It has rightly been said that “Our fondest memories are made when gathered around the table”.
Considering that you will likely be investing in a full set of cutlery just a few times in life, it is important to choose a set you know you will love and cherish.
Cutlery choices range from daily use cutlery to high-end, luxurious, hand-it-down silverware, and are mainly dependent on your budget and dining style.
Whatever your requirements are, good research and thought will definitely help you choose just the right set for your family. We have also written a complete guide about best stainless steel kitchen utensils.
Knowing what to look for
Before you begin, here are some aspects you would want to consider:
Size/Components
You can either choose to buy an entire set, or add individual pieces to your already existing cutlery set.
If you are keen on a whole set, the size of your family must help you determine the size of cutlery set to buy.
Commonly available sets include:
Canteen set
Perfect for special occasions and dinner parties, the Canteen set comes in a beautiful wooden case, and can range
from a 44 piece set to a 124 piece set.
Each piece comfortably sits inside a soft lined cut-out inside the wooden case.
Since these are meant for exclusive use, they are usually made up of high quality 18/10 stainless steel.
When they are not being used, they also make for great showpieces.
Box set
Most of these sets are also made from high quality 18/10 stainless steel, but don’t come in wooden cases.
This set can contain anywhere from 4 to 124 pieces of cutlery.
With accessories sitting securely in a plastic tray which is further enclosed inside a cardboard box, the Box set is meant to be stored in a cutlery draw or fill an existing Canteen box.
Accessory set
These make great gifts for someone looking to extend their cutlery set collection.
They come in beautiful boxes, and consist of pieces like cheese and butter knives, steak knives and forks, cake slicer and dessert knives, and fish knives.
The pieces that come as a part of the Accessory set can be purchased individually too.
Children’s set
These traditional children gifts often feature chunky handles and favourite comic characters.
The set contains basic pieces like a simple knife, fork and spoon, and encourage children to learn basic table manners and etiquette.
Material
Be it for daily use, or a special occasion, stainless steel cutlery continues to be the best and most preferred cutlery material all over the world.
This must-have flatware is strong, stain resistant, break resistant, durable and elegant, thus making it a great choice for any occasion.
Stainless steel is a great choice for cutlery since it guarantees hygiene and has anti-bacterial properties.
Quality
Stainless steel cutlery comes in three qualities- 18/0, 18/8 and 18/10.
This ratio depicts the percentage of Chromium to Nickel in the stainless steel alloy.
Here 18/8 and 18/10 are virtually identical, and there is practically no difference between the two.
The 10 in 18/10 indicates 10% Nickel, thus making it rust-resistant and giving it a silvery-soft sheen.
Alongside, the 0 in 18/0 indicates that there is no Nickel present as a part of the alloy.
Weight
Medium weight
These are the easily bendable, daily use cutlery often used in schools, cafes and other institutions.
They are the lightest and most affordable flatware.
Heavy weight
These are used by mid-level eateries and casual dine-in spaces.
More durable than the medium weight flatware, they look quite presentable and cannot be easily bent.
Extra Heavy weight
They are sturdy, well-built and sophisticated flatware used at high-end fine dine-in restaurants.
Highly durable when compared to both medium and heavy weight flatware, these are extremely difficult to bend.
Style and design
The two main styles of cutlery are Classic and Contemporary.
Old classic designs include patterns like Dubarry, Bead and Rattail and are made out of high-grade 18/10 stainless steel.
Contemporary patterns are casual, modern day patterns, for everyday use. Here, coloured cutlery and matt are two of the famous finishes in trend currently.
Storage
Based on where they can be stored, cutleries can be divided into two wide groups.
Cutlery Tray
A cutlery tray can be added to your drawer so that your cutlery can stay organised and easy to reach.
The shallow tray has slots for all types of cutlery and the tray is made up of different materials for storing different kinds of cutlery.
Cutlery Cabinet
This is the same as the Canteen set described above and is great for presentation, storage and display.
