Dear The Bridal Guru,
My fiancée and I have been registering for our upcoming wedding and subsequent new home. In looking at stainless steel flatware, I see these numbers: 18/8, 18/10, 18/0…what do they mean?
Help!
Dear Bride,
Help is on the way. Like you, I did not know what the numbers meant either. So, I consulted with long time Belk-Northpark bridal registrar and friend , Sharon Newell. This is what Sharon explained to me:
The first number represents the chromium in the flatware. The second number is the nickel in the stainless. Chromium makes the steel stainless or rust resistant. Nickel makes it “whiter” in color or luster and adds strength, particularly to delicate patterns. 18/8 and 18/10 are considered the industry standard for quality. 18/0 reduces the cost significantly while only mildly affecting color.
Sharon recommended these three easy care tips or three easy steps for sparkling, clean flatware: 1. Load flatware into the dishwasher with spoon and fork handles down, knife handles up. 2. Use powder detergents. Avoid ones with lemon and orange scents. 3. Use a stainless metal cleaner periodically to keep your set looking its very best. (It appears I am doing this all wrong and it’s a wonder that my stainless has lasted as long as it has and looks as good as it does. My stainless flatware, Easton by Oneida, must have good chromium and nickel numbers.)
Sharon’s final piece of advice is that stainless is usually sold in 5-piece place settings consisting of: teaspoon, place knife, place fork, salad fork, place/soup spoon. Of course, they have serving pieces as well as additional flatware like iced tea spoons for many patterns.
Hopefully, this will help you in choosing your everyday flatware for your new home with your groom. My husband went with me to register for our wedding. The only thing he liked and we registered for was the stainless flatware. And as I mentioned earlier, we are still enjoying it 28 years later. Enjoy yours and this time in setting up your new home together.
The Bridal Guru
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