakable plates suitable for everyday use?

The peace of mind that comes with being unbreakable is a significant advantage. Since you don’t have to be overly cautious if you drop them, they are quite easy to handle for daily use. However, once you actually use them, aspects like appearance, texture, and the lightness when you pick them up also matter as they contribute to the experience of using tableware.

Recently popular plastic plates are highly functional, but there may be people who are not familiar with their impression as tableware. Being accustomed to using them regularly might help in feeling more natural when the time comes.

While the feature of being unbreakable is convenient, I felt that how people perceive it when placed on their everyday dining table tends to vary.<

A little extra effort turns canned food into a meal

I intentionally opened the canned food and simply transferred it to a plate, but when arranged on the table, it creates a somewhat more meal-like appearance. I was surprised at how much the impression changes without cooking and just by serving it on a plate.

This "little extra effort" may be the key to restoring normal life during emergencies.

Instead of preparing special tableware for disaster prevention, choose items that can be used daily. This way, they can be used naturally when needed. Even with simple canned foods like sardines, grilled chicken, or mandarins, the presentation changes when served on a plate, so I hope this leads to a feasible way of being prepared.

Product name: Corelle Winter Frost White Medium Plate J108-N
Price: 1150 yen
Size: Outer diameter 21.5 cm
Weight: Approximately 221 g
Material: Full tempered glass
Country of origin: USA
Heat resistance temperature difference: 150 degrees
⚫︎ CORELLE

Product name: Plastic tableware that is not easily heated in the microwave - Oval Plate
Price: 749 yen
Size: Width 24 × Depth 16 × Height 5 cm
Raw material: Styrene resin
Weight: Approximately 180 g
Heat resistance / cold resistance temperature: 200℃ / -30℃
Color: Black
⚫︎ Nitori Holdings

Reporting and text by: SYURI

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