Modern flatware is typically made of stainless steel. When it comes to material composition, the best one to use, especially if you operate a food service business, is the 18/10. It means 18% is chromium and 10% is nickel. The higher the content of nickel, the more resistant is the flatware to corrosion. However, among the flatware set, cutlery is more susceptible to rust. Thus, more effort is needed to polish stainless steel cutlery to maintain their lustrous shine. Why is that so?
This is because knives are made of some carbon steel in their blade construction. The addition of carbon steel is necessary to make the cutlery more durable and harder to do its cutting job. This composition makes them more prone to stains than other flatware items. It is therefore not surprising that generally it’s the blades of the knife which usually have rust if not cleaned and maintained properly. So apart from following best practice to polish stainless steel cutlery, what can cause the flatware to rust?
For one, using harsh dishwasher detergents may cause the staining over time of use. Also, if cutlery is left wet on the counter for a long time, food residue may erode them and cause pitting. This occurs if the flatware is not properly dried and polished after washing and are just left to air dry. It can also be that cleaning the cutlery is not deferred later or the next day. This is where an electric machine to polish stainless steel cutlery becomes very important. Polishing your cutlery will help prevent rust formation or staining and keep their bright shine longer.
In addition to proper polishing, you can maintain the quality of your cutlery by storing them in a specially designed chest or keep them separately from other flatware items. It will avoid possible scratches caused by everyday wear and tear or from the mechanical shock cause by other utensils. Overall, you or your workers may take the use of the cutlery for granted but they actually need proper care and handling to stay shiny and rust-free for a long time.