A good set of stainless-steel flatware is one of first things you buy for your kitchen, and most people rarely, if ever, replace it. But let's say you're about to move into your first real kitchen, or you've finally had it with the desperation forks you bought at Ikea 20 years ago. How much are you going to spend on your flatware? The prices of a standard four-person flatware set with five-piece place settings (dinner fork, salad fork, soup spoon, dinner knife, teaspoon) start at $8 (the price of Ikea's ubiqutious Förnuft set) and climb to a couple hundred. So how much should you spend to ensure you're getting a long-lasting set that can be served to your family and dinner guests alike? You need some shopping criteria and a few good examples to help you decide.
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Most flatware is made from a composite steel material; chromium and nickel are usually the main ingredients. When determining a set of flatware's quality, you'll want to look at the chromium and nickel percentages, the latter of which adds luster and provides resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel flatware sets are labeled with one of three ratios indicating the amount of chromium and nickel: 18/10, 18/8, or 18/0. The highest quality is 18/10 (18% chromium, 10% nickel), and the lowest is 18/0, which has a negligible amount of nickel and is thus more prone to rust.
There are two primary ways of turning stainless steel into cutlery: forging or stamping. Forged flatware is made from a thick piece of stainless steel that's heated and cut to form each utensil. Stamped flatware is cut like a stamp out of a piece of stainless steel. Because of the heating process, forged flatware is stronger than stamped flatware, which is more flexible. You shouldn't necessarily only buy forged flatware, but the difference (especially for knives) is something to take into consideration.
Finally, you should buy silverware that can be used in a variety of dining situations. My own mother used to bring out a chest of fancy silverware when guests came over (I remember because I had to hand-wash and immediately towel-dry them after the party), but she hasn't gotten it out for dinner parties in the last 10 years. Instead, she relies on one dishwasher-safe set that suits all occasions.
Below are a few 20-piece stainless-steel flatware sets judged according to the above factors. Unless otherwise noted, each place setting includes a dinner fork, salad fork, soup spoon, dinner knife, and a teaspoon.
We like the clean lines of this Fortessa 18/10 flatware set. We're unable to confirm if it's forged or stamped, but it's well-made and has a brushed finish. Each five-piece setting costs $28, making it an extremely affordable set. We've found that if you go below that price point, you risk compromising quality.
This 20-piece set is made from 18/10 forged stainless steel, so it passes our quality test. It has a mirror finish that gives it enough shine to work for formal parties, but a minimalist design that fits in at casual dinners. It's dishwasher-safe and has a 25-year warranty. The $160 price tag boils down to $40 per setting.
Like the Crate & Barrel set, this flatware from Williams Sonoma is made from 18/10 stainless steel. The knives are forged from hardened steel, and each piece is hand-polished. The Aston has a more traditional look than the sets above, with raised bands and curves. It's slightly more expensive than the other sets, but we think it's an investment piece that's worth the money&#;especially if you're looking for a more classic style of flatware.
Oneida has been making flatware since and has a solid reputation as a high-quality, classic utensil brand. Their Sheraton set perfectly embodies this, with its etched, teardrop-shaped handles and weighty feel. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Sheraton 5-Piece Fine Flatware Set
Striving for 18/10 stainless-steel flatware doesn't mean you can't opt for a fun, colorful set. Mepra's cheery Fantasia flatware comes in a variety of colored enamel handles.
Mepra Fantasia Color 20-Piece Flatware
Maybe your current flatware set contains knives that aren't fit for anything but butter. Consider replacing it with this Zwilling set: The knives are forged for precise sharpness. Every piece is, of course, 18/10 stainless steel. At $168 for a 45-piece set, the Zwilling Opus line gets you serious bang for your buck (and, as a bonus, it's currently on sale).
This Cambridge Silversmiths set wins top marks in flatware reviews around the internet. Consider it the Helvetica of flatware: modern and simple in a way that fits in pretty much every home decor style. Combine that with the magic 18/10 ratio, a reasonable price, and a 25-year warranty and you'll see why it's so highly regarded.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Party Stainless Steel Cutlery. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
As a food stylist and a hungry person, I have considerable experience buying cutlery. Whether you're looking for food photography props or a flatware set that will last for generations, I have all the tips you need for finding second-hand silverware.
Etsy is a popular online market for artists and vintage sellers. It turns out, Etsy is also a B Corp, which means that a third-party holds them to high social and environmental standards (yay!). All the second-hand items on Etsy are at least 20 years old and are usually in good condition, so they tend to be more expensive than items at second-hand stores or garage sales. However, there is a huge selection on Etsy so you might be able to find a great deal.
Food52 is a popular site for publishing and collecting recipes, but they also have an online vintage shop. This shop only carries high-quality vintage pieces, so they can get pretty pricey. If you want cutlery for food styling, entertaining or interior design, this is the place for you. However, if you're looking for an everyday flatware set, stick to the other seller options.
Of course, the most obvious places to buy second-hand goods are second-hand stores. Second-hand stores are my favorite places to buy utensils because I can look at the pieces' quality and test their comfort. To find second-hand stores near you, do some online searching or ask around.
Some second-hand stores only accept vintage items, while others accept newer used items. Like I mentioned earlier, vintage items are often pricier than newer second-hand goods, but may be of higher quality. More modern items are often less expensive but could be low-quality. Most shops specify on their websites or social media whether or not they are strictly vintage retailers.
I've found some of my favorite food styling pieces at garage sales and estate sales. These sales are perfect if you are on a tight budget, and they often have larger flatware sets than Etsy or Food52. Depending on the sale, you might also be able to find some high-quality vintage pieces. To find garage sales near you, just walk through a neighborhood on a sunny weekend morning &#; you're bound to find one!
Stainless steel is the most durable and safest cutlery material. It is heat-, cold- and water-resistant, won't bend or snap and isn't linked to any negative health effects.
Manufacturers label stainless steel according to the amounts of chromium and nickel it contains. Common grades for stainless steel cutlery include 18/10 (18% chromium and 10% nickel), 18/8 (18% chromium and 8% nickel) and 18/0 (18% chromium and 0% nickel).
Higher percentages of nickel make the stainless steel more resistant to corrosion, so most experts recommend buying 18/10 stainless steel. When buying second-hand, look for one of these ratios etched into the side of the flatware. If you can&#;t find the ratio on the flatware, ask the seller if they know the stainless steel&#;s grade.
Stick to cutlery than is made of entirely stainless steel rather than cutlery featuring wooden or plastic handles or other mixed-material decorative touches. Speaking from experience, mixed material cutlery just doesn't last. Inevitably, the wood warps from an accidental trip to the dishwasher, or the plastic breaks off from the rest of the piece. Mixed materials look great in food photography, but are not practical for everyday use.
Manufacturers create rose-gold, black and other metal cutlery colors through either electroplating or physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating. Both of these processes are subject to wear down over time. Again, these colors are great for food photography, but not for eating dinner. If you want your silverware to last, skip the trendy colors.
Maybe it's the snobby foodie in me, but I think silverware's weight distribution is super important! This is partially due to comfort, but also practicality. If I'm putting a knife or fork on my plate, I want to know that it will stay there without toppling onto the floor.
If you're at a second-hand shop or garage sale, test flatware's balance by picking up and assessing if it feels comfortable. You could also try to balance it horizontally on one finger to find its center of balance. Ideally, the center of balance should be in the middle of the utensil.
If you're shopping online, ask the seller if the pieces are top-heavy or bottom-heavy. They'll likely be happy to answer!
For more information, please visit Stainless Steel Flatware With Luxurious Appearance.