Cutlery: types, brands, selection and care

Breakfast, lunch and dinner should bring people joy - this is an axiom. However, success depends not only on products, culinary excellence, furniture and design, on the mood of people. It is very important to choose the right cutlery that directly affects the psychological comfort during a meal.

Under cutlery, it is customary to mean the tools used for eating at the table. Depending on the material, these devices are used in a usual or solemn atmosphere. Cutlery is sold both singly and in sets for 6 people (or another number of eaters). The main ones are called tools that are used individually with food. The supporting role is played by the tools used by many people. They are used to:

• slice;
• to lay out;
• to shift;
• sort products.

The main group of cutlery includes:

• tablespoons and teaspoons;
• forks;
• Chinese chopsticks;
• table knives;
• knives for fish;
• snack equipment;
• dessert devices (set of fork, knife and spoon).

The knife for desserts is approximately equal to the diameter of the dessert plate. The spoon should be a little shorter. The fork in this case is crowned with 3 cloves. Dessert knives and forks are used to serve:

Additional cutlery includes:

• butter knives;
• knife-forks and knife-saws;
• forks for sprats, for oysters and mussels, for lemon slices;
• lobster needles;
• spoons for salt, for salads;
• ladles;
• pastry tongs, nutcrackers, asparagus;
• shovels for caviar, for paste, for hot and cold fish dishes, for confectionery.

Of course, all these functions can be performed only when using cutlery made of suitable material. Wooden or wooden handles fixtures look very good, but are not suitable for everyday use. The reasons are simple:

• inconvenience;
• tendency to absorb moisture;
• insufficient durability.

because a wooden spoon can be used for periodic celebrations or for fishing trips out of town. The home kitchen needs more durable and stable products. And one of the candidates for this role has long been aluminum appliances. However, such tools are now hopelessly outdated. You can meet them only in isolated cases.

The main part of such products is made of stainless steel. This alloy is called "medical" because of the minimal risk of reactions with:

• acids;
• alkalis;
• salts.

The optimal grade is 18/10, which indicates the presence of 18% Cr and 10% Ni. This combination allows you to guarantee:

• high strength;
• attractive shine;
• resistance to aggressive environment;
• minimal risk of corrosion.

Elite stainless steel cutlery, of course, do not. For their manufacture in the past used nickel silver (a combination of nickel with copper and manganese). The use of such an alloy for kitchen utensils ceased in the 1950s. Neisilber is almost the same cupronickel, but with the addition of zinc, and this alloy is softer than cupronickel.

Neisilber cutlery is always made with gilding, with a silver layer or with blackening. And if consumers need an impeccable classic, then they should give preference to silver cutlery. They are often included in exclusive kits. The lack of silver products (and gold, of course, too) is a significant burden. But if in the first place for a person his prestige and reputation as a solid owner, the choice is obvious. If you just need to show your security, and the taste is not so fundamental, you can stop your choice with gold-plated devices.

Copper cutlery conducts heat very well, and at the same time looks extremely attractive. Under the influence of copper, the vital activity of pathological microorganisms is suppressed. But it is important to understand that when Cu contacts vegetables, fruits (usually containing a lot of acids), vitamins are destroyed.

Occasionally, you can find cutlery made of titanium. This metal is very much appreciated for its extraordinary strength and resistance to destructive, corrosive substances. Other advantages of titanium utensils are:

• environmental and sanitary safety;
• lack of extraneous tastes in cooked food;
• zero risk of allergies;
• pleasant tactile sensations;
• external beauty (especially if the products are also anodized).

Tin appliances deserve a separate discussion. Tin is completely safe and in no way affects smells and tastes. Everything made of tin does not rust. Even changes in the tin surface (the appearance of a patina) due to contact with air look attractive. But everything that is made from tin will have to be thoroughly cleaned, washed in hot water.

Porcelain can be a very good addition to the kitchen. When assessing their qualities, you need to knock on the surface of the subject, determining the purity and melody of the sound.The color of good porcelain is crystal white, and only very cheap things have a gray or brown tint. Quality material can last a very long time. But for this you will have to buy expensive cutlery supplied by well-known manufacturers.

To save money, most people prefer metal utensils. But among it stands out a special "elite" group - forged cutlery. They look as if they had just stepped off a museum window or from illustrations for special historical literature.

Various workshops and private practitioners offer forks and other household equipment according to the models of the XIV-XVI centuries. The vast majority of such forks ends with two cloves, single-tooth is extremely rare. The specifics of a particular option are:

• features of the decor of the handles;
• placement of teeth and other elements;
• the length of the device.

But in addition to the material of the main part, the material of the handle is important. Wood is widely used to make handles for kitchen utensils. Dense wood species are very beautiful and do not cool the hand like metal. They do not stick to blood and other fluids. However, only a few types of wood (very expensive) are resistant to mechanical destruction. The best wood is wenge, hornbeam and Karelian birch.

Quite often in the budget segment there are cutlery with plastic tips. This is mainly ABS (according to the Russian classification - styrene-butadiene). Plastic is relatively strong and light, does not pass current, does not accumulate static electricity. However, such a product looks unreasonably "cheap." And you can also find frosted cutlery with handles:

• bone
• ceramic;
• made of organic glass;
• made of nylon rubber, acetate rubber, elastic thermoplastics.

Regardless of the materials, cutlery can have a very unusual appearance. Many designer modifications are able to decorate any table with their one look. But increasingly, designers have recently focused on practical characteristics. There are, for example, versions intended for children. They look so attractive that kids do not have to persuade to take up food. Such unusual and stylish cutlery will surprise even the adults outwardly, while they are completely safe for everyone who will use it.

But there are more solid sets, the authors of which were inspired by completely different ideas. Exclusive sets in the ancient Egyptian style will definitely not leave people indifferent if they are made soundly and accurately. And even a single subject can literally become a real masterpiece.

