You bet your glass!

5 tips on storing and maintaining glassware

​When you’re invited to a home-cooked meal, would you rather sip that icy water from a glass or plastic cup? You said “glass,” right? Of course you did. Because no one sits down to dinner, takes a sip, and says, “Man…I wish I had a plastic cup.”

Glassware is the easiest, most economical way to dress up any table for any occasion. You can spend very little on a collection from discount stores, estate sales and antique malls. Or…you can go wild with pricey options in crystal. Best time to do that? Your wedding.

Here are some guidelines for building, storing and maintaining your glassware collection:

• Collect sets of eight in tall, medium and petite sizes. Why eight? Most dining tables seat eight, so you can be assured you’ll have the maximum amount of glassware on hand, no matter how many guests join you for supper. Bonus: Medium sizes are great for lunch; petite sizes are perfect for breakfast juices.
• Consider specialty glassware. If you love to serve iced tea, there’s a tall, skinny glass for that! How about martinis? You’ll definitely want to have the right vessel to showcase that concoction. Wine, beer and cocktails all feel more special in their appropriate glassware. Tip: Stemmed glassware is more challenging to store, so consider shelving or cabinets with a hanging rack to suspend them above other items.
• Store sets together. Who wants to sort through cabinets for that sixth glass when company’s on their way? Not you! That’s why keeping your sets together maintains your hosting sanity. Tip: For vase-shaped glassware, store every other glass with the widest point up, then down, then varying. Avoid stacking  glasses, as this can cause them to stick and shatter when prying them apart.
• Eliminate mismatched pieces. Unless a particular glass holds childhood or family meaning, hand it off to Goodwill. You don’t really need it…but someone else might! You’ll love the symmetry of matching glasses all lined up and ready to serve you.
• Wash under the right settings. A crystal glass has much more clarity than normal glass, and that clarity lasts longer by hand washing. Yes—it’s a pain to do that. Which is why you should rinse them, but wait to complete the washing until the next morning, when you’re rested. Some dishwashers have a “crystal” setting. Try it out! Just be sure glassware doesn’t touch other items, and use detergents without lemon in them. Tip: If you have hard water with high mineral content, your glassware will likely cloud up. Look into a brand with a water softener built into it. 

If you’re young and putting your first real kitchen together, opt for affordable glass. Accidents happen during pizza night. If you’re ready to up your entertainment game, consider crystal. It shines beautifully in candlelight. But whatever you choose, start now. Your guests will silently thank you as they sip.