Cleaning
The manufacturer’s guidelines must be definitely followed in order to increase the durability of your flatware.
Though most cutleries are dish washer safe, it is recommended to choose the ones which are easiest to clean and maintain.
Some cutleries have handles made of wood, while some have complicated patterns, allowing food and gunk to get trapped along the edges.
It is essential to keep these points in mind, if easy cleaning happens to be a priority for you.
Why Stainless steel?
Historically, spoons, forks and knives have been known to be made out of silver.
Silver was well-recognised for its anti-bacterial properties and continued to rule the reign for quite a long time.
With the industrial era, in order to make cutlery affordable, brass utensils started gaining prominence. These brass utensils were subjected to a special silvering process in order to make them retain the goodness of silver.
Somewhere around the 1970’s, stainless steel cutlery emerged, and has remained a hot favourite ever since.
Stainless steel with its innumerable properties made it the perfect metal for making forks and spoons.
The metal is extremely strong- even at very high temperatures, dishwasher safe, resistant to water, rust and corrosion.
An important property of stainless steel is the hygiene it ensures, thus making it a preferred choice for almost all kitchen ware.
The other wonderful properties of stainless steel include its resistance to fire and heat, aesthetics, better strength and weight ratio in comparison with other types of steel, its wide range of usage temperatures and the value it provides throughout the product’s life cycle.
It is also known for its ease of transformation in the manufacturing process, i.e. while making different parts and products.
Also, stainless steel needs less maintenance, looks great and lasts longer.
With all this information under your belt, let us have a look at the top ten stainless steel cutlery sets, and help you decide which one is best for you!
TOP 10 BEST STAINLESS STEEL CUTLERY SETS IN 2022 – CHART
Make every meal a celebration with this pretty and shiny European Style flatware set.
These beautiful pieces from Henckels are classy, well-made and will last you years.
Size/Components
The J.A. Henckels International Alcea Flatware Set is a sixty-five piece set containing twelve- five piece place settings. The set also contains a serving spoon, a serving fork, a slotted serving spoon, a butter knife and a sugar spoon.
Each accessory has five of its kind, thus making it a great choice for a large family, even one where guests make frequent appearances.
Material and Quality
All through, customers have been extremely satisfied about the material, shine and weight of this flatware.
They feel substantial in the hand, and are not too heavy. The pieces are highly polished, have smooth edges and a great mirror finish.
These pieces are made of 18/10 stainless steel and thus are rust and stain free.
Style and design
This European style flatware is classy, shiny and has a simple and delicate pattern.
The bowls on the teaspoons are a little larger than you might expect, especially for children.
Cleaning
This flatware set is dishwasher safe and can also be washed by hand and air dried, without any problems of staining or rusting.
Pros
Great weight, feels substantial
Smooth and beautiful mirror finish
Rust and stain free
Elegant pattern
Cons
Flatware is European sized- handles are longer than usual.
Add class, glamour and warmth to your dining experiences with these beautifully crafted pieces from Bruntmor.
This beautiful range of Bruntmor cutlery adds a touch of style, warmth and grace to every dining experience you have.
These pieces have been designed keeping your comfort and aesthetic needs in mind, and the set is no less than a masterpiece!
Size/Components
This peaceful and classy set has 45 pieces of brilliantly crafted cutlery, is well-suited for a large family, and can comfortably serve a family of eight.
The dining set comprises of 4 dinner forks, 4 tablespoons, 4 knives, 4 salad forks and 4 teaspoons.
They come in a beautiful, handcrafted box, and each piece of cutlery is carefully poly-wrapped to prevent scratching and colliding against each other.
This is a basic, yet a beautiful set, great and sturdy enough for daily use or formal occasions alike, and is great for the price.
Material and Quality
This Bruntmor set is made out of high quality 18/10 stainless steel and is extremely durable.
It features an exclusive luxury mirror polishing and is pretty enough to grace the fanciest table.
