Not all dishes sets are safe for the dishwasher or microwave. The type and combination of materials determine this ability. Plastic, melamine, and polypropylene sets will not be microwave safe. But they may be washable in the dishwasher. Meanwhile, most porcelain and ceramic materials are dishwasher safe, depending on the shape and size. However, many manufacturers advertise their China and ceramic sets as microwave safe. But this makes the dish set prone to cracks, depending on the frequency of use in the microwave.