We did a side-by-side comparison of palm leaf bowls filled with hot water and cold water so you’ll know what to expect if your bowl is filled with hot soup, gazpacho, or ice cream. But we weren’t just testing the durability of the bowls, we were also testing the durability of our birchwood spoons. We put spoons in each bowl to test how long they would last before they became saturated with water & unusable.

The results of our test revealed that the maximum amount of time recommended for liquids to sit in the palm leaf bowls is 2 1/2 hours. However, hot liquids (the water we used for the hot liquid test was VERY hot – near boiling) can warp the shape of the plate and will soak into the plate and any utensils faster than if cold liquid is used. We’d set the maximum time for a hot liquid to sit in a palm leaf bowl at around 1 1/2 hours.

However, neither the hot water bowl nor the cold water bowl leaked. So, while these plates will become soggy over time, we can happily report that they won’t leak.

To see the full timeline of the test, continue reading below:

9:15am – the test begins. Hot water (dyed red) is poured in one bowl and cold water (dyed blue) is poured in another. Spoons are inserted.

9:30am – the hot water bowl is starting to warp slightly from the hot temperature. The cold water bowl is maintaining shape. Spoons are still very strong and have not warped. Neither bowl is leaking.

9:45am – the hot water bowl has now warped into a different shape and does not look like its counterpart. The cold water bowl is still very rigid and maintaining its shape. Both spoons are still very rigid and not soggy. Neither bowl is leaking.

10am – the hot water bowl is maintaining its new shape, but is starting to feel a bit soft on the sides. The cold water bowl is very stiff and the shape is the same. Both spoons are still strong, but the spoon in the hot water bowl is starting to warp. Neither bowl is leaking.

10:15am – the hot water bowl is still the same shape, the sides of the bowl have the same amount of softness/give as the 10am check. The spoon in the hot water bowl is starting to give a bit, but still intact. The cold water bowl is still the same shape and still rigid. The spoon is starting to be a bit more pliable.

10:30am – the hot water bowl is in the same condition as the previous check. The spoon is becoming fairly pliable and is starting to flatten out and lose its spoon shape. The cold water bowl is still the same shape, the sides are starting to soften slightly. Neither bowl is leaking.

10:45am – the hot water bowl seems to have warped a bit more (with the sides curling up). The bowl is softening on the sides and on the bottom. The spoon is pliable, bending when tested, and has flattened out. The cold water bowl is rigid still and the spoon is becoming pliable, but is still rigid overall. Neither bowl is leaking.

11am – the hot water bowl seems permanently warped now and the spoon has flattened completely. The spoon is no longer usable as spoon, it is a flat surface. The cold water bowl is maintaining its shape, softening at the sides and the bottom. The cold water spoon is beginning to flatten and absorb moisture. Neither bowl is leaking.

11:15am – the hot water bowl is now what we consider soggy. The spoon is very flat, more like a shovel than a spoon. The cold water bowl is not soggy, but the sides are soft. The spoon is still rigid, but it has also flattened.

11:30am – the hot water bowl is very soggy and the spoon is very soft. The cold water bowl is starting to become soggy and the spoon is very flat. The hot water bowl has warped to the point that the water is nearing the point of spilling on the side. However, neither bowl is leaking.

11:45am – OUR FINAL CHECK. The hot water bowl is almost spilling, it is very squishy and soggy. The spoon is now saturated with water and has lost its strength. The cold water bowl is soggy on the sides and soft on the bottom, but still holding its general shape. The spoon is fairly flat, there is a tiny curve left to it and it is slightly water-logged, but still stronger than the hot water spoon.

To see how the spoons fared, check out the pictures below comparing the spoons that sat in the hot & cold water to a dry spoon.

As you can see above, by the end of the test, the spoons had lost their curve and would no longer be able to carry a spoonful of soup or other liquid from the bowl to your mouth.

To be more specific: after about 1 to 1 1/2 hours of sitting in liquid (slightly longer for cold liquid than for hot), the spoons will flatten, and after 2 1/2 hours, the spoons will completely lose their shape and absorb enough water to make them pliable.

We hope this test answers your questions about how durable (and non-leaky!) these palm plates and birchwood cutlery are, but if you have any more questions, we’ll be happy to test them further.

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We held the steak and asparagus with a birchwood fork while we cut the food – despite being made of wood, the fork has an impressive ability to grip food and keep it in place while you’re cutting.

We filmed our tests so you can see the results below. For the first test, we cut a piece of sirloin steak on one of our hexagonal palm plates:

It took about 30-something cuts to cut through the steak (we’d guess around 35). We measured a cut as one motion in one direction, not a full back & forth movement. Cutting through the steak took approximately 8 seconds.

For the veggie test, we filmed the knife cutting through steamed asparagus:

The knife sliced through the asparagus in about 5 cuts and it took only 2 seconds.

We hope this test answers your questions about how sharp birchwood knives are, but if you have any more questions, we will happily cut up more food in our kitchen.

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We weren’t shy with the steak knife, we pressed pretty hard – purposefully trying to cut the plate. It was actually like trying to saw through the plate. We measured a cut as one stroke in a single direction, not a full back-and-forth motion.

You may be surprised to learn we made 78 cuts before we finally cut through the plate! And keep in mind, this was a test concentrated on one single area of the plate, so the entire plate could withstand more cuts if they were spread out all over the plate’s surface, as you would see with normal use.

So carnivores rejoice, you can have your steak (on a palm plate) and eat it too.

We hope this test answers your questions about the strength of our palm plates.

For another demonstration of their strength, check out How Much Weight Can Palm Plates Hold?

