Typically made up of iron, chromium, and nickel, stainless steel is highly durable and resistant to corrosion, and it also doesn’t scratch easily — which makes it the perfect practical and affordable material for everyday use.
What do the different stainless steel number gradings mean?
When shopping for stainless steel cutlery, you may have noticed number gradings popping up in the product descriptions. And while I’m never normally a fan of bringing science into shopping, these numbers are actually kind of important. Sorry!
The first value in the grading refers to the percentage of chromium — and 18 is the amount you’d expect to see for most cutlery sets. “When bonded with stainless steel, chromium helps protect cutlery from many of the corrosive substances found in food,” says Adam Freeman, Brand Manager at distinguished cutlery brand, Viners.
The second number refers to the nickel content. According to Adam, nickel either makes up 10% of the stainless steel’s composition — or it isn’t used at all. “Nickel provides extra resistance from rust and corrosion while boasting a high finishing lustrous shine,” he adds. So, although it’s not essential, it’s definitely seen as desirable.
What is the best cutlery to avoid rusting?
Thanks to its high percentage of both chromium and nickel, it’s widely acknowledged that 18/10 is the best grading. “Simply put, the higher the grade, the higher the rust resistance, durability and lasting shine,” explains Adam.
Definitely what you’d expect to find in fine dining restaurants, this kind of cutlery can also be purchased independently from a range of high-end retailers. “We only use the highest grade 18/10 stainless steel to ensure quality and longevity,” explains James Price, Sales Director at luxury cutlery brand, Arthur Price. “The use of this higher grade ensures rust resistance, durability and a lasting shine.”
However, it’s worth noting that this kind of high-quality flatware can get pretty expensive. For a hard-wearing cutlery set that’s ideal for everyday household use, 18/0 stainless steel will be more than capable of getting the job done.
After more kitchen content? Head this way for the best dinner sets, in this direction for the best kettles, over here for the best juicers and smoothie makers for immune-boosting drinks and in this direction for coffee machines to level-up your morning latte. We’ve also got non-stick frying pans for pancakes galore, drinking glasses and bread makers. For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess. For more from GLAMOUR UK contributor Georgia Lockstone, follow her on Instagram @georgialockstone.