Everything You Need To Know About Choosing Flatware

Choosing the perfect set of flatware that not only looks good but also feels good in your hand is a complex decision and highly personal. So how do you decide? Stainless steel versus silver plated? Matching patterns? Is weight important? Read on for our tips on choosing the perfect flatware set that exudes style while feeling comfortable and pleasant to use.

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Balance 20 Piece Set. US $59.99

Stainless Steel Or Silver Plated Flatware?

Strong and durable, stainless steel is a fantastic metal for flatware. It is low maintenance, hygienic, durable, resists oxidation at high temperatures, will not rust, and is resistant to stains and damage from fruit acids.

Silver plated flatware is hard and durable like stainless steel and is often a more affordable option.

Our advice: Both options will work well. Find the pattern that you like best and don't worry about the rest. At Gourmetsettings.com we offer an industry-leading 25-year Warranty on every item we sell. So no matter what the materials you choose we have got you covered!

TWIST 20 Piece Set. US $89.99

Chromium and Nickel Percentages

High-grade 18/10 stainless steel is the highest quality composition for flatware. The number 18 represents the percentage of chromium, while the 10 percent is nickel. Chromium is the element that works to rustproof the flatware while nickel gives the flatware its sparkle and luster, adding to the steel's resistance to corrosion.

Though 18/10 is the highest grade of stainless steel flatware, compositions of 18/0, which has a negligible amount of nickel, are also a suitable composition. But keep in mind it is prone to rust and will most likely have a shorter life span.

Our advice: When possible look for flatware with an 18/10 composition.

Weight Is Important

Many people don't realize that weight plays an important role in choosing flatware. Weight provides you with a more substantial feel, allowing for balance, strength, and durability.

Our advice: When possible test the flatware to see how it feels in your hand.

4 Piece Knife Set. US $39.99

Matching Your Flatware To Your China

There are your superhero hosts that wouldn't dare have flatware that didn't perfectly match their china pattern. And then there are your practical users who push this to the side and go for a more funky feel. The truth is that there is no right or wrong when it comes to matching your stainless steel flatware to your china pattern. It is a personal choice that relates more to your style than a specific rule.

With this being said, matching flatware and china gives a more formal feel to a dinner party. Whereas, not matching your china and flatware adds a little more personal style to the look of your table, just like mixing and matching your clothes defines your personal style. It all comes down to the look you prefer. Have fun with it!

Our advice: Don't let anyone tell you what looks good. Find your own style and be confident.

Nouveau 45 Piece Set. US $170.00

Stock Your Kitchen

Our best advice is to start with as many place settings of flatware as you have in dinnerware. Typically 4-5 piece place settings are a fit for a starting family or 20-45 piece setting for large families and hosting alike. You might also wish to add extra forks and spoons to get you through coffee and dessert.

Which Flatware set best describes your style? Let us know in the comments below!

Are you looking for the highest quality silverware or flatware free from harmful chemicals? Would it be a bonus point if they were also made with safe working conditions and made with eco-friendly materials? Mamavation has ranked eating utensils and cutlery we could find and made recommendations based on public information and email communications with brands. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best nontoxic dinnerware, best nontoxic cookware, & best nontoxic air fryers, now join us for the best (& possibly worst) nontoxic silverware & flatware brands.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links.

Silverware is a Daily Use Item — Be Mindful of Materials

It’s important to be mindful when we purchase items for everyday use like silverware. Daily exposures are the most problematic ones because they build up over time. What starts small, over a lifetime quickly adds up. Therefore, It’s important to make sure that your silverware is made from non-toxic materials like stainless steel and is produced in a country with trusted manufacturing. There are other safe alternatives we will go over as well.

To clear something up that may be confusing to some — “Silverware” used to be made of silver, but in modern times, the term is interchangeable with “flatware.” So you will find that silverware typically is not made of silver today. When we talk about silverware, we are actually talking about all flatware: salad forks, dinner forks, dinner knives, small spoons, spoons for soup, serving spoons, etc. that are mostly made from stainless steel.

Types of Silverware

There are many types of materials available for silverware, however, most of them are not very popular. You’ll find the most popular type of silverware is actually made from stainless steel. Some materials are inert and non-toxic while others are problematic to the health of the Planet. Let’s go over each option one by one.

Stainless Steel Silverware

Stainless steel silverware is the most popular because of its excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, attractive appearance, and general safety. There are over 100 different grades of stainless steel, but we only really find a few in most silverware.

Stainless steel is an iron and chromium alloy. While stainless steel must contain at least 10.5% chromium, the exact components and ratios will vary. They then add some of the following: nickel, carbon, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, copper, or silicon.

Grades of Stainless Steel

• 18/0 Stainless Steel (aka Ferritic Steel) — This type of stainless steel is made without the use of nickel and contains 10.5 to 27% chromium. A small percentage of the population is sensitive or allergic to nickel and this option would be best for them. However, note that this type of stainless steel is not strong enough for a lifetime and is not as anti-corrosive. You will need to replace this set within a decade or less. We made sure to pull out all products that were made of 18/0 stainless steel for sensitive individuals in the “best” section.
• 18/10 Stainless Steel — This is the most common type of stainless steel you will find in flatware. This type of stainless steel typically contains about 8.2% nickel, not necessarily 10% like advertised. This is the highest quality of stainless steel because it will last for decades and is rust and corrosion-resistant.
• 18/8 Stainless Steel — Sometimes, but very rarely, you will find 18/8 stainless steel silverware. Also referred to as 304 grade, which contains 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. This is a lower grade of stainless steel.
• 13/0 Stainless Steel — 13/0 stainless steel contains 13% chromium and 0% nickel and is most likely to be found in a knife. This blade has sharp cutting surfaces while still maintaining rust and corrosion-resistant properties.
• “Stainless Steel” of Unknown Origin — We also ran into stainless steel of unknown origin. Unless your stainless steel is being manufactured with European standards or inside the United States, you may want to avoid these brands. If they are manufactured in China, we have no idea what’s inside.

