What do a refrigerator door and a high-rise have in common? Material. They may both be stainless steel.
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Stainless steel fabricators produce components for cookware, home appliances, surgical tools, medical implants, bridges, and automotive bodies. Many of our most memorable landmarks are also made of stainless steel—take the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, The Bean in Chicago’s Millennium Park, or the spires on the United States Air Force Memorial in Arlington.
Chromium is the key to producing stainless steel, a metal known for its unique properties. All stainless steels contain a minimum of 10.5% chromium, which forms a thin passive layer on the steel’s surface when exposed to oxygen. There are several grades of stainless steel with varying amounts of chromium content.
Is fabricating with stainless steel suitable for your project? What sheet metal should you choose for custom components? Keep reading to learn about the amazing benefits of stainless steel.
Stainless steel’s biggest superpower is its corrosion resistance. Due to its chromium content, stainless steel is naturally resistant to rust and corrosion.
A passive layer of chromium oxide clings to the steel’s surface and protects the iron within from air, water, and other contaminants. The chromium oxide layer is also self-healing. Damaged or scratched stainless steel will repair itself in the presence of oxygen, which is why stainless steel remains shiny after years of use.
Increasing stainless steel’s chromium content increases its corrosion resistance. Low alloyed stainless steels can withstand atmospheric conditions, but high alloyed stainless steels can also resist corrosion from acids and alkaline solutions.
Workability is the next characteristic that makes stainless steel a practical choice for fabrication. Manipulating stainless steel can be done fairly easily with the right tools and know-how. Stainless steel is easy to cut, bend, weld, and form as desired.
Nickel deserves the credit for our ability to easily make custom components from stainless steel. Not all stainless steels contain nickel, but 75% of the stainless steel we produce includes this alloy. The nickel content within stainless steel changes its structure to an austenitic structure at all temperatures.
The austenitic structure improves nickel-containing stainless steel’s ductility and formability, and it makes these stainless steels readily weldable. Higher nickel contents are better for deep drawing.
Shiny. Bright. Low-maintenance. Stainless steel is an attractive metal that retains its beauty over time. Once installed, stainless steel does not need to be treated, coated, or painted to maintain its appearance.
You can give stainless steel a wide variety of finishes, including matte, brushed, satin polished, bright polished, or mirror finish. Patterned finishes are also possible for building entrance flooring, roofing, and automotive exhaust systems.
Stainless steel lasts a long time. According to a 2015 study, the average lifespan of stainless steel is 20 years. At the end of its life, stainless steel can be recycled to make new stainless steel or carbon steel.
Yale University research scientist Barbara Reck found that most stainless steel is used to produce metal goods (29.4%) and industrial machinery (29.4%). These end products are followed by building materials (18.4%), car components (12.2%), household appliances (7.8%), and parts for other forms of transportation (2.9%).
The study found that stainless steel used for buildings and infrastructure lasts 50 years on average. Metal goods and household appliances made of stainless steel last about 15 years.
The lifespan and durability of stainless steel outweigh the initial cost of the material. Stainless steel has a higher price per unit compared to mild steel, but less material is usually needed to complete projects because of its properties.
Material selection plays into the final fabrication cost. As global markets continue to recover from COVID-19, stainless steel raw material costs will fluctuate. As of March 2022, these raw materials are projected to increase in price.
Stainless steel can take the heat. It has resistance to extreme temperatures. That’s why boilers and water valves are often made from stainless steel. At high temperatures, stainless steel resists scaling and creep. Some grades of stainless steel can be used for temperatures up to 2100℉.
Even in lower temperatures, stainless steel remains tough. Austenitic stainless steels are often used for products exposed to subzero temperatures. Grades 304 and 316 are considered “cryogenic steels” because of their ability to retain tensile strength and ductility in extreme cold.
Stainless steel is commonplace in hospitals, kitchens, and food processing plants because it is easy to clean. Due to its natural resistance, stainless steel doesn’t impart contaminants from corrosion onto products, and its shiny surface makes it simple to sanitize again and again.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), materials that come into contact with food must not contaminate the food or alter its taste or color. The Food Safety Modernization Act was created to prevent food-borne illnesses. Grades 304, 316, and 430 are used by companies that process and package food.
Around 50% of new United States stainless steel is made from remelted scrap metal. Stainless steel is completely recyclable. In fact, about 85% of stainless steel is recycled at the end of its life.
Old stainless steel can be used to produce new metals, which is one reason stainless steel is so valuable. Of the stainless steel that’s recycled, 56% is used to make new stainless steel, and 29% is used to produce new carbon steel. In the United States, the average amount of recycled content in stainless steel is 71%.
When you choose stainless steel, you know the material will have a lifespan long past the lifespan of your product.
Stainless steel is perfect for components that need resistance from rust and corrosion but still need to look the part. Its aesthetics make stainless steel desirable for exterior car parts and home appliances. For industries that rely on sanitary surfaces, stainless steel is hygienic and easy to disinfect as required.
