Photo: Lianyu
Flatware is one of those things that you buy once in a lifetime and hardly ever replace. But these days, stainless steel flatware set has taken over because of the many advantages of stainless steel.
It doesn’t rust, it looks lovely, it’s shiny, and it’s steel. So, this means it’s tough. These reasons and more make it the affordable precious metal of our time.
But stainless steel is a composite metal, so all types of the steel are not the same. There are other factors to consider when choosing flatware and this makes a guide necessary.
This stainless steel flatware review offers you all this information that you need to make an informed decision. Plus, you get a list of the top offers in the market, to help you narrow down your search.
In this post:
- 10 Best Stainless Steel Flatware Sets – Review
- 1. Lenox 815486 – 65-piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- 2. Bruntmor BR3902 – Elegant & Stylish Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- 3. Lianyu LY20PFS – Stainless Steel Flatware Set in Five Colors
- 4. Zwilling J.A. Henckels – Heavy-gauge Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- 5. Mikasa 5061639 – Stainless Steel Flatware Set with Floral Motifs
- 6. Oneida B336045A – Sleek & Modern Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- 7. Royal RYL-20PC-B – Classic 20-piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- 8. Cambridge Silversmiths – Stainless Steel Flatware Set in Many Styles
- 9. Ikea 900.430.76 Fornuft – Artistic 20-piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- 10. Faberware Silverware – Stainless Steel Flatware Set in 10 Styles
- How to Buy the Best Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- Conclusion
10 Best Stainless Steel Flatware Sets – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
---|---|---|---|
1. Lenox 815486 (65-piece Set) |
| ||
2. Bruntmor BR3902 (Elegant & Stylish) |
| ||
3. Lianyu LY20PFS (Five Colors) |
| ||
4. Zwilling J.A. Henckels (Heavy-gauge) |
| ||
5. Mikasa 5061639 (With Floral Motifs) |
| ||
6. Oneida B336045A (Sleek & Modern) |
| ||
7. Royal RYL-20PC-B (Classic 20-piece Set) |
| ||
8. Cambridge Silversmiths (Many Styles) |
| ||
9. Ikea 900.430.76 Fornuft (Artistic 20-piece Set) |
| ||
10. Faberware Silverware (10 Styles) |
|
PRODUCT |
---|
1. Lenox 815486 (65-piece Set)
|
2. Bruntmor BR3902 (Elegant & Stylish)
|
3. Lianyu LY20PFS (Five Colors)
|
4. Zwilling J.A. Henckels (Heavy-gauge)
|
5. Mikasa 5061639 (With Floral Motifs)
|
6. Oneida B336045A (Sleek & Modern)
|
7. Royal RYL-20PC-B (Classic 20-piece Set)
|
8. Cambridge Silversmiths (Many Styles)
|
9. Ikea 900.430.76 Fornuft (Artistic 20-piece Set)
|
10. Faberware Silverware (10 Styles)
|
1. Lenox 815486 – 65-piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Photo: Lenox
- Pieces in Set: 65
- Steel Grade: 18/10
If you just want the best 18/10 stainless steel flatware set for a full dinner table, then just pick this offer and be done with it. With this one, you get a 65-piece set with twelve 5-piece place settings and five hostess pieces.
Each piece comes from 18/10 stainless steel and is rust-resistant, dishwasher safe, and completely tarnish resistant. And to back it up, Lenox also includes a lifetime warranty with the package.
You can get the set in different styles, from Portola to Cantera, Medford, and so on. They are all classic designs, anyway, so don’t expect any outstanding designs.
The set comes with the standard five pieces of a dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, and a teaspoon, while the hostess set includes a butter knife, a sugar spoon, one cold meat fork, and one normal and one pierced tablespoon.
Pros:
- Top stainless steel flatware set with 65 pieces
- Serves 12 and includes a hostess set
- Made from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- The set is relatively costly
- All its designs are classic and not outstanding
2. Bruntmor BR3902 – Elegant & Stylish Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Photo: Bruntmor
- Pieces in Set: 45
- Steel Grade: 18/10
If 12-person dinner service is too much for you and you need something for about 5 to 8 people, then this set might just do the trick.
It’s a 45-piece set for eight, and it includes a 5-piece hostess set as well. Made from 18/10 stainless, it also offers you the highest quality mirror polish and rust resistance.
Then comes its slightly modern but timeless design, with all the right curves and smoothly rounded edges. This set is also designed to fit both adult and kid hands conveniently.
But, unlike the Lenox set above with its lifetime warranty, this one comes with a 1-year warranty only. When you consider its lower price, however, then it doesn’t look too bad after all as one of the best inexpensive stainless steel flatware set offers.
Pros:
- Stainless steel service set for eight
- Made from best quality 18/10 stainless steel
- Elegant design with a mirror polish
- The pieces are dishwasher safe
Cons:
- There are no style variations
- Its warranty is only for a year
3. Lianyu LY20PFS – Stainless Steel Flatware Set in Five Colors
Photo: Lianyu
- Pieces in Set: 20
- Steel Grade: 18/0
You may not want a showpiece stainless steel set for important occasions, but more of something practical for everyday use. That’s what this set offers.
