simple trick to make cheap paper plates hold as much as expensive plates

instead of buying more expensive "thicker" paper plates, you can get the same structural integrity by performing a simple trick with the cheapest paper plates you can buy.

I invented this trick myself (though others might have independently come up with it) at a picnic when the paper plates kept wimping out while trying to hold them with one hand and dish in food with the other. INvariably, the plate would "fail" and flop down, dumping the contents.


here's the simple trick:

BEFORE using the cheap paper plate, set it on a hard surface.
1. fold in a portion of the outer edge so that side of the plate sticks up (about a fifth or sixth of the total diameter)
2. continue around the plate, folding up portions as you go around.
3. in the end you should have:

a rough pentagon or hexagon flat bottom, and wedges of the edges sticking straight up in the air.

Now, hold the plate. It will now hold more weight, and further is more structurally sound so will not flop over. you have less square inches in two dimensions, but you have sides that hold food in so you can heap higher.

and get those wicker or plastic plate holders

they work great and the plastic ones go in the dishwasher and the support the cheapie plates fine

:hi: