Food-Safe Paint For Plates & Ceramics

The following paints can be used on plates, mugs, cups, and other ceramic items.

Only one brand claims to be food-safe, however.

The other two are for the outside side of your china-ware, or you can reverse paint the underside of a glass plate.

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1. A Maker’s Studio

A Maker’s Studio Ceramic Paint is a water-based enamel paint for ceramics and glass that you can use on dishes and mugs/cups.

It’s microwave-safe but not dishwasher-safe.

This is a no-bake formula that cures in 12-14 hours.

They say it’s food-safe but it’s not FDA-certified (which is a certification I would want, especially if used on the inside of dishes and mugs).

I was curious if it was defacto food-safe based on the cleared ingredients in FDA Section 175.300, but they didn’t say that when I asked about the food-safe designation.

We also don’t know what the ingredients are.

But if it is acrylic paint, acrylic polymers are cleared in section 175.300.

There are no metallic colors, which is good because I don’t believe metallic colors can be food-safe.

Use on: Glass, ceramics, porcelain, and china.

Applications: You can use this to decorate plates, mugs, etc., both inside and out.

How To Use:

1. Apply to the desired surface using a stencil, spreader, artist brush, etc
2. Remove the stencil and allow the no-bake ceramic paint to dry for 12-14 hours.

2. Porcelaine 150

Pebeo Porcelaine 150 China Paint is a water-based paint that comes in transparent and opaque shades with either glossy, shimmery, pastel, or chalkboard finishes for decorating porcelain.

It’s “heat-resistant, food, and dishwasher-safe,” they say.

Yet they also say to only use on surfaces that don’t come in contact with food.

If you bake it it becomes dishwasher-safe, UV-resistant, and microwave-safe.

Use on: Porcelain, ceramic, china, glazed earthenware, tile, terracotta, metal, enameled sheet steel, copper, and glass.

How to use: After drying for 24 hours, place in a cold oven and set the temperature to 300°F for 35 minutes to yield a dishwasher-resistant finished product.

Store flat and do not freeze.

Does it need a sealer? One blogger used a clear Rustoleum sealer overtop. I would not do that as none of the Rustoleum sealers are food-safe (plus they are solvent-based).

3. Folk Art

FolkArt Enamel glass and ceramic paint is a water-based acrylic paint.

They say it is “non-toxic” but that it is not food contact safe.

Reverse painting on the back of glass plates is recommended if the plate is to be used with food.

Reverse painting refers to the technique where painting is done on the back of clear glass (such as a plate) but is seen through the glass from the front.

Therefore, the design is painted in reverse, with details first and base coat last.

When you have painted a clear glass plate with this technique, food can be placed onto the front of the plate.

FolkArt Enamels is a self-sealing paint. Though you can use their Clear Medium for added durability.

It is dishwasher safe once baked, but not microwave safe.

Use on: Glass and ceramics.

How to use: (Air dry or bake for added durability.)

1. Clean glass or glazed ceramics with alcohol.
2. Shake paint before applying.
3. Paint design. For best results use Clear Medium over your design to help ensure there is enough paint for the design to properly adhere to your surface. Do not wet the paintbrush with water. To change colors while painting, use a paper towel and pull out excess paint.
4. For best results, cure your project in the oven by following the steps below:
   1. Allow painted item to dry for 24 hours to be sure all layers of paint have dried.
   2. Place project in a cool oven, as the glass must heat gradually with the oven to avoid breakage; do not place glass in a hot oven.
   3. Set oven temperature to 350ºF.
   4. Once temperature has reached 350ºF, allow the project to bake for 30 minutes.
   5. After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and let glass cool down completely before removing from the oven.
   6. Do not use for 72 hours.
5. Hand wash project or clean in the top rack of your dishwasher.

Available in assorted colors. They do have metallics.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.