Everything You Need To Know About Buying ...

Purchasing flatware is trickier than you may think. It’s a big purchase. You aren’t buying something that’ll get replaced every year or so. Buy some flatware, and you’re in it for the long haul. Studies have shown most people buy new flatware every decade or so. If you don’t choose the right flatware, you’ll be stuck with something you loathe for a while, or at the very least, you’ll be making another big purchase in the not-so-distant future. We’ll help.

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There are three major considerations when buying flatware. The first is the design, you’ll need something that appeals to you. Secondly, you’ll consider the metal, e.g. stainless steel, silverware, etc. Finally, you’ll want to think about the production method of the flatware. For example, is it forged, or stamped?

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to buy the best flatware in 2023. You’ll learn about the different metal types. You’ll discover what weird numbers like 18/10 and 18/10 mean. We’ll even let you know the best grades to buy if you’re buying flatware with the plan of it lasting decades. There’s a lot to cover, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

How to Choose the Best Flatware 2024

As we said, there are three main things that you’ll think about when buying flatware – the design, the metal, and the manufacturing process. You’ll also need to think about how much flatware you need to buy (and it may be more than you initially think).

The goal of this section is to walk you through the purchasing process. We’ll tell you all the considerations when buying new flatware. We know that choosing the right flatware for your home can be a very personal process, but we hope that our knowledge will put you on the path toward making the right choices.

Your Budget

Flatware varies drastically in price. You can pick up a set for $10 right now (please don’t, it would be hideous), or you could pick up a set for thousands of dollars (probably overkill for most people). The huge variation in price means that you should have some sort of budget in mind when buying your flatware.

We recommend spending a minimum of $100-$150 on your flatware. We know that this can sound like a lot for some people but remember that you’ll be using this flatware for several years, so it’s worth getting something decent. If you can spend even more than this, then fantastic! You’ll end up with better quality flatware that looks stunning. Although, $100-$150 is fine for most people. You may need to double this price if you’re buying 10-12 sets of flatware at a time.

How Much Flatware Do You Really Need?

We hate to get all cliché here – but how long is a piece of string? There’s no one right answer to this question! While some people may get away with just 4-5 sets of flatware (knife, fork, spoon), others may need much more.

We recommend that you buy as many as you can afford, and there are two reasons for this:

➢ Flatware, no matter the quality, will inevitably become damaged or lost. It is always good to have backups, even if some of the best flatware manufacturers will sell single pieces of flatware for those who want to replace things.

➢ Having more flatware will ensure that you have enough when you entertain guests.

In our opinion, you should aim to have 6-12 complete sets, plus any extras (e.g. cake slicers, pronged spoons, etc.) you think you may need. This should be enough to cover you for a few years, and if you ever feel like entertaining, it ensures that people won’t have mismatched flatware.

The Design

The design isn’t something that we can help you with. The design of your flatware is a personal choice, but we do have a couple of tips for you here:

➢ The more extravagant the design, the more it’ll cost. Don’t opt for fancy designs unless you have a huge budget to play around with. Sometimes it is better to cut back on the more intricate designs (which cost money) and opt for something basic, but better built.

➢ Think about what you’ll like in the future. We know we sound like a broken record, but your flatware will be around for a while. Your design tastes will change. Your dining table and rooms will change. Don’t buy flatware to fit in with the décor now. Buy flatware that can fit in with any décor. In most cases, that’ll mean more basic-looking flatware, albeit ones that have been built beautifully.

➢ Intricate designs may look fancy, but they’re difficult to clean. Again, basic-looking flatware will work best for you. We tend to avoid flatware that has too many small grooves on it. Food particles can get trapped in there, and it can be tough to loosen them unless you have a dishwasher or leave the flatware to soak for ages.

Yes. We are steering you toward flatware that has a more basic design here because we believe that you’ll get far better value for your money. It is something that you are less likely to be disappointed with in the future due to changing design tastes. Of course, you’re free to avoid this advice. Opt for any design that you want. It is a personal choice. We won’t complain, and we’re sure that any choice you make will be a wonderful one!

