Besides beauty, one of stainless steel flatware's most endearing (not to mention timesaving) qualities is its dishwasher friendliness.
For Best Results
- We recommend rinsing before loading into the dishwasher.
- Load loosely into the dishwasher utility basket. Place forks and spoons resting on their handles and knives with blades up.
- Avoid mixing metals. Sterling, aluminum and stainless should never be put in the same compartment.
- Use the proper amount of detergent and avoid harsh detergents.
- For spotless cleaning, remove knives at the conclusion of the final rinse cycle and hand dry. Make sure all pieces are dry before putting it away.
- Wash or rinse flatware soon after use especially when it has come in contact with acidic and salty foods, coffee, tea etc. as these can cause discoloration and corrosion.
- Do not leave soaking in water. Even plain water, especially 'hard' water can wear away at the finest of metals.
- Whether from the dishwasher or washing by hand, flatware should be dry before storing.
- Should stainless flatware develop stubborn spots or stains, clean using a good quality stainless steel cleaner following the manufacturer's instructions. Not to add to your workload, but you should consider doing this once a year regardless. And who knows, you might be surprised at the feeling of accomplishment you get when those shiny pieces are staring back at you.
- Rotate Flatware - try to use all pieces in your set so they wear evenly. With proper use and over time your flatware will develop markings we call 'the patina of life.' These add character and enhance the beauty of the metal.
Flatware Facts
Ever wish there was a course you could take in 'how to buy flatware?' While it can seem like a great mystery to the uninitiated, there really are just a few facts and simple things to keep in mind!
Flatware Numerology
Stainless Steel is steel, a metal of exceptional strength alloyed with at least 10% chromium. Chromium (and sometimes the addition of other metals) makes the steel particularly resistant to corrosion and rusting when exposed to water and moisture. Excellent qualities for flatware, don't you think?
Nickel is also sometimes added to the steel to soften the metal making it more malleable to intricate design. In addition, Nickel gives a different luster to the metal.
Often times you will see something that looks like a fraction on boxes of flatware. The "top" number refers to the amount of Chromium and the "bottom" number is the amount of Nickel. For example, 18/0 would be 18% Chromium and 0% Nickel. 18/10 - you guessed it, 18% Chromium, 10% Nickel.
Getting a Grip
Gauge is the thickness of a piece of flatware when viewed from the side. While you generally won't see a number mentioned, most flatware is 1-4 mm in thickness. And, as you might have guessed, thicker heavier pieces are in general more expensive as more raw materials are used. Is thicker better? That depends. While very lightweight flatware may be prone to bending, particularly heavy pieces may feel unbalanced or cumbersome in hand.
It's Finished
3 popular finishes for flatware are polished, matte and brushed. While matte finishes may be less prone to showing marks, if the finish is high quality, edges are smooth and the materials comparable all should have equal durability. Choose a finish that appeals to you.
Sizing
Flatware comes in 2 ranges of sizing. Most popular is 'American' and what most of us are used to. There is also 'Continental,' sometimes referred to as "Hotel" sizing. The term Continental is reflective of more formal days in 'Old World' Europe. Continental flatware is larger in stature and often reserved for more formal, higher priced designs.
How Do They Make This Stuff?
Two primary methods for manufacturing flatware are Forging and Stamping. (Photo op?) Forged flatware is a centuries old art where a bar of stainless steel is melted, hammered and sculpted into its final finished form. Stamping is a process where designs and shapes are stamped from a sheet (think thick sheet) of stainless steel, finished and polished into final form.
How Much Flatware Do I Need?
For everyday use it is convenient to have a minimum of 2 to 3 times the amount of flatware as members of the family. Those who entertain frequently might wish to increase those numbers or keep a separate collection for such purposes.
Serving pieces are indispensable for serving the meal, and of course complete the table presentation.
Flatware is sold in a number of ways including open stock individual pieces, boxed sets and place settings. Boxed sets usually include 5 pc. place settings (dinner fork, salad/desert fork, teaspoon, soup spoon and dinner knife) for 4, 8 or 12, and often come complete with serving pieces. (photo op)
The Choice is Yours!
Flatware comes in a variety of wonderful styles and designs. Choose a flatware design that appeals to you, blends with your lifestyle and feels good in hand. You, your family and friends will use these pieces daily and they are meant to be enjoyed! |
