10 Things to Consider When Buying Affordable Stainless Steel Flatware Sets
How Much Should You Spend on Stainless-Steel Flatware?
A good set of stainless-steel flatware is one of first things you buy for your kitchen, and most people rarely, if ever, replace it. But let's say you're about to move into your first real kitchen, or you've finally had it with the desperation forks you bought at Ikea 20 years ago. How much are you going to spend on your flatware? The prices of a standard four-person flatware set with five-piece place settings (dinner fork, salad fork, soup spoon, dinner knife, teaspoon) start at $8 (the price of Ikea's ubiqutious Förnuft set) and climb to a couple hundred. So how much should you spend to ensure you're getting a long-lasting set that can be served to your family and dinner guests alike? You need some shopping criteria and a few good examples to help you decide.
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Chromium and nickel percentages
Most flatware is made from a composite steel material; chromium and nickel are usually the main ingredients. When determining a set of flatware's quality, you'll want to look at the chromium and nickel percentages, the latter of which adds luster and provides resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel flatware sets are labeled with one of three ratios indicating the amount of chromium and nickel: 18/10, 18/8, or 18/0. The highest quality is 18/10 (18% chromium, 10% nickel), and the lowest is 18/0, which has a negligible amount of nickel and is thus more prone to rust.
Is it forged or stamped?
There are two primary ways of turning stainless steel into cutlery: forging or stamping. Forged flatware is made from a thick piece of stainless steel that's heated and cut to form each utensil. Stamped flatware is cut like a stamp out of a piece of stainless steel. Because of the heating process, forged flatware is stronger than stamped flatware, which is more flexible. You shouldn't necessarily only buy forged flatware, but the difference (especially for knives) is something to take into consideration.
Versatility
Finally, you should buy silverware that can be used in a variety of dining situations. My own mother used to bring out a chest of fancy silverware when guests came over (I remember because I had to hand-wash and immediately towel-dry them after the party), but she hasn't gotten it out for dinner parties in the last 10 years. Instead, she relies on one dishwasher-safe set that suits all occasions.
Below are a few 20-piece stainless-steel flatware sets judged according to the above factors. Unless otherwise noted, each place setting includes a dinner fork, salad fork, soup spoon, dinner knife, and a teaspoon.
Fortessa Spada Brushed Flatware Set
We like the clean lines of this Fortessa 18/10 flatware set. We're unable to confirm if it's forged or stamped, but it's well-made and has a brushed finish. Each five-piece setting costs $28, making it an extremely affordable set. We've found that if you go below that price point, you risk compromising quality.
Crate & Barrel Clark Mirror Set
This 20-piece set is made from 18/10 forged stainless steel, so it passes our quality test. It has a mirror finish that gives it enough shine to work for formal parties, but a minimalist design that fits in at casual dinners. It's dishwasher-safe and has a 25-year warranty. The $160 price tag boils down to $40 per setting.
Aston Flatware Place Setting
Like the Crate & Barrel set, this flatware from Williams Sonoma is made from 18/10 stainless steel. The knives are forged from hardened steel, and each piece is hand-polished. The Aston has a more traditional look than the sets above, with raised bands and curves. It's slightly more expensive than the other sets, but we think it's an investment piece that's worth the money&#;especially if you're looking for a more classic style of flatware.
Oneida Sheraton Fine Flatware Set
Oneida has been making flatware since and has a solid reputation as a high-quality, classic utensil brand. Their Sheraton set perfectly embodies this, with its etched, teardrop-shaped handles and weighty feel. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Sheraton 5-Piece Fine Flatware Set
Mepra Fantasia Color Flatware
Striving for 18/10 stainless-steel flatware doesn't mean you can't opt for a fun, colorful set. Mepra's cheery Fantasia flatware comes in a variety of colored enamel handles.
Mepra Fantasia Color 20-Piece Flatware
Zwilling Polished Opus
Maybe your current flatware set contains knives that aren't fit for anything but butter. Consider replacing it with this Zwilling set: The knives are forged for precise sharpness. Every piece is, of course, 18/10 stainless steel. At $168 for a 45-piece set, the Zwilling Opus line gets you serious bang for your buck (and, as a bonus, it's currently on sale).
Cambridge Silversmiths Julie Satin
This Cambridge Silversmiths set wins top marks in flatware reviews around the internet. Consider it the Helvetica of flatware: modern and simple in a way that fits in pretty much every home decor style. Combine that with the magic 18/10 ratio, a reasonable price, and a 25-year warranty and you'll see why it's so highly regarded.
The 5 Best Flatware Sets of , Tested & Reviewed
Flatware's just not that cheap. The most budget-friendly set we recommend costs (at the time of writing) $65 for a four-piece set. Our overall top pick is $200 for four settings. That said, our senior commerce editor, Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, has owned the Made In set for three years and has no complaints. "It still looks as good as new after truly countless times through the dishwasher," she says. "I even bought a second set." That's saying something since flatware can be prone to rusting and bending. No one wants to eat off a fork with uneven tines.
The Criteria: What to Look for In a Flatware Set
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
Choose a flatware set that creates the feeling of everyday luxury. Look for perfectly balanced pieces with a pleasant heft and a design that suits your taste. Choose a high-quality, rust-resistant material like stainless steel, so that your set will last forever. To make your life easier, find a set that&#;s dishwasher-safe. This will simplify daily use and cleanup.
Our Favorite Flatware Sets
What we liked: The Made In set is simple and timeless. We found each piece to be well-balanced with smooth, rounded edges and a satisfying heft. Its knife cut through chicken easily, while it&#;s spoon held the perfect bite of soup. Overall, you can&#;t go wrong with something so well-made and elegant.
What we didn&#;t like: This set is expensive. It comes with enough for a service for four. Unfortunately, Made In doesn&#;t offer additional single settings, so you&#;d have to purchase a whole other 20-piece set if you wanted, say, enough flatware for six people. Made In also does not include matching serving pieces.
Key Specs
- What&#;s included: Dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, dessert spoon
- Number of pieces: 20
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This lovely flatware set breezed through all of our tests. It was durable and easy to clean and had a nice weight in hand. It&#;s available in two finishes. Plus, notice the subtle v-shaped handle: this adds a slight touch of personality to an overall classic design. We liked that you can purchase service for four, then add additional settings as needed.
What we didn&#;t like: This set is among the most expensive we tested. Serving pieces are not included, but a matching serving spoon and fork can be purchased separately.
Key Specs
- What&#;s included: Dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, teaspoon
- Number of pieces included: 20 (though you can purchase a 5-, 42-, or 50-piece set)
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
Qingzhan supply professional and honest service.
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This flatware is a great value. The set includes service for eight, plus additional serving pieces like a slotted serving spoon and a cute, shell-shaped sugar spoon. The pieces themselves are pleasantly heavy in the hand. The thick handles featured a slight depression, almost like a thumbprint, that felt natural to hold.
What we didn&#;t like: This set didn&#;t demonstrate the same attention to detail as the more expensive sets. While the pieces were functional, the edges of the fork tines were slightly rough.
Key Specs
- What&#;s include: 8 dinner forks, 8 salad forks, 8 dinner knives, 8 soup spoons, 8 teaspoons, 1 serving spoon, 1 slotted spoon, 1 serving fork, 1 butter knife, 1 sugar shell
- Number of pieces included: 45
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This set performed well in all of our tests. Its neutral design veers towards modern with a slightly softened angle between the head of the spoon and the handle. It&#;s available in mirror, satin, and &#;Air Silver,&#; which appears to be shinier than the other two options. It&#;s also designed by Robert Welch, the maker of one of our other favorite flatware sets.
What we didn&#;t like: It&#;s not the priciest offering we recommend, but it&#;s still up there. Matching serving pieces are available but must be purchased separately.
Key Specs
- What&#;s included: Dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, teaspoon
- Number of pieces: 5 (though you can purchase a 3-, 5-, or 20-piece set)
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This set comes with enough flatware to host a large dinner party, including the serving fork. The pieces are easy to use and clean. For those looking to add a little peronsonality to the table, this set includes a flared and beaded handle.
What we didn&#;t like: The individual pieces of this set are on the lighter side. The dinner fork weighs 42 grams, which is noticeably lighter when compared to the 54-gram Made In fork.
Key Specs
- What&#;s included: 12 dinner forks, 12 salad forks, 12 dinner knives, 12 soup spoons, 12 teaspoons, butter knife, serving fork, tablespoon, slotted tablespoon, sugar spoon
- Number of pieces: 65
- Material: 18/10 Stainless steel
- Care: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
The Competition
FAQs
Which silverware sets don&#;t rust?
Stainless steel is our top material choice because it doesn&#;t rust easily. High-quality stainless steel is rust-resistant and will last a long time if cared for correctly. To prevent rust, always dry flatware completely before storing it.
What does 18/10 stainless steel mean?
Stainless steel is graded for quality. The grade is given as a fraction, which represents the amount of chromium and nickel present in the steel. These elements enhance durability and rust resistance. 18/10 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 10% nickel, and is considered the highest quality.
What's the difference between flatware and silverware?
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Flatware refers specifically to eating utensils like forks, knives, and spoons. Silverware can be used to refer to any item plated in silver.
How many flatware settings should you have?
Most people will find it helpful to have at least four place settings (20 pieces), but if you plan on hosting dinner parties or have more people to feed, a 65-piece set (12 settings) should do it. Some of our favorite flatware sets also allow you to purchase additional single settings, so you can scale your collection as needed.
What's the best way to clean flatware?
All of our favorite flatware sets are dishwasher-safe. However, some flatware sets (like the brushed gold one we tested) must be hand-washed. If your flatware has wooden handles, these will also need to be cleaned by hand. We always recommend checking the manufacturer's care instructions, just to be safe.
Why We're the Experts
- Madeline Muzzi is a freelance writer, editor, and video producer.
- She has written many reviews for Serious Eats, including wine decanters, mini mortar and pestles, and countertop ice makers.
- We reviewed flatware sets by using the spoons to eat tomato soup, the knives to cut chicken breast, and the forks to eat farro salad. We also shared a meal of soup and salad with a group of friends to get a variety of feedback on each set. Then, we cleaned the sets per the manufacturer's instructions, noting any tarnish or wear.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Affordable Stainless Steel Flatware Sets. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.