Of the three main types of stainless steel cutlery that exist in the market – 18/10 stainless steel cutlery, 18/8 stainless steel cutlery and 18/0 stainless steel cutlery – we sell 18/10 and 18/0 cutlery. A lot of people ask what the numbers 18, 10 and 0 signify so I thought it made sense to provide an overview before getting into the weeds of the pros and cons of 18/10 cutlery.
The “18” number refers to the percentage of Chromium in the stainless steel flatware. Chromium is a metal that gives cutlery its hardness and durability. The “10” or “0” number is the percentage of Nickel in the flatware. Nickel gives the cutlery resistance to corrosion, and gives cutlery its high shine similar to silver plated cutlery. The higher the nickel content, the higher the price in general because of how expensive nickel can be. This post delves more into the pros and cons 18/10 stainless steel cutlery – and which style of restaurants tend to favour 18/10 cutlery.
Pros of 18/10 Stainless Steel Cutlery:
- High polish finish
- Superior rust resistant qualities
- Highest durability
- Easy to maintain
- Stain resistant
- Dishwasher safe
- Less expensive then 18/10 cutlery because lack of nickel content
- Still possesses durability for everyday use
- Dishwasher safe
Cons of 18/10 Stainless Steel Cutlery:
- More costly than 18/0 due to nickel
Higher end fine dining restaurants or rental companies who service a luxury clientele will be happier with 18/10 flatware for its high shine and stain resistance.
If you’re interested in a quote for any of our 3 lines of 18/10 cutlery or 2 lines of 18/0 cutlery: