Choosing a cutlery set: 18/10, 18/0 and pieces

18/10, 18/0 and 13/0: what the numbers mean

The numbers on cutlery describe the stainless steel. According to Amefa, the first number is the percentage of chromium and the second the percentage of nickel. 18/10 is 18% chromium and 10% nickel, 18/0 is 18% chromium and no nickel.

Amefa says 18/10 is especially durable and highly corrosion-resistant, and usually shines more than 18/0. It is dishwasher safe. Amefa also calls 18/0 corrosion-resistant and dishwasher safe, but advises drying it right after the cycle with a soft cloth. Zwilling makes all its cutlery from 18/10. For a set you use every day, 18/10 is therefore the safest choice; if you pick 18/0, dry it well.

Knife blades are often made of a different steel than forks and spoons. Amefa uses 13/0 for table, kitchen and steak knives: 13% chromium and no nickel. This steel is harder to forge, which makes it easier to sharpen, and it stays sharp longer. Amefa advises washing 13/0 kitchen and steak knives by hand. Zwilling writes that blade steel contains less chromium and nickel than 18/10 but is harder, and that rust mostly appears on knife blades. We did not find what a code like 18/C means at any of the manufacturers we checked. Look for the specification with the product or ask the manufacturer.

The WMF Corvo 30-piece set has 18/0 in its product name. The Zwilling Nova 24-piece is for six people according to its product name, the Zwilling King 30-piece is a larger set. Always check the product details for the steel grade.

How many pieces do you need?

Cutlery sets are sold by the number of pieces. A common layout is four pieces per person: table knife, table fork, table spoon and teaspoon (sometimes a dessert spoon). That gives:

• 24 pieces: for 6 people
• 30 pieces: for 6 people, often with extras such as dessert forks or serving spoons
• 60 or 66 pieces: for 12 people

Note that 30 pieces can mean five per person or four per person plus serving pieces. Check what is in the box before you choose. You find sets of 30 pieces for six people from WMF Denver, WMF Boston and WMF Palma. If you often have guests, a set for twelve pays off. For steak knives separately there are sets such as the Silit Collexio or the GreenPan Chop & Grill.

Monobloc or hollow handle?

Table knives come with two kinds of handle. Zwilling lists "monoblock" as the handle type of its table knives and makes them of blade steel, such as the knife in the Wakefield set. In a hollow-handle knife the handle is made of two parts. They are welded together and then welded to the blade, as Sambonet describes the construction. Whether a knife can go in the dishwasher is up to the maker of your set. Read the packaging.

Finish: polished, matte or gold

Polished cutlery is the classic. There is also matte cutlery, such as the Zwilling Minimale or Fiskars Functional Form. Zwilling says you should not polish matte cutlery; to freshen it up, use a matting fleece. For coloured or PVD-coated cutlery (gold-coloured, for example), Amefa advises drying it well after washing and choosing a programme of 40 degrees or lower.

Dishwasher and care

Most stainless steel cutlery is dishwasher safe, but the maker of your set decides what is allowed. Tips from Zwilling, Amefa and Robert Welch:

• Don't leave cutlery in the closed dishwasher for long: flash rust can form (Zwilling).
• Rinse off food quickly. Acids from milk, fruit and vinegar and salt residue can attack the metal (Zwilling).
• Only wash stainless items together with it. Non-stainless items can damage cutlery (Zwilling) and cause rust stains, especially on knives (Robert Welch).
• Don't use steel wool or abrasive cleaners (Zwilling).
• Dry 18/0 right away with a soft cloth and wash 13/0 knives by hand (Amefa).

Compare brands

If you have a brand in mind, look at Victorinox, WMF, Zwilling, Silit or Fiskars. Victorinox has, for example, the Swiss Modern 24-piece set, Silit the Trend 30-piece. The product pages show the shops' prices side by side. Cucetta doesn't test cutlery itself; we state what the manufacturer gives.