Cutlery materials at a glance: Which cutlery is the best?
What material is cutlery made of?
You may be wondering: ‘What material should I buy cutlery made of, and which cutlery is actually dishwasher-safe?’ We have the answers. Generally speaking, three main types of stainless steel are used in the manufacture of cutlery: 18/10, 18/0 and 13/0 stainless steel. There are a few differences between these materials:
18/10 – Chrome-nickel stainless steel
18/10 stainless steel is an alloy of chromium, nickel and stainless steel. This combination of materials is considered the highest quality material for cutlery and is extremely rust-resistant. With proper care, the cutlery is extremely durable. With its pleasant feel and elegant look, chrome-nickel stainless steel adds a touch of elegance to your table setting.
Advantages of 18/10 stainless steel:
- Rust and acid resistant
- Taste neutral
- 100% dishwasher safe
- Very easy to clean
- High-quality finish
18/0 – Chrome steel
18/0 chrome steel has similar properties to 18/10 material, but is slightly less expensive. With a chromium content of 18 percent, chrome steel is very durable and dishwasher safe. With proper care, this alloy is also very long-lasting and ideal for use in the catering industry. This cutlery has good magnetic properties, which is advantageous when washing with magnetic cutlery baskets or belts.
Advantages of 18/0 chrome steel:
- Rust-resistant
- Taste-neutral
- Suitable for dishwasher
- Durable and robust
- Easy to clean
- Affordable to purchase
- More magnetic than 18/10 cutlery
13/0 – Knife steel
13/0 chrome steel is used exclusively for monoblock knives and knife blades and is therefore also referred to as knife steel. This material combines high rust resistance with particularly good cutting properties. Chromium is softer than steel, which is why a lower chromium content is used for high-quality knives. The knife blades are also hardened. This results in sharp blades that cut well for a long time. As with normal cutlery, it is important to care for your knives to keep them sharp in the long term. You can find another overview of different types of knives and how to care for them in our magazine.
Advantages of 13/0 stainless steel:
- Knife blades stay sharp for a long time
- Rust-resistant
- Suitable for dishwasher
- Durable
- Easy to clean
Our tip
Add a personal touch to your tables! At LUSINI, you can easily have your cutlery engraved with a high-quality engraving. Perfect for immortalising the name of your business or your logo on your cutlery and ensuring recognition among your guests.
Types of knife manufacturing: monoblock knives vs. hollow-handled knives
Knives can be manufactured in different ways. Both monoblock knives and hollow-handled knives are common, and apart from their design, they can differ primarily in the quality of their blades.
Monoblock knives
When manufacturing monoblock knives, the blade and handle are forged from the same 13/0 stainless steel and then hardened. This manufacturing process is straightforward and relatively inexpensive, yet the knives remain sharp for a long time.
Hollow-handled knives
Hollow-handled knives are very complex to manufacture and therefore somewhat more expensive. However, they impress with their lasting sharpness, good cutting ability and stability. With this type of knife, the blade and handle are made from different materials. The blade is usually made from hardened 13/0 steel and has a tang. The handle, which is made of 18/10 stainless steel, is inserted into this tang. The blade and handle are bonded together with a cement-like resin. This makes the knives particularly light, well balanced and comfortable to hold.
Cutlery care – how to keep your cutlery looking beautiful for a long time
Proper care is the basis for beautiful cutlery. With the right steps and products for cleaning, polishing and storage, your cutlery will remain rust-free and shiny.
Cleaning cutlery
For 18/10 and 18/0 stainless steel, cleaning in the dishwasher is usually sufficient. Afterwards, you should make sure that the cutlery is completely dry to prevent limescale stains. Knives made of 13/0 chrome steel are also dishwasher-safe. However, due to the lower chrome content, you should dry the blades thoroughly immediately after cleaning – otherwise, flash rust may occur.
Polishing cutlery
As cutlery is used frequently and intensively, small, inconspicuous scratches quickly appear. It is therefore advisable to polish cutlery from time to time with a cutlery polish. Alternatively, you can have the cutlery cleaned in a cutlery polishing machine. Please note: Knives should be resharpened after machine polishing!
Caring for cutlery with special shapes and finishes
Some cutlery requires special treatment due to the way it is manufactured or its different surface finishes.
- Vintage-look cutlery: The finish of this cutlery is created by trowalising (barrel finishing). This process gives the cutlery a matt surface. To maintain this matt appearance, vintage-look cutlery should not be repolished. This also applies to satin-finished or partially satin-finished cutlery.
- Cutlery with wooden handles: Cutlery with wooden handles can also be cleaned in the dishwasher. However, the wood should be treated with a care oil from time to time.
Buy high-quality cutlery – at LUSINI
Discover the wide selection of restaurant-quality cutlery in the LUSINI range. In addition to cutlery series from the LUSINI brands VEGA and PULSIVA, you can also purchase cutlery from our partner brands, such as Dalper. Find your favourites now!