Stainless Steel vs. Silver

While many people use the term “silverware” to refer to all eating utensils (even plastic utensils are “plastic silverware”), only some eating utensils are actually made of silver. Most everyday silverware is actually made of stainless steel.

 

Stainless steel: Stainless steel silverware (flatware) is a composition of many metals, including a large proportion of steel. The important metals, however, are chromium, which is rust repellant, and nickel, which adds luster. Stainless steel sets that are “18/10” have an eighteen to ten ratio of chromium to nickel, while lower-quality sets are 18/8 or even 18/0. Regardless, the major advantage of stainless steel silverware is that you can put it in the dishwasher. Consequently, most people use stainless steel silverware for everyday use.

 

For the most part, you can simply put all stainless steel silverware into the dishwasher, but it is still a good idea to immediately dry your silverware after the dishwasher finishes. Your knives in particular could be damaged by long spells in water. If you ever want to give your stainless steel utensils an even more thorough cleaning, however, you can purchase stainless steel cleanser.

 

Silver: True silverware has a grand history, and today, it can serve both as a classic family heirloom and as silverware fit for even the most formal dinners. Unfortunately, you have to wash silver utensils by hand, so it is less convenient for everyday use than is stainless steel. In addition, be careful, as some silver utensils are only silver plated; if you want the best, make sure yours is sterling silver.

 

If you have true silverware, make your cleaning easier by not letting the silver soak in food or water for a long time, and do not use harsh chemicals or scouring pads to clean your silver. Instead, use warm sudsy water and a soft sponge. After rinsing your silverware, make sure you pat it dry so that the water does not leave spots on your silver. The best way to keep your silver shining, however, is to purchase and use silver polish. After you have cleaned your silverware, store it in an air-tight bag or a silver chest. Do not use rubber bands, plastic, aluminum foil, or newspapers, and above all, don’t just throw silverware into a drawer; the utensils will scratch each other mercilessly.

 

As you might expect, true silverware can be significantly more expensive than stainless steel utensils. In addition, before you buy either kind, keep in mind what dishes you will use with your silverware. True silverware might feel out of place next to plastic dishes, for example.

 

While many people have either stainless steel or silver utensils, many other families keep one set of both types of silverware. These families generally use their stainless steel silverware for everyday use and true silverware for more formal or special occasions.