Saucer

A saucer (also saucer, lower or less frequent lower shell ) is an part of the dinnerware and is from the 18th century in Europe is, however, widespread in East Asia for tea cups.

Types and Uses

Saucers and plates are polluting the base, about tabletop or table cloth, prevent by drinks and leftovers, and are thus a subset of coasters. Lower are usually but not always of the same material ( porcelain or other ceramic, glass, metal ) and with the same decor as the corresponding Upper made ​​.

There are two types of lower. Some are made ​​to fit on the established piece of tableware, and provided with projections or indentations for better grip. You form a solid unit, a dish combination. Examples are coffee and tea cups, glasses and cups, chocolate cups, soup bowls and sauce boats and occasionally their respective lower. Special saucers have been developed for the so-called jitter Mugs: trembleuse or Mancerina.

For the second kind of other dishes, such as bread, cake or main meal dish be redeveloped as a saucer. On them is, for example, you Finger bowls, deep soup bowls, sauce boats without their own lower, but also ice cream cups, bowls, tureens, pitchers, jugs and champagne cooler from. You can also be used as a shelf for serving cutlery.

Between Upper and Lower occasionally you put a napkin, Klapperdeckchen or doilies. The Lower also provides space for coverage and storage of spoons and the additions for hot beverages such as sugar, milk, cream and pastries.

The term lower shell implied nor to the fact that the flat shape had a function as a drinking vessel; until the 20th century poured one hot drinks from the cup into the saucer to cool the liquid faster to drinking temperature. Therefore Old saucers have a higher wall than the standard today.

Use in the kitchen

Thanks to the form of a large surface area at low altitude, it also serves as the chefs tasting hot liquids such as soups and sauces in the taste, because a small amount of liquid may be spread over the largest possible surface, which accelerates the cooling and thus makes the whole safe. It also serves as a repository for the cook is in use wooden spoon and similar kitchen tool, as well as for providing smaller amounts of ingredients (spices, etc.).