Tureens are elegant serving dishes designed for hot, moist dishes. They are usually oval-shaped with wide mouths and deep interiors. Tureens can be made from porcelain, silver, or stainless steel and come with stands, plates, and spoons. They can hold enough soup for 2-6 people and can be used as a centerpiece. Some tureens are collector’s items and can be expensive. The largest collection of tureens is located in the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum in Delaware.
To serve soups, stews, and other hot, moist dishes in an elegant but old-fashioned style, some cooks like to use a tureen. This serving dish is specially designed for hot dishes. Usually shaped like an oval bowl with handles and a lid, tureens have wide mouths and deep interiors to allow for easy ladle and serving.
Old-fashioned tureens are usually made from porcelain or another ceramic base. Some are even made from silver. Modern varieties can be made from stainless steel or other similar materials. Many tureens come with stands, which can help burn people and objects such as tablecloths.
The domed lid or cover of a tureen typically has a handle or knob at its highest point. This ensures that the diner can remove the lid without burning their fingers. The lid itself helps keep the contents of the tureen cool and warm, ready to be used in both family and restaurant settings.
In addition to a cover, most tureens come with a plate or tray and a serving spoon. The bottom tray protects the server’s hands from touching the hot bowl. It also helps create a sophisticated display when serving the dish. Spoons are usually wide and deep, similar to ladles.
While the most common shape for these serving and dinner plates is round, they can exist in many different styles and shapes. Rectangular tureens are popular in some areas. Some restaurants feature more specialized and creative forms, such as animals or abstract art. Many of these plates are considered collector’s items. You can also purchase soup bowls shaped like famous movie or TV characters, sports team logos, and other memorabilia.
Tearooms, fine restaurants, and other establishments can use the tureen as a centerpiece. Depending on its size and shape, a tureen can usually hold enough soup for 2-6 people. Larger tureens can be used for special events.
Tureens are usually cheap. Many collectibles, however, can be quite expensive. Such serving dishes, often made of silver or fine earthenware, are usually sold at auctions or antique sales. The world’s largest collection of tureens is located in the state of Delaware at the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum.
During 18th century France, the tureen was known as l’Écuelle. Instead of being accompanied by a ladle or spoon, the Écuelle was simply tilted like a two-handled cup for drinking. The smaller tureens used for sauces were called saucières.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
