With daily use and proper care a bamboo plate lasts for years. The question isn’t so much when it wears out, as how to tell wear that is only appearance from wear that means it is time for a new plate.
What normal wear looks like
The following will happen and is no reason to replace anything:
- The colour darkens or fades. Wood changes with time and light. An even change of shade is a sign of use, not of damage.
- Fine scratches on the surface. They come from spoons. As long as they are shallow and the surface still feels smooth, they don’t matter.
- The surface goes more matt. The protective oil washes off over time. The answer isn’t a new plate but a fresh coat of oil — how, is in the piece on care.
- The suction base holds less well than on day one. Silicone tires over time. A thorough clean and a completely dry surface often help.
When the plate is no longer usable
Here the line is clear. Replace it if you notice any of the following:
- A crack that runs through the rim or the base. Water and food get into the crack and you cannot clean them out.
- Raised or delaminating fibres. If the surface starts to splinter or the layers come apart, the material is breaking down.
- A stubborn dark stain that won’t wash off. It may be mould in the wood, not just staining from food.
- A smell that lingers after washing. A sign that moisture has got into the material.
- A suction base that has come away and can’t be reattached. If the fitting itself is damaged, the plate loses its main function.
A simple test: run a finger across the whole surface and around the rim. If it catches anywhere, or you feel a raised fibre, the plate has reached the end of the road.
What shortens its life the most
In our experience, in this order:
- The dishwasher — by a long way in first place.
- Soaking in the sink overnight.
- Drying on a radiator or in the oven.
- Boiling food in a cold plate.
All four are moisture or temperature shock. Avoid them and the plate turns out to be surprisingly tough.
What to do with a worn-out plate
Bamboo is a plant material and it breaks down. Before you throw it out, take off the silicone suction base — that goes in general waste, or according to your council’s instructions. Under most local schemes the plate itself can go in food or garden waste if it is sufficiently broken down, otherwise in general waste.
A few customers have written to tell us they use a worn-out plate as a saucer for a houseplant or a tray for odds and ends. Not for food, but for everything else, absolutely.
When it makes sense to buy a new one even though the old one still holds
When your child outgrows the shape. A bowl that was ideal at eight months isn’t the right thing at two — that is a different need, not wear. Which piece suits which age is set out in the guide by age.
