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Flatware's just not that cheap. The most budget-friendly set we recommend costs (at the time of writing) $65 for a four-piece set. Our overall top pick is $200 for four settings. That said, our senior commerce editor, Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, has owned the Made In set for three years and has no complaints. "It still looks as good as new after truly countless times through the dishwasher," she says. "I even bought a second set." That's saying something since flatware can be prone to rusting and bending. No one wants to eat off a fork with uneven tines.
The Criteria: What to Look for In a Flatware Set
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
Choose a flatware set that creates the feeling of everyday luxury. Look for perfectly balanced pieces with a pleasant heft and a design that suits your taste. Choose a high-quality, rust-resistant material like stainless steel, so that your set will last forever. To make your life easier, find a set that&#;s dishwasher-safe. This will simplify daily use and cleanup.
Our Favorite Flatware Sets
What we liked: The Made In set is simple and timeless. We found each piece to be well-balanced with smooth, rounded edges and a satisfying heft. Its knife cut through chicken easily, while it&#;s spoon held the perfect bite of soup. Overall, you can&#;t go wrong with something so well-made and elegant.
What we didn&#;t like: This set is expensive. It comes with enough for a service for four. Unfortunately, Made In doesn&#;t offer additional single settings, so you&#;d have to purchase a whole other 20-piece set if you wanted, say, enough flatware for six people. Made In also does not include matching serving pieces.
Key Specs
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This lovely flatware set breezed through all of our tests. It was durable and easy to clean and had a nice weight in hand. It&#;s available in two finishes. Plus, notice the subtle v-shaped handle: this adds a slight touch of personality to an overall classic design. We liked that you can purchase service for four, then add additional settings as needed.
What we didn&#;t like: This set is among the most expensive we tested. Serving pieces are not included, but a matching serving spoon and fork can be purchased separately.
Key Specs
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This flatware is a great value. The set includes service for eight, plus additional serving pieces like a slotted serving spoon and a cute, shell-shaped sugar spoon. The pieces themselves are pleasantly heavy in the hand. The thick handles featured a slight depression, almost like a thumbprint, that felt natural to hold.
What we didn&#;t like: This set didn&#;t demonstrate the same attention to detail as the more expensive sets. While the pieces were functional, the edges of the fork tines were slightly rough.
Key Specs
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This set performed well in all of our tests. Its neutral design veers towards modern with a slightly softened angle between the head of the spoon and the handle. It&#;s available in mirror, satin, and &#;Air Silver,&#; which appears to be shinier than the other two options. It&#;s also designed by Robert Welch, the maker of one of our other favorite flatware sets.
What we didn&#;t like: It&#;s not the priciest offering we recommend, but it&#;s still up there. Matching serving pieces are available but must be purchased separately.
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Key Specs
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This set comes with enough flatware to host a large dinner party, including the serving fork. The pieces are easy to use and clean. For those looking to add a little peronsonality to the table, this set includes a flared and beaded handle.
What we didn&#;t like: The individual pieces of this set are on the lighter side. The dinner fork weighs 42 grams, which is noticeably lighter when compared to the 54-gram Made In fork.
Key Specs
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
The Competition
FAQs
Which silverware sets don&#;t rust?
Stainless steel is our top material choice because it doesn&#;t rust easily. High-quality stainless steel is rust-resistant and will last a long time if cared for correctly. To prevent rust, always dry flatware completely before storing it.
What does 18/10 stainless steel mean?
Stainless steel is graded for quality. The grade is given as a fraction, which represents the amount of chromium and nickel present in the steel. These elements enhance durability and rust resistance. 18/10 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 10% nickel, and is considered the highest quality.
What's the difference between flatware and silverware?
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Flatware refers specifically to eating utensils like forks, knives, and spoons. Silverware can be used to refer to any item plated in silver.
How many flatware settings should you have?
Most people will find it helpful to have at least four place settings (20 pieces), but if you plan on hosting dinner parties or have more people to feed, a 65-piece set (12 settings) should do it. Some of our favorite flatware sets also allow you to purchase additional single settings, so you can scale your collection as needed.
What's the best way to clean flatware?
All of our favorite flatware sets are dishwasher-safe. However, some flatware sets (like the brushed gold one we tested) must be hand-washed. If your flatware has wooden handles, these will also need to be cleaned by hand. We always recommend checking the manufacturer's care instructions, just to be safe.
Why We're the Experts
Flatware should be anything but flat, and a good set can enhance your table at every meal, whether it&#;s a weekday dinner or a special occasion.
After handling over 300 forks, knives, and spoons over the years, we now recommend 11 sets in a variety of styles&#;modern, retro, classic, or formal.
Our picks meet our strict quality standards, but they also cover a variety of weights and prices, so you can find the best flatware for your lifestyle and budget.
For more information, please visit bargain stainless steel flatware.