The steak knives are made up of 410 grade steel, which makes sure these are exceptionally resistant to wear and tear, heat and are corrosion resistant.
These pieces are good quality, heavy, exceptionally well-built and have balanced proportions.
Style and design
The Bruntmor ALBA Silverware Royal 45 piece flatware cutlery set, is a harmonious addition to your modern kitchen décor.
The stylistic features of this contemporary range of cutlery include a modern length with balanced proportions, carefully curved edges for a pleasant hold and feel, and a bright and vivid pattern to go well with a wide range of modern kitchen ware.
Cleaning
These heavy duty pieces of cutlery are dishwasher safe, and are rust and corrosion resistant.
An important feature of this cutlery set is that the pieces are devoid of wooden handles. These pieces are all one piece, thus preventing the possibility of food getting trapped by thehandles.
It is a good practice to store flatware in a moisture-free drawer and also making sure that the cutlery pieces are completely dry before storing them.
Add sophistication and comfort to your dinner table, with this harmonious addition from Bruntmor!
This multipurpose set suits a formal event as much as it is perfect for a family meal. It is simple, yet supremely elegant and goes well with a wide range of crockery.
Size/Components
Packaged in a gift box, this set contains four pieces of the following- Dinner forks, teaspoons, knives, salad forks, and tablespoons.
Perfect for a family of four, this is a modern cutlery range goes a long way in terms of durability and comfort.
Material and Quality
Made with the finest quality 18/10 stainless steel, the set features a beautiful mirror polish, which is sure to hold its sheen for several years.
With their modern look and harmonious proportions, these durable pieces have a modern length, and carefully rounded edges for added comfort.
Style and design
This set has a timeless, elegant and classy design which makes this silverware apt for formal occasions.
Sturdy and well-built, it is sure to add grace to a formal event, but equally made to withstand daily use.
This graceful set has a strong and firm grip, and is beautiful in its simplicity.
The spoons are voluminous, and are beautifully weighty and balanced.
With its bright patterns, this set can be coordinated in plenty of ways and is discreetly elegant.
Cleaning
This elegant and classic Bruntmore set is dishwasher safe and is perfect for everyday use.
The makers recommend rinsing and washing flatware with hot water and mild detergent, as this will increase the life and durability of the set.
Also recommended is storing these pieces in a moisture free drawer and preventing contact with sulphur rich substances.
Not soaking flatware can contribute highly to the durability and longevity of your metal utensils.
Add some metallic magic to your everyday meals with this curvy and comfortable flatware set!
If you are looking for a basic cutlery set for your large family, this may be the perfect value addition to your dining table. High quality, sturdy and comfortably weighty, this set will surely add comfort and delight into every meal.
Size/Components
The Artaste 59380 RainFlatware set is a 36-piece set, great for a huge family.
This is a basic set comprising of 12 pieces of the following- Dinner knife, Dinner fork and teaspoon.
Material and Quality
With its excellent quality and weight, this set has a curvy, ergonomic design and a smooth, gorgeous finish.
Expertly crafted, weighty, and shiny, the pieces are a delight to use and are very attractive.
The nice weighty handles make them extremely comfortable and easy to eat with.
Made with 18/10 high quality stainless steel, this durable piece of dinnerware is a great value addition to your kitchen.
Style and design
These pieces are very simple, yet an example of understated elegance.
The design is sure to accent any piece of chinaware you may have, and will give you joy each and everyday as you use them.
Cleaning
This ergonomic set is dishwasher safe and easily cleanable, but maybe prone to water spots and stains.
With its excellent quality, this set is sure to last you a long time.
Make your dinners more special with the warm and classy 40-piece Silverware set from Royal.
Size/Components
The set contains ten pieces of the following- Dinner forks, tablespoons, knives and teaspoons.
Each piece is individually wrapped to prevent scratching, and packaged in a beautiful black box.
