Kitchenware and Crockery at China Mall Durban: Price Guide

What this guide covers

1. What you will find
2. Dinner sets, crockery and glassware
1. Dinner sets
2. Glassware
3. Pots and pans: what to check
1. Base thickness
2. Handles and rivets
3. Non-stick coating
4. Induction compatibility
4. Utensils, bakeware and storage
5. Buying catering quantities for weddings and functions
1. Restaurant and takeaway supplies
6. Food-contact safety basics
7. What kitchenware typically costs
8. Frequently asked questions
9. Before you go
10. Related guides

If you are setting up a first kitchen, replacing a chipped dinner service or buying enough plates for a function, Durban China City is one of the cheapest places in the city to do it. The centre is at 269 Inanda Road in Springfield Park and trades 09:00 to 17:00, seven days a week, and kitchenware is one of the deepest categories on the floor.

Roughly speaking, expect R200 to R900 for a dinner set, R80 to R500 for most pots and pans, R15 to R60 a piece for basic glassware, and very little for utensils and storage containers. Prices move constantly with the rand and with shipping costs, so treat every figure here as a planning guide and confirm on the day.

The important part is knowing what to inspect. Below is what to check on pots, crockery and glassware, how catering-quantity buying works, and the food-contact safety basics that matter when you are buying very cheap items you intend to eat off.

What you will find

Kitchenware here covers most of what a household or a small food business needs: dinner sets in porcelain, stoneware and melamine, mugs and serving dishes sold singly or by the carton, tumblers and wine glasses, jugs and storage jars, aluminium, stainless steel and non-stick pots including the big catering pots, utensils, chopping boards, mixing bowls, bakeware in pressed steel and silicone, and storage containers, lunch boxes and flasks.

Alongside that sits the trade side: takeaway containers, foil trays, serviettes, paper cups, cake boxes and chafing dishes. Stock rotates, so if you find the item you need, buy the quantity you need there and then. Our guide on spotting quality versus cheap stock is worth a read first.

Dinner sets, crockery and glassware

Dinner sets

Sets are usually sold as 16-piece (service for four), 20-piece or 24-piece, and open stock lets you buy six of one plate. Porcelain and stoneware feel better and hold heat better; melamine will not chip or break, which suits children and outdoor use, but it is not microwave safe.

Before you pay, run a fingertip around every rim for chips and check the base for a rough, unglazed foot ring that will scratch your table. Tap a plate lightly: a dull thud rather than a clear ring can mean a hairline crack. Stack the plates and check from the side that they sit flat. If the set is boxed, ask to open it and count the pieces.

Glassware

Tumblers, wine glasses and jugs are cheap enough to buy in sixes and twelves. Hold each glass to the light and look for bubbles, cloudiness and mould lines that feel sharp on the lip. Check the rim is smooth all the way round and stand the glass on a flat surface to be sure it does not rock. Do not assume bargain glassware is oven safe.

Pots and pans: what to check

This is the category where cheap and good part company most sharply, and where five minutes of checking saves you money. Take a pot off the shelf and go through the following.

Base thickness

Turn the pot over and look at the base edge. A thin, single-layer base heats unevenly and burns food in the middle. A thicker base, or an encapsulated sandwich base with a visible layer line, is far better, and weight is a rough proxy. Stand it on a flat counter to check it does not rock, because a warped base is useless on a flat electric plate or induction hob.

Handles and rivets

Grip the handle and twist. Any movement now becomes a loose handle over a full pot of hot stew later. Riveted handles are generally more durable than spot-welded ones, and screwed-on handles loosen over time. Check the rivet heads inside the pot are smooth and flush, because food and cloths catch on jagged ones. Confirm whether the handle and lid knob are oven safe: plastic usually is not.

Non-stick coating

Look across the coating under a light for thin patches, shelf scratches or bubbling. Never buy a non-stick pan with the coating already damaged, and treat cheap non-stick as a consumable you replace rather than a lifetime purchase. Use wooden or silicone utensils on it, not metal.

Induction compatibility

If you cook on induction, the pot base must be magnetic. Take a small fridge magnet with you and test the base in the shop: if the magnet grips firmly, it will work. Plain aluminium and most thin stainless will not. Many shops will let you test, and it takes three seconds. Gas and traditional electric plates are much less fussy.

Utensils, bakeware and storage

• Utensils: check the join between head and handle is welded or riveted rather than a thin folded tab. Silicone heads should not smell strongly.
• Knives: cheap knives blunt fast, but a basic stainless knife is fine as a spare. Check the tang runs into the handle rather than being glued on.
• Bakeware: pressed steel tins should feel rigid when you press the base with a thumb, because flimsy tins buckle in a hot oven. Thin silicone moulds need a tray underneath.
• Storage containers: clip the lid on and squeeze gently to test the seal, and look for microwave, freezer or dishwasher symbols.
• Flasks and bottles: the lid seal is where cheap bottles fail, so test it if the trader allows.

Buying catering quantities for weddings and functions

Buying plates and glasses for a wedding, umembeso, funeral catering or a church function is often cheaper here than hiring, especially if you will use the items again. Work out your numbers before you go: guests, plus about ten per cent spare for breakages, plus extras if you are serving a starter and a main on separate plates.

1. Count properly. For 100 guests, plan on about 110 dinner plates, 110 to 120 glasses and full cutlery sets, plus serving dishes and chafing units for the menu.
2. Buy by the carton. Crockery and glassware are packed in cartons, and carton pricing is normally where the unit price drops. Ask what the carton quantity is before you negotiate.
3. Keep to one pattern. Plain white is easiest to match and easiest to top up later if a shop still has the same stock.
4. Check the carton. Open it at the shop and check the top and bottom layers at least, because transit chips are easier to sort out before you leave.
5. Plan transport. Cartons of crockery are heavy, so bring a bakkie or make two trips.

If the function is the reason for the trip, our guide to wedding, umembeso and matric dance decor on a budget covers the table decor side, and how to buy wholesale at China Mall Durban explains minimums and trade pricing.

Restaurant and takeaway supplies

Small food businesses buy a lot here: takeaway containers, foil trays and lids, burger boxes, paper cups, straws, serviettes, cling film, food-grade gloves and cake boxes. Ask for a proper invoice with the trader’s details on it, because you need documentation for SARS and for your own costing. Buying a full case rather than a sleeve is where the margin sits.

Food-contact safety basics

Cheap kitchenware is fine. Cheap kitchenware used the wrong way is where problems start. A few plain rules:

• Look for food-grade marks. Many food-contact plastics carry a cup-and-fork symbol, a microwave symbol or a recycling code moulded into the base. Prefer items that carry them.
• Avoid unmarked plastics for hot food. If a container has no markings at all, use it for dry goods, cold storage or non-food items rather than hot stew or reheating.
• Do not microwave anything not marked microwave safe. That includes melamine, most takeaway containers and any plastic with metallic decoration.
• Be careful with decorative glazes. Brightly painted or hand-decorated ceramics are often intended as ornaments. If the decoration sits on top of the glaze on the eating surface, or the item is labelled decorative, keep it for display rather than daily meals.
• Do not store acidic food in bare aluminium. It is fine for cooking, but decant tomato-based leftovers into a container.
• Wash everything before first use. Manufacturing residues and shipping dust are real. Hot water and dishwashing liquid, then dry properly.
• Ask. Traders field these questions all day, and asking whether an item is food safe or microwave safe is normal.

What kitchenware typically costs

Realistic ranges at the time of writing. Prices move, shops differ, and quantity changes everything, so ask on the day.

For a wider view of what things cost across the aisles, see our overview of China Mall Durban prices, and if you are kitting out a whole home, the home decor and furniture guide covers the rest of the house.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

How much is a dinner set at China Mall Durban?

Expect roughly R200 to R900 for a 16 to 24-piece dinner set at the time of writing, depending on whether it is melamine, porcelain or stoneware. Open stock lets you buy single plates from about R15 to R45 each. Prices change regularly, so confirm on the day at Durban China City on 031 577 1615.

Can I buy crockery in bulk for a wedding in Durban?

Yes. Crockery and glassware are packed in cartons and carton pricing is normally where the unit price drops. Work out guest numbers plus about ten per cent for breakages, keep to one plain pattern so you can top up, and open the cartons at the shop to check for transit chips before you leave.

How do I know if a pot will work on an induction hob?

The base must be magnetic. Take a small fridge magnet with you and hold it against the base of the pot in the shop. If it grips firmly, the pot will work on induction. Plain aluminium and many thin stainless steel pots will not. Gas and standard electric plates are far less fussy.

Is cheap kitchenware safe for food?

Generally yes, if you use it as intended. Look for food-grade or microwave-safe markings moulded into plastics, avoid unmarked plastics for hot food, do not microwave melamine, and treat brightly decorated or hand-painted ceramics as decorative unless they are clearly marked as tableware. Wash everything before first use.

Does China Mall Durban sell takeaway and restaurant supplies?

Yes. Traders stock takeaway containers, foil trays, burger and cake boxes, paper cups, serviettes, cling film, gloves and chafing dishes, usually by the case. If you are buying for a business, ask for a proper invoice with the trader’s details so you have documentation for SARS and for your own costing.

What should I check before buying a cheap pot?

Check four things: base thickness (thicker heats more evenly), whether the base sits flat without rocking, whether the handle twists in your hand, and whether rivets are smooth on the inside. On non-stick, look across the coating for thin patches or scratches. Confirm whether handles and lid knobs are oven safe.

What time does China Mall Durban open?

Durban China City at 269 Inanda Road, Springfield Park trades from 09:00 to 17:00, seven days a week. Public holiday hours can differ, so phone 031 577 1615 to confirm before travelling. There is on-site parking, which matters when you are carrying cartons of crockery to the car.

Before you go

Bring a fridge magnet, a list with quantities, and cash as well as a card since payment options vary by shop. Walk the aisles once before buying, because the same pot often carries different prices two doors apart, and note shop numbers such as C12 or E37 so you can find your way back.

Related guides

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Plan your visit to Durban China City