What are the differences between 18/10 and 18/8 stainless steel flatware?
18/10 and 18/8 is a reference to the percentage of chrome and nickel contained in the stainless steel alloy. The “18” refers to the chrome content, which gives your stainless steel flatware its strength. The “8” or “10” refers to the flatware’s nickel content, which gives the flatware its magnificent shine and rust resistance. 18/8 is the premium alloy, this grade is to stainless as sterling is to silver. Some less expensive alloys contain no nickel. These alloys are susceptible to rusting if left in contact with water for extended periods of time. 3. If 18/8 is good, is 20/10 better? Not at all; 18/8 is the accepted benchmark formula for quality stainless steel. 4. Stainless steel means it will never stain, right? Wrong. It simply means it will stain less than other steels and certainly less than other metals such as silver, bronze, aluminum, etc. Stainless steel is today’s best metal for flatware but can stain if subjected to adverse conditions. 5. What causes rust on my stainless? I