The package includes 20 pieces of 18/0 stainless steel to serve four people. Yes, 18/0 isn’t the best quality you can get, but the price is amazing, and it also comes at a great price.
They come with a simple and classic design that’s ideal for a range of uses. Plus each piece is well polished with a mirror finish that’s meant to last. The set is also dishwasher safe.
Pros:
- 20-piece set of stainless steel flatware set
- Each piece comes polished to a mirror finish
- All pieces are dishwasher safe
- Offered at a low and attractive price
Cons:
- It’s made using 18/0 stainless steel
- There’s no word about warranty
4. Zwilling J.A. Henckels – Heavy-gauge Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Photo: Henckels
- Pieces in Set: 45
- Steel Grade: 18/10
Here comes quality that you can touch and hold. Zwilling J.A. Henckels is one of the best stainless steel flatware brands, and it offers you an impressive work of art here that you can proudly entertain your guests with any time.
There are 45 pieces here to serve eight and the set also includes a hostess set. Each piece is from 18/10 stainless and then polished to perfection.
The handles feature a unique design that’s both decorative and equally depicts mastery. Each one is heavy-weighted to the tough and the dinner knife’s blade gets forged for perfect cutting precision.
Issues here concern price and a lack of design variations. But if you want the best or simply flatware that you are proud of, then this offer is worth a closer look.
Pros:
- High-quality 18/10 stainless steel construction
- Each piece features a beautifully decorative handle
- Features forged knife blades
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- You can cheaper stainless steel flatware set
- There are no design variations of this offer
5. Mikasa 5061639 – Stainless Steel Flatware Set with Floral Motifs
Photo: Mikasa
- Pieces in Set: 65
- Steel Grade: 18/10
Mikasa also presents its flatware with decorative handle here. And this time, the decoration is fluid and floral, unlike the more mechanical design of the Zwilling flatware above.
This set is also large and serves 12. It will perfectly fit dinner tables with some sort of floral patterns or other similar settings. Its serving-set includes a standard and a pierced tablespoon, butter knife, cold meat fork, and a sugar spoon.
One issue here is warranty because this package only comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime replacement program that only replaces broken pieces at half the price.
It also has a relatively high price, but you should keep in mind that it’s a 65-piece set, dishwasher safe, and an 18/10 stainless steel that’s guaranteed to keep its shine for years and making it a top-rated stainless steel flatware offer.
Pros:
- Set serves up to 12 people
- Comes with beautiful floral handles
- Made from top-quality 18/10 stainless steel
- Keeps its shine for years to come
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a standard warranty
- You can get cheaper flatware set elsewhere
6. Oneida B336045A – Sleek & Modern Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Photo: Oneida
- Pieces in Set: 45
- Steel Grade: 18/0
This Oneida flatware offering is one of the best stainless steel flatware set for the money. It includes 45 pieces at a low and attractive price and is also available in other set sizes.
The set also features a modern design that makes it easy to fit into most contemporary settings. It’s a dishwasher safe and never needs polishing.
For issues, it’s made using the less ideal 18/0 stainless steel, but Oneida backs the entire set with a lifetime warranty, meaning you don’t have much to worry about.
Pros:
- 45-piece flatware set with contemporary design
- The package is offered at an attractive price
- Dishwasher safe and needs no polishing
- Comes backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- It’s made from 18/0 stainless steel set
- The offer doesn’t offer style variations
7. Royal RYL-20PC-B – Classic 20-piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Photo: Royal
- Pieces in Set: 20
- Steel Grade: 18/10
Here you have high-quality stainless steel flatware that’s made using 18/10 stainless steel. This means that you don’t have to worry much about the set rusting down the line.
This flatware comes in a classic design that’s simple and elegant, making it able to fit a range of table settings and scenarios. If you want affordable flatware for a mature audience, then this is a great offer to take a closer look at.
You get four dinner forks, four tablespoons, four knives, four salad forks, and four teaspoons. It’s also dishwasher safe and available in 40-piece and 60-piece sets.
Pros:
- 20-piece set in classic design
- Designed to serve four
- Made using top-quality 18/10 steel
- Comes in a sleek gift box
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with a warranty
- You can get cheaper 20-piece flatware set
8. Cambridge Silversmiths – Stainless Steel Flatware Set in Many Styles
Photo: Cambridge Silversmiths
- Pieces in Set: 20
- Steel Grade: 18/0
If you’re the type that loves style and stylish stuff, then this offer might interest you. It comes in over 10 designs to choose from. There’s blossom, mosaic, swirl, and lots more.
You can also choose between a brushed finish and a mirror finish, depending on what you prefer. Plus the package comes backed by Cambridge Silversmiths’ solid 25-year warranty.
The set is dishwasher safe and includes four dinner forks, four salad forks, four teaspoons, four tablespoons, and four butter knives.
One issue with this set is that it’s made from 18/0 stainless steel. But considering the 25-year manufacturer backing, it remains one of the best stainless steel flatware set in the market.
Pros:
- 20-piece flatware service set for four
- Available in different styles and designs
- Also available in brushed and mirror finishes
- Backed by a solid 25-year warranty
Cons:
- It’s made from 18/0 stainless steel
- You can get cheaper flatware set
9. Ikea 900.430.76 Fornuft – Artistic 20-piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Photo: Ikea
- Pieces in Set: 20
Ikea offers the Fornuft here, which is one of its best stainless steel flatware sets. Unlike most other offers, however, Ikea’s offer has each place-setting in a box.
This means that you get four boxes inside a big box for this 20-piece set. You can also select the three place settings offer to get three boxes inside with a total of 15 pieces.
One outstanding feature of this set is the unique design of the pieces. It’s modern and looks slightly rebellious, so this makes it preferable by younger people and less ideal for formal settings.
Ikea also doesn’t state its stainless steel grade and other comparable offers have cheaper prices. But if classic flatware bores you, then this might be for you.
Pros:
- Unique and modern steel flatware design
- 20-piece set serves four people
- Each place setting comes in a separate box
- Dishwasher safe pieces
Cons:
- You can get cheaper 20-piece sets
- It’s not ideal for formal settings
10. Faberware Silverware – Stainless Steel Flatware Set in 10 Styles
Photo: Faberware
- Pieces in Set: 20
- Steel Grade: 18/0
Here’s another impressive and affordable stainless steel flatware set to offer, and it comes from Faberware this time. The offer is available in either a 20-piece or in 45-piece sets.
You can choose from up to 10 different styles, which include both handle designs and overall shapes of the spoons, knife, and forks. There are also brushed, mirror, and hammered mirror finishes.
If you’re considering the downsides of this offer, then it’s the 18/0 stainless steel used in their construction. Else, the very low price and the 25-year warranty make this an irresistible offer.
Pros:
- Set is available in 20-piece and 45-piece sets
- Also available in different styles and finishes
- Units are dishwasher safe and need no polishing
- Backed by a 25-year warranty
Cons:
- None of the 10 styles is purely classic
- The units are from 18/0 stainless steel
How to Buy the Best Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Photo: Royal
Beautiful flatware has come a long way. Mostly made from Sterling silver and silverplate in the past, stainless steel development has brought flatware into the reaches of a wider audience.
Stainless steel is tougher than silver. It doesn’t need polishing, and it doesn’t scratch as silver does. Moreover, high-end stainless steel flatware set is way cheaper than pure silverware and this low price accounts for their widespread popularity.
Asides from all these, there are more factors that you’ll need to consider when choosing your stainless steel flatware set, and the following guide will help you to understand.
1. Your Service Needs
This is a good question because it helps you to focus exactly on what you need. Flatware comes in different sizes, intended to serve different amounts of people, so you first need to get clear on how much flatware you need.
You can get 20-piece sets that serve four, as well as 45-piece sets for eight, and even larger 65-piece sets, meant to service 12 people.
There’s no better choice between the larger or smaller sets. The choice depends entirely on you and on what you need. It doesn’t hurt, however, to have an extra or two sets in reserve for those surprise visits.
2. Stainless Steel Quality & Grades
Here’s something that lots of people don’t know. Stainless steel comes in different grades, depending on the proportion of the alloy metals in it.
Stainless steel is an alloy of steel, chromium, and nickel. You’ll often find three grades of stainless steel flatware set, and they are 18/10, 18/8, and 18/0. The figures stand for the percentage of chromium and nickel, with 18/10 being the best quality.
Because of flatware’s contact with food and water, it’s better to stay away from 18/0 flatware set because it means 18% chromium and a negligible level of nickel, which makes it more prone to rust. Yes, 18/0 is stainless steel, but it’s low quality.
3. Stamped vs Forged Steel
Production method is another reason that determines steel quality in general. Here, we’re talking about forged steel and stamped steel.
Forged steel comes from a single block of steel that’s heated and hammered into shape, making it tougher and more durable. Knives made this way also hold their edge for longer periods. This is the type of flatware that you want to hand down the generation line.
Stamped steel gets stamped out from a sheet of stainless steel and is, therefore, softer and less durable. They are, however, faster and cheaper to produce, making stamped steel flatware more affordable.
Read more: Forged vs. Stamped Knives
4. Design
All flatware comes with one design or the other, but it’s a personal choice here. You’ll find everything from decorative designs that are natural and romantic, to timeless and effortless classic designs, as well as modern designs with one feature or the other. The choice is yours.
5. Open Stock vs. Boxed Sets
You can also decide against boxed flatware sets and decide to pick individual cutlery pieces by yourself. This is often great. Just keep quality in mind because they are often stamped 18/0 stainless steel flatware, which is low quality.
6. Your Budget
How much money you’re willing to spend also plays a role in your decision. Although stainless steel flatware is relatively affordable, the prices range from around $20 into the hundreds of dollars.
Of course, the more you pay is the more you get here. Still, you must have a clear budget in mind before deciding on a set.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of this stainless steel flatware review, and you’ve seen all these impressive and top-quality flatware offers in the market.
No doubt, we all have different needs and choices, so it’s left for you to make your decision and choose which stainless steel flatware best suits your lifestyle.