Does stainless steel cutlery rust?

Though high quality cutlery is impressively robust and durable, they do get rust spots over time if they are not cared for properly. Here are 3 reasons why stainless steel cutlery rust

1. We have heard of 18/10 and 18/0 cutlery. The numbers here describe the metal content of Chromium and Nickle. It is important to pay attention to these numbers while buying cutlery because cutlery with less chromium or no nickel content is said to have a higher risk of showing rust spots when not cared for properly.

2. Over time, with no proper care for cutlery, the protective chromium topcoat can wear down allowing oxidation which results in rust. Since the base metal contains iron, when the chromium topcoat peels off, it allows oxygen to react with iron and thus forming rust spots.

3. Using abrasive cleaners, extensive water submersion, attacks from acids and alkalis may all lead to damaging the protective topcoat and eventually rust spots appear.

Though stainless steel flatware is highly resistant to stains, rust and wear, proper care is important to maintain its appearance for a long time. So in order to take good care of cutlery and keep them rust-free, just use them as normal and give them a regular wash and dry them before the next use. Proper cleaning, drying and storage tips will expand the life of your cutlery and looks brand new even after many uses. Noritake high quality stainless steel cutlery is made of the highest quality 18/10 steel and is beautifully crafted with a comfortable design and perfect balance. Visit Noritake to check out our exclusive collection of cutlery sets.