Serve 'n Store ... perfect for HEFTY helpings ... especially desserts!
Written: Jun 01 '05 (Updated Jun 01 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Strong rigid deep dish design, microwaveable.
Cons: Not divided ... foods *may* touch!
The Bottom Line: Hefty Serve 'n Store should be a regular feature of any cook-out or covered dish dinner ... but can also be a handy every-day item in most households.
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| elainehn's Full Review: Hefty Serve 'n Store Everyday Disposable Tableware |
Memorial Day! Honoring and remembering those who've served our country in military service and many who made the ultimate sacrifice. But also, a great time to enjoy the company of friends and neighbors ... have a huge cook out ... let the kids play in the sprinklers ... and NOT do dishes. (Well that is, as long as you aren't experiencing 10 straight days of rainy forecasts and constant drizzle like we are here in GA!) But rain or no rain, our cook-out was planned, guests invited, and by golly we were going to cook out ... even if it meant the men folk had to stand on the back patio with umbrellas!
After enjoying our indoor picnic of burgers, brats, chicken and all the usual cook-out trimmings ... my den full of friends migrated to the kitchen as I unveiled the two humongous dessert creations a friend had brought from Pasta Bella. Most of us oooohed and aaaaahed as we oogled the huge California Cheesecake and the decadent 7 layer chocolate mousse cake. But much to my surprise ... there was almost as much oooohing and aaaaaahing and excited comments as my guests noticed the Hefty Store 'n Serve plates that I decided to use for our decadent desserts. The generous size and stable construction of these 9 inch plates made them very well suited for such lofty indulgences. A slice of Pasta Bella yumminess filled each plate ... but the plates held firm. No flopping, bending, drooping or dropping! Perfect for a crowd of 13 trying to dine in a den suited for 6!
My friend Lev was the first to comment on the plates. Imagine hearing a hip cool 30s-ish guy commenting to his buds ... "Oh cool, look at these ... how neat!" And so on and so forth. Five guys who earlier were raving about the newest Star Wars, comparing lawnmower stories (ala Tim Taylor) and basically carrying on a 'no gals allowed' kind of boy's club conversation were now admiring disposable tableware! They 'tested' the interlocking rims, remarked about not having seen them in stores yet, one even went to the other room to tell his wife she needed to get them some! Now Hefty, how cool is that?
After our guests left, I used the plates and coordinatingly sized bowls to store the left overs of our desserts. One mammoth slice per dish, closed, sealed and stacked in the fridge. (I tried to give away some of the dessert left-overs, but all of the guests feigned fullness to the point of not being able to bear the thought of taking home more dessert. Secretly, I'm sure the next afternoon they were all wishing they'd taken some home! *lol*)
The plates don't form a perfectly airtight seal and I wouldn't recommend them for long-term storage. But for a few hours or overnight, I think they're great. My hubby and I are on very different schedules, so we often have meals at different times. These plates would be great for me to use to prepare his plate and place in the microwave (for very short waits) or in the fridge (for longer delays) just so I can go ahead and clean up the kitchen after the kids and I are finished with our meal. Hubby can microwave his meal, eat and toss his dish ... no muss, no fuss!
The only possible drawback that comes to mind is that the plates are not divided in anyway. This isn't a problem for one dish meals such as spaghetti and meatballs or stir-fry served over a plate of rice ... but for meals with several separate side-dishes, especially runny ones, it could be a problem. If you don't want the juice from your creamed corn to run under your pork chop or if it bothers you for your baked beans to mingle with your mac 'n cheese, then you'll probably want to use a different dish for your meal. But as long as you aren't a food separatist you will love Hefty Serve 'n Store.
My 13 (almost 14!) year old son has used the plates to microwave leftovers for lunch since he's out of school for the summer. He reports that they work great and the extra ridged edges help keep the plates from flexing like cheaper thin paper plates tend to do. My 7 year old tends to like to snack throughout the day and since hubby works nights and has to sleep during the day, I try to keep healthy convenient snacks easily available. My son can help his sis with cereal or toaster waffles in the morning and a decent lunch, but he doesn't have to be at her beck and call for every snacking emergency. She can just get out her plate and have some cheese cubes, grapes, orange slices or whatever else we've arranged the night before. She can then close up the container (more easily than she could most Tupperware or Rubbermaid lids) and save the rest for later.
All and all, I'm very happy with the Hefty Serve 'n Store plates and bowls. If I find a good price on them and if I have coupons for them, I wouldn't hesitate to buy them ... especially before cook-outs and covered dish potlucks which my family tends to have for every conceivable occasion. They would be so perfect when everyone is trying to fix plates of leftovers to take home. No more fussing with flimsy paper plates and aluminum foil or plastic wrap which never seems to stay on the plate! No more worrying about being sure we remember to return Aunt Sue's Tupperware bowl or even Nana's GladeWare container. Armed with a couple packages of Hefty Serve 'n Store I could eliminate a whole lot of left-over-container anxiety for a whole lot of people! Wow Hefty ... now that's cool!
Technicalities ...
Hefty Serve 'n Store varieties are available as 9" plates, 10" plates, 18 oz. bowls, 24 oz. bowls in basic 'everyday' white or 'party' red and blue. The 24 oz. bowl and 9" plate interlock for even more versatility. Hefty recommends no more than 4 minutes in a 1000 watt microwave with a 30 minute 'rest' period before moving the dish. Do not use in conventional or toaster oven or on the stove top. Approximate retail price seems to be from $2 - $2.89 but may vary by location and type of retailer.
Disclosure ...
Hass MS&L provided me with two packages of Hefty Serve 'n Store Everyday Tableware for free in exchange for my writting a review which provides my honest opinion not affected by the fact that the item was provided to me. I've happily provided an honest but very positive opinion!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
elainehn
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Member: Elaine HN
Location: Near Atlanta, GA
Reviews written: 221
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