What is stainless steel cutlery?
The development of stainless steel cutlery was a triumph for the hospitality industry. Finally, they have a relatively cheap product that can resist rusting, heat damage, and most crucially for the food service industry, because it doesn’t react with chemical compounds found in food or in the mouth, stainless steel doesn’t produce the metallic taste that an alternative like silver plate cutlery does.
While stainless steel has certainly made life a lot easier for food service, and is most certainly the industry standard now, there are a few things to consider when purchasing cutlery.
Understanding stainless steel gradings
Before you rush off to start buying truckloads of this miraculous cutlery, you will want to keep in mind the different types of cutlery that are on the market. When shopping, you will want to look for things that mention numbers like 18/10, 18/8 or 18/0. These numbers tell you about what the product is made from, which gives you an idea of how it will behave after use. The first number represents the percentage of chromium in a product, while the second number is the percentage of nickel. Chromium is added to the mix to give it a good resistance to corrosion, and adding nickel boosts the resistance even further, and gives it a nice shine. Some manufacturers will also add coatings to boost the performance of the steel, particularly those products that don’t contain any nickel. The Austin cutlery ranges are all 18/0 graded, but have a special coating that effectively makes them perform like a 18/10 product. To summarise, 18/8 has about 18% chromium and 8% nickel, while 18/0 stainless steel has 18% chromium and no nickel, meaning it may be more susceptible to corrosion than flatware containing nickel.
Learning how to properly look after your stainless steel cutlery
It’s tempting to think that stainless steel means ‘no rust’. Unfortunately this isn’t actually the case. Stainless steel is more resistant to rust than other types of steel, but it’s still important to properly look after your cutlery to get the best out of it.
After your diners have finished with their cutlery, try not to let any food material sit on the surface of the cutlery for too long. a When washing your cutlery, you should make sure you aren’t allowing moisture to sit on the cutlery for extended periods, as this can cause spot rusting. You should always completely dry cutlery before storing it away. You should also avoid using harsh chemical cleaners that can damage the surface of the cutlery and cause corrosion. At The Flying Fork, we have a range of excellent products for your cleaning needs. These have been optimised for use on stainless steel products, to ensure a thorough clean, without damaging the product.
One final thing to remember is that because nickel is a softer metal, they aren’t used to construct knives because they would go blunt too quickly. This means knives need to be treated a little more carefully than the other cutlery because they are slightly less resistant to rust.
If your cutlery is beginning to display rusting, try using a non-abrasive scourer to remove the surface imperfections. Just remember to use a non-abrasive scourer, as the abrasive type will likely damage your cutlery, leaving you with scratchy, cloudy looking pieces that have lost their luster.
Where to buy stainless steel cutlery
The best place to buy stainless steel in bulk is right here at The Flying Fork Cutlery section. You will notice a lot of styles and brands, so it's a good idea to browse the shapes and styles. Plus we can send single samples so you can touch and feel the cutlery before purchasing.
Here is a list of all the stainless steel cutlery brands:
- Abert Cutlery
- Amefa Cutlery
- Arcos Cutlery
- Athena Cutlery
- Chalet Cutlery
- Sant Andrea Cutlery
- Trenton Basics Cutlery
Ordering loads of cutlery? Get a custom quote now by emailing us at The Flying Fork. Thank you!