There are a lot of things you can buy cheaply and get the same results as if you'd spent a bundle. Buy cheap sheets, and you'll still get a full night's sleep between them. Buy cheap shoes, and you'll still be able to walk from point A to point B. Buy cheap flatware, and you'll still get your food from plate to mouth. But how enjoyable will the journey be?
Spending enough money on a good set of stainless steel flatware is worth every penny, plus you'll see the benefits for years to come with every morsel of food you eat.
Stainless flatware is durable and generally affordable, though you'll find it ranges in quality and price. Choose a no-name set from a bargain store, a brand-name collection from makers such as Oneida at discount stores or indulge in high-end names like Waterford at department stores.
Stainless flatware is graded on the metal's content, which usually figures into the price. The best stainless flatware grade is 18/10, which simply means it is 18% chromium and 10% nickel. The chromium lends strength, stain and rust resistance to the iron alloy, and the nickel content gives it a warm, lustrous look. You'll also see flatware marked 18/8 and 18/0. The 8% nickel content won't give you quite the luster you'll get with the 18/10 flatware, and of course, the 18/0 flatware may not be much to look at, but it doesn't cost much either.
With stainless flatware, as with so many other things, you get what you pay for. A bargain setting may look good on the receipt, but how will it look on your table? And more importantly, how will it feel in your hand? The least expensive sets are stamped from thin metal, with minimal attention given to the rounding of edges on spoons and the smoothing of fork tines. Better flatware, mainly the 18/10 and some 18/8 sets, is shaped carefully, smoothed gracefully and feels delicious in your hand. Aside from the appearance, that's really what it boils down to. You can plow mashed potatoes off the plate and into your mouth with the cheapest fork on the planet. But when you take a fine piece of flatware in hand, it elevates the meal, makes you feel just a little more special and, dare we say, it even makes instant mashed potatoes taste that much better.
You can pay more than $75 for a four-piece place setting of stainless flatware, but here's the thing: If you're a good shopper, you can get the same set for two-thirds that price -- or less. Check markdown stores such as TJ Maxx, Steins and Ross or holiday sales at department stores for unbelievable prices on the real deal.
The verdict: Splurge on the flatware, but save on the price by finding it at discount stores.
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