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You may have heard us say “palm plates are durable” and that they’re “much stronger than paper plates,” but if you need to see it to believe it, we tested the strength of these palm plates and filmed it for you to see.

Justin volunteered to hold a round palm leaf plate by its edge, and we piled more weight on it than you could probably consume in one sitting. Just how much, you ask? A whopping 13lbs.

The plates really will hold 13lbs of weight. And remember, this test was performed while holding the plate from its side – not from underneath, thereby supporting the full weight – so these plates really are tough. The plate didn’t bow or bend, like a paper plate would. Palm plates are anything but flimsy.

The plate did finally crack when we tried to put another jar of beans on it, so we’re putting the maximum weight for these plates at 13lbs – if you go higher, you do so at your own risk.

We hope this test answers your questions about how strong these palm plates are, but if you have any more questions, we’ll be happy to do another experiment in our kitchen.

For another demonstration of how strong these plates are, see Are Palm Plates Strong Enough to Withstand a Steak Knife?

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“Disposable palm leaf plates from Marx Foods are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic or paper, and they look great.”

Head on over to Saveur.com to check out the tasty food they served on them!

“Not only are the Palm Leaf Plates charming, a little rustic, and sturdy, but they are eco-friendly.”

 
Head on over to The Epi-Log and check out the rest of the post!

1. No trees are harmed to make them…they’re a super-sustainable, non-timber resource. When the palm trees naturally drop their leaves, they’re collected and turned into plates. Read more: how palm plates are made.

2. They’re not just disposable, they’re biodegradable & compostable! Just like any other leaves, these plates will return to the earth without taking up landfill space.

3. They’re tough, tough, tough! Palm plates are super light, however, people are consistently surprised by how incredibly sturdy they are.

4. They’re gorgeous. Imagine a wedding meal on disposable plates! Their natural wood pattern makes them a particularly good choice for outdoor events.

5. They’ve available in ten different shapes & sizes, so there’s something for any style and serving…even platters!

Explore our palm leaf plates page for further information & ordering. Say goodbye to flimsy paper and forever-in-a-landfill plastic, and hello to eco, elegant & easy palm plates!

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You may have been wondering (as I was) how our Palm Leaf Plates are actually made.  What makes them so environmentally friendly?

As it turns out, the construction of our Palm Leaf Plates is a natural, renewable, and simple process:

1.  Freshly fallen, naturally discarded sheaths of the leaves of the Adaka palm tree are collected.  To be clear, these are not pulled off the tree, nor are any trees cut down, as this is a non-timber forest resource.  The trees naturally shed their old leaves, which are then picked up and put to good use.

2.  Each raw sheath is then rinsed with water to remove any clinging dirt.  It is then hand washed in a natural mixture of water and turmeric. The leaves are then rinsed a third time in water.

3.  Once clean, the palm sheaths naturally air dry.

4.  The palm leaves are then hand stretched and flattened. Various plate profiles, including round, square and hexagon-shaped dinner plates, are molded using a heated press.  Multiple plates (of differing shapes and sizes) are often cut from each leaf in order to reduce waste.

5.  Once clean and cut, each plate is sun-dried and packaged in groups of 25, which is how they’re delivered to you.

In addition to this environmentally conscious production method, these durable palm leaf plates are also completely biodegradable and compostable (after all, they are literally a leaf), making them quite possibly the greenest disposable plates available.

So next time you’re throwing a big event, or just don’t feel like doing the dishes, leave the flimsy paper or forever-in-a-landfill plastic dishes alone and go palm plate instead!

Round dinner plates, rectangular dinner plates, and hexagonal dinner plates are available in addition to bowls, picnic sets, and matching wood utensils.

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If you’d prefer to simply see a summary of what all the reviewers had to say, we’ve collected all the pros and cons they identified here: Pros and Cons of Palm Leaf Plates.

Marx Foods’ Favorite Reviews

Most Thorough & Candid Reviews
Fabulous Foodies combined their thorough review with well shot and informative photos.

Crystal’s Cozy Kitchen came up with some unusual tests for our plates and asked us some tough questions. 

Best Photos of the Plates
Our photographer picked Leslie Uhl’s photos as the very best of the bunch.  Check out her stunning photos!

Most Amusing/Fun Post:
Not content with testing the plates with food, Cranky Cakes seems to have had a ball with some dinner improv.

Readers’ Favorite

The Chocolate Cult’s review was voted the best of the other submissions by visitors to the Marx Foods blog.

Other Palm Plate Reviews Your Should Check Out

Things Sent My Way
The Joy of Caking
From The Mind of Laura
Forty Cakes
Food Nerd Ciao!
Cooking At Home
Classic Kitchen Twist
Cake Consultant
400 Calories or Less

Pros:
● Compostable
● Nice looking, with a natural wood-grain finish.
● Disposable
● Sturdy
● Lightweight
● Each plate is unique.
● Upscale look.
● Thick
● Don’t try this at home, but one reviewer discovered that they are less flammable than paper or plastic plates.
● Stands up to steak knives.
● Conversation starter.

Cons:
● Not the cheapest option.
● Absorbs some liquids, and if liquids sit for hours they can leak through.
● Bubbles can form in the finish when microwaved (though we tried and failed to reproduce this problem).
● Bottoms are not always completely flat – there may be a little curvature.
● Some plates have the words “Eco Vision” stamped into the bottom.
● Have a slight vinegary scent (which dissipates if they’re aired out before use).
● Edges can be a little rough.
● Not perfectly uniform.
● Can’t lick/sop up every last morsel because some food bits get caught in the grooves.

More Palm Plate Links:
Browse available palm plate shapes & sizes.
Read about how palm leaf plates are made.