Material and Quality
This 18/10 40-piece silverware set is gorgeous and substantial, and is perfect for a large family.
The pieces are sturdy, have a great shine and feel silky smooth to the touch.
While these pieces are moderately weighty, they are comfortable and have a substantial grip and hold.
The smooth finishing, ensuring there are no sharp edges, makes this a safe and comfortable option for your family.
Style and design
With its modern and ergonomic design, this 40-piece utensil set makes every meal comfortable and special.
The set has a clean and elegant wave design that is perfect for casual meals and fancy dinners.
While its smooth finishing makes it safe and comfortable for adults and children, the high shine mirror polishing adds a warm sparkle to your dinner table.
Cleaning
This heat resistant and dishwasher safe dinner set is perfect for everyday use.
It is rust and corrosion resistant, which makes sure it lasts you years.
Pamper your guests with these fancy, feminine pieces from Lianyu.
Perfect for home, restaurant, hotel, travel or camping use, this versatile, modern-looking, and sturdy silverware is comfortable and imparts a classic look.
Size/Components
This Lianyu set comprises of four pieces of each of the following- 7.5-inch Dinner Spoon, 7.5-inch Dinner Fork, 9.0-inch Dinner Knife, 6.6-inch Desert Fork, and 6.6-inch Teaspoon.
The 20-piece silverware set is perfect for a family of four, and is perfect for home, hotel or restaurant use.
Material and Quality
This set is made from premium stainless steel, and is rust and corrosion resistant. The material is claimed to be BPA-free and non-toxic, and is a great choice for the health conscious.
The build and workmanship is great, and this set comes across as highly sturdy, yet sleek and delicate.
With a smooth, high-end polished frame, this shiny looking silverware adds class to your table.
Style and design
The Lianyu 20-Piece Silverware Set is elegant and has a unique vine pattern engraved on the handles imparting a luxurious charm.
The pieces are of perfect weight, and are comfortable enough to be held and sturdy enough not to bend.
With a dense handle and easy grip, the set ensures you have your meals more efficiently.
While the pretty flower pattern adds a feminine touch to your existing dinnerware, these are still modern and fashionable.
Cleaning
This beautiful set of kitchenware is easy to clean and is both hand and dishwasher safe.
With proper care taken, this set is likely to last you a very long time.
Pros
Beautiful pattern
Classy and luxurious look
Comfortable to use
Durable
Cons
Not suitable for a large family
Caring for your stainless steel cutlery
Stainless steel is known for its highly durable and long lasting properties.
Yet, it is essential that you treat stainless steel cutlery with care, to prevent dullness or damage.
The pointers below are tips to help keep your stainless steel cutlery in optimal shape and condition.
Do not allow food to stay on flatware for a long while. Certain foods like tea, vinegar, coffee, mayonnaise, salt and eggs, can cause damage to your flatware.
Never soak flatware in water over a long period of time. This may result in your stainless steel cutlery getting corroded.
Always use mild detergents and avoid acidic additives while hand-washing flatware.
If you wash stainless steel cutlery in a dishwasher, ensure you don’t wash them with other metals. Liquid and powder detergents containing bleach or heavy chlorination should be avoided as they can erode away the protective coating on your stainless steel flatware.
After cleaning your flatware, it is important that you dry them as soon as possible. This is to prevent any spotting, streaking, corrosion or discoloration.
Before storage, it is highly essential that you check for the dryness of your flatware. Failing to do so, can cause rust spots to appear.
If you see rust appearing on your stainless steel flatware, rub the spots with vinegar and olive oil until they disappear.
If your stainless steel flatware has become dull or lost its shine, you can use a small amount of stainless steel cleaner on your flatware. This can help restore the shine, and also remove scratches or streaks on your stainless steel cutlery.
An alternative to using stainless steel cleaner is Olive oil. Applying Olive oil to your flatware before wiping it off, also works to bring back the lost sheen on your cutlery.
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