Though stainless steel has a greater initial cost, its unique properties and benefits make it a worthy investment that will stand the test of time.
Request a quote today for your next stainless steel fabrication project. Metaltech Products, Inc. has experience fabricating with stainless steel and can help you from design to delivery.
If you want pans that are nearly indestructible and will last forever, then you want stainless steel cookware.
In recent years we've seen a huge a insurgence of kitchen gadgets and tools promising to make our time in the kitchen tastier and easier.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t know what I would do without my air fryer, but I think I can skip the banana slicer. What do you do with all the time you saved by not using a butter knife?
When it comes to kitchen gear, our team of Food Fanatic cooks all swear by stainless steel cookware, but I understand how selecting the right pots and pans can be overwhelming with so many new styles and brands.
The market is flooded with celebrity endorsed products that look pretty but generally use low grade and cheap materials. Yes, even your favorite chef’s line of pans is most likely not very high quality. I know, I know.
Confused yet? Yeah. I get that. That's why I am breaking down everything you need to know about the most popular kinds of cookware.
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For the sake of brevity, we’ll stick with the three main types of stove top and oven cookware for today's comparison:
Each has various benefits and drawbacks, and all make sense to use in difference scenarios. So why do we love stainless steel? Read on to find out!
Cast iron cookware is a favorite among many people for all the right reasons. Cast iron is durable, holds heat well, and is essentially indestructible.
Unfortunately, cast iron pans are ridiculously heavy, weighing as much as 12 pounds. Trying to flip an omelet one handed with a 12 pound skillet is a lot harder than it sounds. (And it sounds pretty hard.)
Cast iron will also need special care to keep the surface non-stick. They can’t be washed like traditional pans and can't be put in the dishwasher.
That said, cast iron is a beautiful cooking material and can seamlessly transfer from the stove to the oven, making it great for baking, too.
To me, non-stick pans belong in the beginner’s category. They’re great for the cook that is starting out and still lacking confidence in the kitchen.
They have their place, but everything you can do with non-stick can be done better and safer with stainless steel cookware. Hear me out on this one!
Non-stick pans are coated with a synthetic chemical that keeps food from sticking to the pan, commonly known as Teflon. That's the first warning flag.
Anything coated in synthetic chemicals can’t be good for you, and in fact - there's a lot of emerging information about the dangers of non-stick coatings.
Non-stick pans also need to be handled with care. You can only use plastic, wood, or silicone utensils - metal is an absolute no-no.
Once the pan gets a scratch on it, you might as well throw it away. Teflon is a very toxic chemical, and once scratched can leach into your food.
Call me picky, but personally, I like my food without polytetrafluoroethylene.
Now, let’s talk about the star of the show - stainless steel cookware. Like myself, it’s often misunderstood, but at its core is sexy, stylish and cooks a mean steak!
If you went into any professional kitchen, you would see the only pans being used are stainless steel. That should speak volumes in itself.
Don't let that intimidate you though. Stainless steel cookware is accessible, easy to use and care for, and right at home in your kitchen.
We love that stainless steel cookware cooks evenly and isn't finicky when it comes to prep, care and maintence. Other than seasoning your pan, stainless steel doesn’t require a lot of attention.
It’s lightweight compared to cast iron cookware, dishwasher safe, doesn’t require a meticulous cleaning regiment, and is metal utensil safe.
To season your stainless pan, simply heat it up on your stovetop on medium heat. Add a high smoke point oil such as peanut or vegetable oil to the pan.
Using a wadded-up paper towel, coat the entire inside of the pan and let it continue to cook until it starts to slightly smoke.
Turn the pan off and allow it to completely cool. Once your pan is cool to the touch, use a fresh paper towel to wipe off any excess oil. That’s it. Now your pan is seasoned and ready to go.
If you notice food is sticking, repeat the process. When you’re ready to cook, make sure your pan is hot before adding oil to the pan.
You can test if it’s hot by adding a very small amount of water to the pan, like 1/8th of a teaspoon. The water should first spread into small beads and then come back together into one large droplet. Now you’re ready to cook!
When choosing your stainless steel pans, don’t confuse it with aluminum or carbon steel - aluminum is cheaper and lighter but doesn’t retain heat as well and won’t last long.
Carbon steel is a good option if you want to combine the benefits of stainless-steel and cast iron. Unfortunately, these pans tend to cost a lot more, without many added benefits.
Look for stainless steel pans with an aluminum core, encapsulated bottom, or tri-ply with tri-ply largely being considered the better of the three.
If you're wondering what to cook in your new stainless steel cookware, the answer is simple. Everything! Whatever you used your other pans for, stainless will get the job done and do it even better. (Told you. We're big big fans.)
Try some of our favorite recipes to cook with our stainless steel cookware:
How about looking for a new slow cooker dinner idea?
We’ve got you covered in our ever-growing Facebook group! If you’re not a member yet, why not?!
We’re chatting cooking techniques, dessert ideas, and everything in between. If you’re already a member, invite your friends to join us too!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom-made artisanal cookware. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.