Creating a lead-free kitchen does NOT have to be expensive! In fact, many of the best lead-free choices out there are also the least expensive options in their product categories.
As most of my followers know, my favorite reliably lead-free dishes are any plain white Corelle sets (sets with no colorful decorative elements).
You can also buy a similar lead-free set piece-by-piece at Ikea for even less (it is Ikea’s directly branded white glass dinnerware and I have seen the individual pieces online for as little as 79 cents each – and in the stores for about 99 cents each!)
The best thing about these Corelle pieces (besides the fact that they are reliably and consistently Lead-free) is that they *usually* bounce when thrown! [Yes, as a mother of disabled children I know this from real on-the-ground experience!]
Note: They have a bad rap for shattering under extreme conditions (so when the do break you will have a big clean up job on your hands) but in my experience the positives far outweigh the negatives (and really any ceramic or glass dish will create a splinter concern when it breaks.)
So here’s some of what is available on Amazon* today. Price listed are as of November 30, 2019, so may change. [Reminder the Corelle mugs are made of a different material and are not always lead-free, so only buy sets without mugs OR you may just consider tossing the mugs if you buy a set with mugs and want to make sure to have 100% lead-free dinnerware!]
Service for Four
Lead Free: Corelle “Winter Frost White” Service For Four: $54.95
(November 2019 Price)
This set comes with four bowls, four dinner plates and four salad plates, so a total of 12 pieces (and free shipping with Amazon prime), which works out to about $4.58 per piece. I have also seen these sets sell for less than $40.00 (usually about $39.95) at K-mart, Walmart and Target and similar big-box stores. This is a GREAT starter gift for a new family or a kid going off to college, or even a grandparent who is downsizing!
Service for Six
Here’s a “Winter Frost White” Service for Six, coming in at $98.94 (November 2019 price) with free shipping on Amazon prime. This has six of each of the three pieces.
Service for Twelve
And finally – here’s a 38 piece Corelle Winter Frost White service for 12 that includes 2 serving platters and lids as well… for just $153.49 (November 2019 price – down from last year!)!
Set of 8 Dinner Plates
If you have a little extra to spend and wants something reliably lead free but a little more decorative I am personally a big fan of the Corelle Bella Faenza design – $68.59 for 8 plates in November 2019:
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Hello Tamara,
Are they all cadmium free as well?
Thanks.
YES! 🙂
[the plain white ones!]
– T
Ok thanks 🙂
I got the Winter Frost White ones because I couldn’t easily find the Bella Faenza in Australia.
There is some writting at the bottom with the name of the brand etc. Even that doesn’t contain lead/cadmium?
Yes, that’s correct!
– T
Are all the plain white Corelle plates lead free? I just bought a set of the “Classic” in winter white because it was on sale. Now I am not sure if I should return them.
The white ones are fine as they have no paint on them.
Hi Tamara,
Today is my first day on your site; I’m so grateful for you! Thank you for all of your hard work and research and then sharing with us!!
I have some different size white Corelle bowls that say “Corelle Vitrelle” on them. They are deeper bowls, but not wide diameter. If I knew how to send a picture, I would. I’m wondering if you’ve seen other Corelle Vitrelle plates/dishes and tested them? Thank you so much!!!!
Annabeth
Do you know if corelle white boutique swept plates are lead and cadmium free.
I just found out from your website, Tamara, that pretty much all our Corelle dishes (I.e. everything we have) have high levels of lead. Knowing that, I feel really angry and put off by the Corelle brand. Do you have any other recommendations, Tamara? How about glass dishes (Pyrex, Duralex…?) or other materials like clay or wood? I’m happy to try anything at this point…
Hi Ivanka – Duralex is a great brand. Newly manufactured plain clear class Pyrex and Anchor Hocking are good choices. Pretty much any clear glass options (that aren’t sold as leaded crystal!) are going to be Lead-free today. Target and Walmart are great places where you might find them cheaper than online as well.
Here are some of my Duralex posts: https://tamararubin.com/category/duralex/
Plus this is a good post for context as well: https://tamararubin.com/2018/12/asktamara-which-dishes-are-lead-free/
Tamara
Are Corelle undecorated cream/ off white dishes as free of toxins as the pure white?
I’m having trouble figuring out which dishes from Ikea are lead free. Is it all the white ones or only certain ones? Are these the lead free ones https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/flitighet-18-piece-dinnerware-set-white-50333921/
Thank you for this information. I have the winter white (no pattern) but no idea when they were made, received them from a friend’s estate sale for his dad. Sad we have to be so vigilant about EVERYTHING to try and be safer.
Hi Barbara!
Thank you for commenting. I am happy that you have found some safe dishes! 🙂 All of the plain / undecorated / unpainted white Corelle patterns I have tested (including embossed and those in different shapes) have been free of Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic!
Tamara
I have searched the internet to try and find out if my glassware and dinnerware is safe, but I can’t seem to find my products on the list. Would you possibly know? My search results lead me here to your sight. Thank you so much!
I have Mikasa Trellis bone China and Bormioli Rocco from Italy pink glasses. I really hope you can help me, thank you so much
I’d like to go a step up from Corelle for dinnerware, are there other brands you recommend? Trying to get away from all white, looked at Bernaudaud then found a Dansk Bistro Christianshavn Blue and was frightened away by high lead reports on some Dansk products. I don’t know if contamination runs across brands or variable but I want to invest a little more money for a sturdy everyday china. Your guidance is appreciated. Thanks, Ann
Hello, I was wondering if you have had a chance to test the corelle winter frost mugs specifically? I’m looking at buying a set but it comes with mugs, I was hoping to use them if they are okay.
Thank you!
Roxanne
Hi Roxanne – the new Corelle mugs either are below 90 ppm Lead or are Lead-free, but I don’t recommend them because my testing results to date have not been consistent (they have not been consistently Lead free) and they have a recent history of making high-lead mugs – so I have concerns about their ceramic-ware (non-glass) products still. Here is an example:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/06/corelle-coordinates-white-porcelain-mug-24-ppm-lead-considered-safe-by-all-standards/
Here’s the Corelle Mug category so you can see my concerns: https://tamararubin.com/category/corelle-mug/
Tamara
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
So thankful for your work and for your knowledge! I’m going to replace all of my dinnerware and am looking into a glass dinnerware replacement, but not white glass, just regular see through type glass. Crate and Barrel sells them (https://www.crateandbarrel.com/set-of-8-moderno-dinner-plates/s453731) – would these or something similar be considered safe if they’re completely glass, or can I not assume? Thanks again!
I have Winter Frost Corelle dishes – both vintage (prior to 2005) and some newer ones. I first read today about some Corelle containing lead. Do you know if the vintage Winter Frost dishes from prior to 2005 are also lead free? Do you know if I should throw out any Winter Frost with chipped edges?
I am concerned and considering buying a testing kit for household items but it is disheartening to read that swab tests are not effective for dishes. Thanks in advance for your advise!
Hi Tamara,
Are the Corelle Cherish plates lead free? I saw a gravy boat in Cherish that was, so it made me question the plates.
Thank you so much for your help!
Myra
The Corelle Bella Faenza pattern that you recommend is made with up to 80% recycled glass. I just ordered a set of them but I am concerned about the recycled glass in it being safe. Id love to know your thoughts, thankyou!
Thank you for the great work, Tamara. We’ve made a lot of changes based on the information I learned from your site.
I was wondering if you could confirm whether the divided dinner plate from the Corelle Winter Frost line is also lead-free. Since the shape is different from the regular plates, I wasn’t sure. Lately my child really enjoys eating from a divided plate. Thanks in advance.