What to Look for When Buying Flatware?
A smart new flatware set can elevate the taste of a meal into an occasion.
Whether you're looking for an everyday flatware set or the specific one for festive celebrations, there's a lot of beautifully designed cutlery available to choose from. But you have to consider some things when choosing flatware.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel flatware can keep the shine of silverware at a fraction of the price. Today, our flatware still owes something to the more formal silver settings of old-fashioned. You can find designs on even the smallest flatware handles that are meant to depict actual silverware.
While stainless steel makes glittery, glossy cutlery more affordable, it's also far easier to care for than other metals. This type of flatware is dishwasher-friendly, easy to wash by hand, and convenient to hold and store on a kitchen shelf.
Stainless Steel Grades
However, you can't buy any flatware that claims the stainless-steel logo. Good stainless steel will show a grade that looks like a fraction on the packaging or product page: typically, 18/10, 18/8, and 18/0. 18/10 means that the flatware contains 18 percent chromium and 10 percent nickel. 18/10 flatware is the finest quality stainless-steel: it will feel a bit heavy while holding in the hands.
Finish
Typically, a higher quality stainless steel with grade 18/10 is more lustrous due to the higher nickel content. The polished shine of 18/10 stainless steel is commonly referred to as a "mirror finish." Low nickel content usually means a satin finish, sometimes termed "butler finish" because it has the appearance of hand-polished silver. But there are other choices for you to keep an eye on. You can go with a piece of 18/10 flatware with a "tumble finish," which reduces luster and sometimes gives it a matte look. This finish is mainly used to fabricate the black stainless-steel flatware to provide an excellent textured matte black look.
Stamped vs. Forged
In the market, you can see most flatware is stamped, which means it is stamped with a huge piece of steel. Forged flatware is forged by a craftsman's hand and is more expensive. It is considered a durable option. Weight is the main difference between forged and high-quality stamped silverware: forged flatware is heavier. Typically, for everyday use, stamped flatware is a popular option among people due to its lightweight.
Design
Your choice purely comes down to taste: both old-style and contemporary styles are designed from stainless steel. The only main thing is if you want stainless steel flatware in a different shade. Gold and black stainless flatware have become increasingly popular in today's era, mainly because they are striking with the shiny cutlery look that we use almost everywhere, every day. These sets are generally made of stainless steel and have another color added on top.