Silver-Plated Flatware

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Silver-plated flatware is just like it sounds –silverware that is plated, not pure silver. Some precautions need to be taken when you have this type of silverware. Avoid placing stainless steel utensils in the same cycle as silver plate flatware when using the dishwasher. A chemical reaction may occur if they’re in the dishwasher simultaneously, leaving both sets with discoloration or even rust spots.

Silver-plated flatware could be dangerous when it’s older and has been used quite a bit. Over time the plating wears off and then it exposes the metal under the plating. The metal below may not be safe. To make sure your silver-plated silverware is not full of lead, pick up a lead test here and swab it to find out!

Sterling Silver Silverware

Sterling silver was first created in Northern Germany in the 12th Century. It is a special type of silver — an alloy of silver containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals, usually copper. Pure silver is very soft, so copper is added to create hardness and sturdiness.

Because tarnishing is a problem with sterling silver, other elements can be added like zinc, platinum, silicon, boron, or germanium to make it harder and improve its strength. Sterling silver is naturally antibacterial and antifungal and does not contain lead.

100% Pure Silver Silverware

100% pure silver silverware has always been the darling of sophistication, but it’s very uncommon. In addition to being very non-toxic, pure silver silverware can tell you if someone has put arsenic in your meal — a chemical reaction between the sulfur-based compounds and pure silver will alert you to the danger. You’ll notice the silver will immediately tarnish. Silver reacts with sulphides to form black silver sulphide. Other sulfur-containing foods such as eggs & mayonnaise will also tarnish pure silver.

Pure silver is also very antibacterial and antifungal and does not contain lead, so it was the safest alternative for flatware for many centuries compared to alternatives.

Plastic Flatware

You’ll find plastic silverware options, but they are never recommended. Plastics are held together with chemical additives and those additives are rarely disclosed to consumers. Additives inside plastics can be very problematic to your hormonal health.

This material is widely known for being cheap and light, used mainly for packaging and construction. However, it has also been used to make flatware and kitchen tools.

The problem with plastic begins when it is exposed to heat. When this happens, it produces kinds of toxins called oligomers. Ingesting certain amounts of these substances can cause health issues.

However, the reason why you should stop using plastic goes beyond a health issue. Plastic in flatware is not a durable & reusable material, which means it’s also a waste of money. It will break on you or expose you to additives eventually.

Country of Origin For Flatware & Silverware

The most mysterious part of this investigation is not about what the products are made of, but WHERE they are made. The question of the country of origin has become the main contributing factor in helping Mamavation rank products and brands for silverware. This is one of the main differences that can set a brand apart in stainless steel flatware.

We noticed as we were investigating the industry that there was one question that was left unsaid for lots of products — they simply don’t want you to know where their flatware is manufactured. It’s either not on their website and sometimes it wasn’t even available if you called or emailed customer service. Lots of brands are hiding where they have their flatware manufactured OR they downplay the fact that their silverware is manufactured in China. China is a country that is notorious for workers’ rights abuses, the use of toxic materials when producing goods, and a refusal to cooperate with investigations. The best brands are manufactured in the United States or the European Union where they have the strictest standards. We also found several brands manufactured in Indonesia, Vietnam, and India.

Is it always bad when products are manufactured in China? No. But China has a history of problems in several industries. Therefore, it’s prudent to look for an option from a country that has stricter regulatory oversight like the United States or the European Union if you have that option.

When brands manufacture silverware and flatware in China, we have concerns over workers’ conditions or the possibility of unsafe materials used. Other countries like Indonesia, India & Vietnam have fewer reputational issues but still may have some oversight problems. Country of origin has a central role in our ranking system for Flatware.

More From Mamavation in the Kitchen

Mamavation has also ranked products for you in the following categories that are relevant to you in the kitchen.

Here are our investigations on kitchen appliances & cookware:

Mamavation’s Investigation of Silverware & Flatware

Not Our Favorite Silverware & Flatware

Most of this stainless steel silverware is likely produced in China and thus we really have no idea how it was manufactured or what those costs were to the Planet or to workers’ health. We also put here brands and companies that are not telling you where they manufacture their products.

• Behring Made Knives
• Crate & Barrel Silverware
• Fitz & Floyd Everyday Bistro Band 45-Piece Flatware Set
• Fitz & Floyd Nevaeh Coupe 45-Piece Flatware Set
• Food Network Silverware
• Gibson Elite Soho Lounge Verdi Stainless Steel Flatware Set
• Gourmet Settings Oxford Collection Set
• Gourmet Settings Lyric Set
• Gourmet Settings Montana Collection
• Hampton Forge Ella Satin Set
• Hampton Forge Argent Orfevres Orleans Set
• Henckels Silvano Flatware Set
• Kate Spade New York Malmo Satin Flatware Set
• Kate Spade New York Todd Hill Flatware Set
• KNORK Original Collection Cutlery Utensils Set Matte Silver
• KNORK Chrome Curve Flatware Set Gloss Silver
• Lamson Kitchen Tools & Knives (not flatware)
• Lenox Colington Creek Flatware Set
• Living By Robinson Flatware
• Martha Stewart Charles 20 Piece Flatware Set
• Material Kitchen Knives
• Middleton Made Knives
• Mikasa Harmony Flatware Set
• Mikasa Satin Loft Flatware Set
• Oneida Golden Aquarius Set