Beautiful elite spoons can be made:

• stylized as shoes;
• high-tech;
• in combination with working tools;
• in the “bitten” form (looks a lot of fun).

As a gift, personalized cutlery with engraving can be a very good choice. Sometimes they are also made with individual congratulations, wishes or mottos. Sometimes this decision is even better than products with a name. A table accessory with personalized inscriptions can be useful as a gift for both young children and adults. It is quite reasonable to give such gifts to:

• weddings
• anniversaries;
• children's birthdays;
• anniversary of the founding of a company or occupation of a position;
• higher education.

If you want to buy stainless steel cutlery, you need to act extremely carefully. A number of manufacturers from Asian countries put brand "18/10" for metal products of unknown composition. Another important circumstance when choosing high-quality cutlery is shine of steel. It may have a white or grayish tint.In some cases, the design concept makes you do things without shine, but if it is not, then characteristic reflection should be. In such cases, the metal is either poorly polished or of poor quality.

They not only spoil the appearance, but also pose a health hazard. When choosing a fork, you need to look at the performance of its teeth, more precisely, the sections dividing them. It is very difficult to process these places properly, and for the sake of economy, many manufacturers do not conduct such processing or conduct it superficially. Neither the bluntness of the teeth, nor their unjustified sharpness is unacceptable. Solid forks and spoons have a thickened curved portion. This is important because otherwise, the product may be damaged if pressed hard.

Spoons and forks are rated by severity in the hand. They should be convenient to use. Normal metal thickness is 1.5-4 mm. If the steel is too thin, it will work very little. Still need to look at the depth of the stamping - almost flat scoop 100% means low-quality Asian products. The depth of the excellent spoon is 7-10 mm. Choosing a knife, you can give preference to products with both hardened and non-hardened blades. The second option is cheaper, but such steel degrades faster.

Attention: from a good cutlery with a round, and with a rectangular or other shape in the handle should not emit any extraneous odors. Some sellers sell things with rich aromas of engine oil or even metal. This is a sure sign of low quality and lack of practicality of a particular subject. Another nuance - certificates of conformity and hygienic conclusions are required.

In the official certificate they write:

• full name of the company;
• its legal and actual address;
• full name of the brand and product modification.

Important: similar, completely identical information should be given on the packaging, on the receipt and on the price tag. It is advisable to purchase cutlery not one by one, but in sets. Then it is easier to coordinate them in appearance and close all functional positions. Experts advise to carefully inspect each purchased product. If you have any doubts, it is better to lose a little more time than buying bad goods.

In addition to general practical parameters, you need to pay attention to the place of manufacturers in the ranking. The most expensive products from leading manufacturers are made with gilding. So, buy a kit for 6 people from Arthur price of england possible for at least 1 million rubles. A kit for 12 people will be even more expensive Empire Flame All Gold Clive Christian.

On the opposite pole are stainless steel models. They are made by such companies as:

• Apollo;
• Eternum;
• Rondell;
• Pintinox;
• Mayer & Boch.

From Russian firms, products give very good ratings. "Nytva". It is valued for the optimal ratio of cost and performance. The assortment has both standard sets and piece models. Consumers can also order souvenir devices dedicated to a particular date, or dedicated to a specific topic. Connoisseurs note that things from Nytva almost never wear out, and the gilding on them is not erased.

You can choose a British product brand Robert Welch. This brand is praised for its excellent wear resistance and suitability for the most demanding consumers. The company has long experience in the production of quality products, which even fell into a number of museums of decorative art. Robert Welch was one of the pioneers in the production of polished stainless steel kitchen accessories.

You can save when choosing products of the German concern BergHOFF. Corporate policy is focused on uncompromising quality and pleasant appearance of finished products. They are so good that it is extremely difficult to confuse these things with sets of other companies. BergHOFF also makes original coasters that last a long time. Consumers note:

• the presence in the assortment of positions for every taste and budget;
• ease of washing;
• reliability and effectiveness of goods.

GGS Solingen is another German company. In various countries, its products are praised by Internet users. As befits a traditionally German corporation, GGS Solingen closely monitors the parameters of all materials used. A feature of the brand is that the cutlery uses the same steel as the surgical scalpels. Developers pay great attention to the design characteristics of finished things.

And also you can consider the products of brands:

• Herdmar;
• Cutipol;
• Zwilling J. A. Henckels;
• Gottis;
• Abert;
• Wuesthof;
• Fortuna
• Boker
• Gude;
• Rosenthal;
• WNK;
• VSMPO-Ural
• "Trud-Vacha".

But here is a cutlery set selected and purchased. Now it is important to establish good care for them. Regardless of the material, you have to:

• remove food debris, preventing them from drying out;
• use special products for washing;
• use only sponges or rags made of gauze.

A solution of vinegar will help remove stains that remain after a long stay in salt water. Alternatively, you can use a dishwasher. Recommendation: to simplify your life, you need to refuse to buy cutlery with plastic handles. At the junction of metal and plastic, a lot of dirt accumulates very quickly. Products containing plastic can only be washed in cold or warm (not hot!) Water. Do exactly the same with tools that have wooden handles.

Designs based on nickel silver, nickel silver and silver are looked after in much the same way as jewelry. For cleaning use a special paste or a solution of ammonia or baking soda. Of course, the most exclusive sets will have to be cleaned and washed as thoroughly as possible, strictly by hand. If the pen is made of ceramic, wood or porcelain, When washing, do not use water hotter than 45 degrees. Ideally, in general, it should be limited to 40 degrees.

Knives are washed separately from other kitchen accessories. Knowing these simple rules can significantly extend the life of utensils.

See how to use cutlery properly in the next video.