What are the selection criteria for stainless steel cutlery?
The cutlery with the three codes of “13-0”, “18-0” and “18-8” printed on it is a cutlery made of stainless steel. The number in front of the code represents the chromium content, and the latter number represents the nickel content. Chromium is the material that keeps the product from rusting, while nickel is the corrosion-resistant material. For example, “13-0” contains 13% chromium and does not contain nickel. When purchasing, pay special attention to the following:
1. When purchasing stainless steel products, you should carefully check whether the material and steel number used are marked on the outer packaging. Whether to indicate the manufacturer’s factory name, factory address, telephone number, and the sanitary standard of the container.
2. It can be judged by a magnet. Regular manufacturers generally use 304 (ie 18-8) and 430 (ie 18-0) stainless steel as forks and spoons. Use 420 (i.e. 13-0) for the knife. 430 and 420 are magnetic, 304 is micromagnetic. But there is also a cutlery made of 201 and 202 materials in the market, which is not magnetic. But whether it can be used to process cutlery is controversial in China. Some people think that 201 and 202 materials contain high manganese and are not food-grade stainless steel.
3. Under normal circumstances, stainless steel cutlery of the same thickness and shape. High-grade cutlery will be heavier than low-grade cutlery. But the difference in density is very small, 304 stainless steel is 7.93. 430 and 420 density is 7.85. It is impossible to judge by intuition.
