One of the foundations of a well-run kitchen is good kitchen equipment, and you can’t get more basic than a cutlery set!
Cutlery has a long history, and it’s no wonder it’s still mostly the same after all these years. It’s not something you buy every day, and you should put a lot of thought into it – otherwise, everything you do in the kitchen will suffer.
Best Cutlery Set
Just the other day, John and I were at a friend’s house for dinner and, since John doesn’t hold back when cutting his meat, he just broke their fork in half!
But my friend said – ‘oh, it’s no big deal, it happens all the time with our cutlery’ – but that shouldn’t be the case. When you buy cutlery, it should last, but plenty of people don’t think about it enough and waste their money.
Today, I’ll go through the basics of buying cutlery and give you my thoughts on the finest cutlery sets available right now! 🙂
A Guide to Choosing A Cutlery Set
Picking a cutlery set might seem simple – you want sharp knives, forks that can pierce well, and spoons that won’t get holes in them – and you’re set!
Well, that’s not quite right – it’s like saying that all you need to do to pick a car is find one that starts up when you put the key into the ignition. The materials it’s made of matter, and they can even affect the taste of the food.
There’s so much more to it, and here I’ll tell you what you need to think about to pick the cutlery set for you:
Consider the Materials Used
The cutlery used to be made out of silver for a long time, so long that silverware is used today as a synonym for it, even when it’s not made of silver. With the invention of steel, it has become one of the most popular materials for making cookware of any kind, and these days pots, pans, cookers, and more are made out of it.
Stainless steel is the main option for cutlery these days, and it’s easy to see why. It’s durable, resistant to rust, and looks good. The quality of the steel is not always the same, though – there are three main varieties, labeled as 18/10, 18/8, and 18/0, from best to worst. It’s the ratio of chromium to nickel in the alloy. The more nickel there is, the better the steel becomes at resisting corrosion, cracks, and stains.
Carbon steel is much the same as stainless steel except better in almost every way – sturdier, easier to sharpen, and more difficult to stain but is also more expensive.
Ceramic is a material that’s sometimes used for knives in a cutlery set. The ceramic vs. steel knives debate has raged on for quite a long time, and there’s a difference between them. Ceramic knives are sharper but more brittle and can’t be sharpened at home.
Silver remains a popular and proven material for making cutlery, but the price of it is steep – a 56-piece set will cost you upwards of 3000 dollars. It’s a durable material that requires little maintenance, and it looks great, even when it ages.
Plastic is by far the worst material, and such cutlery should mostly be used as disposable items that can be used a few times before being discarded. It’s the cheapest and worst option, but it has benefits for places like schools and fast-food restaurants.
Wood is also used for disposable cutlery, and it’s a little bit better than plastic but not by much.
Check the Quality of the Construction
Regardless of which material is used to make cutlery, it is no guarantee of quality. Even silverware can be completely useless if it’s poorly made, and you should always check your cutlery when you’re buying it.
Here are a few tips on what makes a good cutlery set:
Check if the inside edges of the tines on the forks are rough – if they are, they might break easily.
Weight the forks and knives in your hand. If they’re too light for their size, they’re probably poorly made.
Look at your reflection in the bowl of the spoon – the smoother it is, the better polished the spoon, and the longer it will last.
Knock a bit on the handle of forks, spoons, and knives to check if they’re hollow or contain large holes inside them from bubbles that formed during metalworking. If they sound hollow, they probably won’t last.
If you keep an eye on these few key things, you should be able to find a set of cutlery that will last, unlike my friend’s set that broke just from my husband’s moderately strong hands pushing on it.
What Do You Get in the Set?
You need to know what you’re getting and how much you’re getting when you get a set of cutlery.
Most cutlery sets have somewhere between 24 and 124 pieces and are fit for six to twelve or even more people. Some boxed sets can even be as small as 4 high-quality pieces meant for special occasions.
The standard pieces you get in a cutlery set include tablespoons, dinner forks, and knives, but they can also include some extras. Tablespoons are the most often extras in cutlery sets, but there are others, like steak knives, butter knives, latte spoons, soup spoons, pastry forks, fish forks, dessert forks, and so on.
Some sets can even include more unusual implements like sporks, sugar tongs, honey spoons, salad servers, and more. Consider what you need and pick accordingly – don’t buy sets too large for your needs.
Think About the Value for Money
Weigh the price of the set against the materials it is made out of and the amount of flatware you get in the set and make sure you’re not getting ripped off.
If you’re unsure of how much the set is worth, go online and check similar sets, than contrast and compare to know that you’re getting your money’s worth.
LIANYU Flatware Set, 40 Piece Silverware Set
The set includes 8 dinner forks, 8 dinner knives, 8 dinner spoons, 8 salad forks, and 8 teaspoons so that you can entertain up to 8 guests with a full set of shiny and comfortable cutlery.
The utensils are made of premium stainless steel, which is food-safe and rust-proof. Thanks to the mirror polish of the cutlery in this set, your knives, forks, and spoons will always look shiny and beautiful.
They are not too heavy and not too light, making them comfortable to use by people of all ages. The utensils are easy to clean, thanks to the fact that they are dishwasher safe as well.