The Choice of Metal

Yes. We know that flatware is available in materials other than metal. Right now, you can buy flatware made from wood, resin, or plastic. We wouldn’t recommend either of these materials if you are buying flatware for the long haul. They don’t stand up to the rigors of regular use all that well. Instead, you want some metal flatware. Specifically, you want something that falls into one of these two groups:

➢ Stainless steel flatware

➢ Silver flatware (either sterling silver, or plated silver)

Most people will gravitate toward stainless steel flatware. It is cheaper and looks tremendous. It is also a lot easier to keep clean than silver flatware, which requires regular polishing to look pristine. Stainless steel flatware is available in a variety of different grades. We’ll discuss those shortly because when you go for stainless steel flatware, the grade is incredibly important!

If you want the fanciest of fancy flatware, then silver is the way to go. Sterling silver flatware is solid silver (with a dash of copper) and is the most expensive type of flatware you can buy. Plated silver flatware is a lot cheaper and involves a piece of metal (the metal varies) coated with silver. It looks as good as solid silver flatware but isn’t as brilliant for the long-term (sterling silver will hold its value due to the high silver content).

You should be fine with stainless steel flatware. While we can see the merits of having silver flatware, it isn’t really something most people need for daily use. It is fancy flatware that you pull out for guests. It looks good, but we feel there are often better ways to spend your money.

Manufacturing Process

Flatware is made in two different ways. Well, technically, dozens of different ways, but the methods are broken down into two broad categories:

➢ Stamped

➢ Forged

Stamped flatware is the cheapest flatware you can buy. Stamped flatware is produced from a ribbon of metal that has had a rather large metal stamp come crashing down onto it, stamping out the shape of flatware. This flatware is very lightweight, and it isn’t all that durable as most stamped flatware has been made from a very thin ribbon of metal. Still, if you are on a budget, it may be the way to go.

Forged flatware is made from a metal rod. The metal rod is heated up and then beaten with a hammer to forge the shape of the flatware. Some forged flatware is handmade, but most on the market will have been produced by a machine. Forged flatware is heavier, and it feels so much better in the hand. It is a lot more durable than stamped flatware, particularly with knives. The downside is the extra cost. Still, you’re buying something that you’ll be using for a long time here. It may be worth the extra money.

In our opinion, go for forged flatware, if you can afford it. It’s worth the money. That’s not to say there aren’t decent pieces of stamped flatware out there, but most stamped flatware has been made to a budget. This can make the good stuff tricky to track down.

How Can You Tell Good Quality Stainless Steel Flatware?

Chances are, you’ll want stainless steel flatware. However, you shouldn’t just pick up any old stainless-steel flatware. You need to pay attention to the quality of the metal. Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel does rust. It isn’t rust-proof. It also isn’t naturally durable. So, you’ll need to buy quality stainless steel flatware if you want to keep the rust at bay, as well as ensure that your stainless-steel flatware doesn’t suffer from pitting of the metal, bending, etc.

Thankfully, stainless steel flatware manufacturers make it incredibly easy to tell the quality of a piece of stainless steel, and this is all thanks to two numbers that will be stamped on the metal (normally 18/0. 18/10, or 18/8). These numbers tell us two things:

➢ The first number tells us the amount of chromium in the stainless steel.

➢ The second number tells us how much nickel is in the stainless steel.

With 18/10 stainless steel, there’ll also be a hint of molybdenum (2%).

Here’s how the stainless steel grades rank:

➢ 18/10 is the premier stainless steel. It is made from 16% chromium, 2% molybdenum, and 10% nickel. It is anti-corrosive (but will still corrode), and durable. However, it is much more expensive to produce, and 18/10 flatware will often be the most expensive flatware you can buy (outside of silverware).

➢ 18/8 stainless steel is in second place. It has 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It isn’t as durable as 18/10 flatware but can still last a few years. It should keep most rust at bay, but you’ll need to take care to ensure it is kept dry.

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➢ 18/0 contains 18% chromium and 0% nickel. It is the cheapest stainless steel. While it’s still durable, it is nowhere near as strong as the other two grades of stainless-steel flatware. It also corrodes easily, although unlike the other two types, it is dishwasher safe. Still, it is a good choice if you’re on a budget. Just remember it won’t last as long as higher-grade stainless steel.