Pros
- A complete serving set for up to 8 people
- Suitable for large families and those who love to entertain guests
- Made of high-quality stainless steel with a polished mirror finish
- They are just the right weight
- They are dishwasher safe and will not rust
- You can also buy them in a 60 set version for 12 people
- A minimalist and sleek design
- Offered at a reasonable price
Cons
- They may be a tad too small for people with larger hands
LIANYU 20-Piece Silverware Flatware Cutlery Set
This is a 20-piece set meant for 4 people in total, containing dinner forks, dinner spoons, dinner knives, salad forks, and teaspoons – everything you might need. The spoons are probably the finest parts of the set, they’re of a good size and are polished to a mirror shine.
The forks are decent, but the teeth are too wide and flat, making it difficult to pick up food at times. The knives are sharp and cut well, but they’re prone to rusting between the serrations if you don’t care for them properly.
While this set is made out of good-quality 18/8 stainless steel, you still need to take care of it properly to avoid rusting. Follow the instructions and don’t let the cutlery air-dry.
Other than that, there are no major downsides, and it’s a good set at a price that’s more than a bargain.
Pros
- It comes at a decent price
- Contains salad forks and teaspoons
- Made out of decent 18/8, 304-grade stainless steel
- The knives are sharp
- Polished to a mirror shine
Cons
- The knives are prone to rust if not cared for properly
- The teeth of the forks are too flat
See Also: Find The Most Recommended Knife Blocks
MASSUGAR 20-Piece Silverware Flatware Cutlery Set
If you want to buy an inexpensive starter cutlery set, which is well made, safe to use, and will look good on the table, then you should check out the 20-piece set by Massugar. The set includes 4 sets of dinner knives, forks, spoons, and teaspoons, so it is enough for serving up to four people.
The 20 piece flatware set is made of high-quality stainless steel, which is durable, corrosion-proof, and can be washed safely in a dishwasher.
The utensils have smooth edges and feature an attractive mirror-polished finish.
They have a simple minimalist design without any frills and are perfect for any modern home.
Pros
- Offered at an inexpensive price
- The set includes utensils for four people
- Made of premium 18/10 stainless steel
- A mirror finish for a polished look
- They are comfortable to hold and use
- You can also buy them in black or rose gold color options
Cons
- Some people may find that the dinner forks and spoons are larger than usual.
Sharecook Matte Black Silverware Stainless Steel Set, Satin Finish 20-Pieces
These gorgeous matte black utensils will make your table look exquisite every time you serve food with them. The set includes 20 pieces, which are suitable for feeding up to four people. It consists of 4 dinner forks, 4 dinner knives, 4 dinner spoons, 4 dessert spoons, and 4 dessert forks.
The design of this cutlery set is definitely eye-catching. Each piece is made of premium stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant and dishwasher safe.
They have a smooth satin finish, making them comfortable to hold, easy to clean, and adds to their high-end look. The black matte finish with delicate patterns on the handles is absolutely stunning.
The set can be complemented with a serving set from the same collection, or you can choose from the other design options, which include a black floral design. The set is also available in sets of 5 pieces for 1 person and sets of 40 pieces for 8 people.
It is a perfect idea for a wedding or housewarming gift and will look good on any table.
Pros
- A unique design that will bring style to your table
- They look like expensive high-end cutlery
- 20 pieces of finely made cutlery utensils with a beautiful black finish and pattern
- The finish is not painted and is completely food safe
- Made of rust-proof and durable stainless steel
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
- Thanks to its finish, you won’t have to polish the utensils for them to look great.
Cons
- The finish may come off after time, if not handled properly
Oneida Mooncrest 45-Piece Flatware Set
In this set, you get a full assortment of utensils for 8 people – dinner knives, dinner forks, salad forks, soup spoons, and teaspoons. You also get some extras, including 2 serving spoons, 1 serving fork, 1 butter knife, and 1 sugar spoon.
This set is not made out of high-quality stainless steel since the steel used is only 18/0 steel, but the utensils are still durable despite that due to being thick and heavy. They are also easy to clean in a dishwasher and never need to be polished to maintain their shine – just don’t leave them wet for a long time.
The set is a bit too expensive for what it is, though, especially considering the quality of the steel, but it works well. The only major complaint is that the knives are a bit too large and heavy, so people with smaller hands might have a problem and children certainly can’t use them.
Pros
- Easy to wash and never needs polishing
- Comes with a limited lifetime warranty
- You get quite a few extra utensils
- Heavy and made to be sturdy
Cons
- A bit too expensive for what it’s made out of – 18/0 stainless steel
- The knives are a bit too large
Which Cutlery Set is the Best?
Cutlery is important for any kitchen, and you want to get the perfect set possible that will last for a long time.
Today I chose the Sharecook Matte Black Silverware Stainless Steel Set, Satin Finish 20-Pieces as the number one out of the lot.
It’s a set made out of great materials with a beautiful, fancy design, it works well, and it comes at a ridiculous price. If you want the best flatware available without breaking the bank, this is the set I would recommend.
Until next time, good luck with your cooking! 🙂
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