What is Stainless Steel?
For decades, stainless steel has been the preferred material for use in both home and commercial kitchens. Many are familiar with its timeless silvery sheen, but what is stainless steel? An equally important question: is a stainless steel kitchen the right option for you?
Stainless steel is an alloy of chromium and iron. To earn that name, the metal must be at least 10.5% chromium and no more than 1.2% carbon. Other materials may be included in stainless steel. Some common elements that may be added for specific applications include nickel, molybdenum, titanium, niobium, or manganese.
Its manufacturing includes melting the materials in an electric arc furnace, rolling them, and treating the metal before selling them. The final manufacturing phase frequently depends on the intended use of the stainless steel.
Pros
The fact that it has been popular for so many years demonstrates stainless steel has quite a few excellent features.
- A Champion for the Environment – Stainless steel is completely recyclable, and there is no upper limit to how much recycling the metal can take. Add to that the fact that it has a recovery rate of close to 100%, and you can see why stainless steel has a stellar reputation among metals for being eco-friendly. Additionally, it is inert when exposed to water and does not absorb elemental compounds that could degrade its composition.
- Easy to Maintain – Having stainless steel equipment in your commercial kitchen will make taking care of it fast and simple. It cleans easily using standard cleaning products such as soap powders and other detergents. It withstands the frequent cleaning that most commercial kitchen utensils and cookware need.
- Resists Corrosion – The 10.5% chromium that helps to create stainless steel is also instrumental in helping protect it. Through a reaction of chromium and oxygen, an inert layer of chromium oxide forms naturally on the surface of stainless steel material. If the surface is scratched, this layer will regenerate itself.
- Fire Resistant – Of all metal products, stainless steel is known to be the most fire resistant. It has a critical temperature of over 800C. Because of this property, it is well-suited for cooking applications.
- Strong and Resistant to Wear – You can count on stainless steel to withstand the daily wear and tear of your commercial kitchen. It will hold up through numerous applications.
- Cost-effective – While stainless steel can be pricey, you will save money in the long run because it is a product that lasts. It is an intelligent purchase you will not regret.
It has a professional appearance- Stainless steel has a timeless pleasing aesthetic. It is a material that lends itself to a variety of settings. Your commercial kitchen will look good as new for many years if it is properly maintained.
Cons
As with most products, stainless steel has some drawbacks that may cause you to reevaluate your position regarding the metal. The top drawbacks include:
- It Smears and Smudges Easily – While some restaurant personnel are easygoing about minor smudging, others find any marks on their equipment intolerable. Even though stainless steel is easy to clean, many people do not want to clean away smudges constantly.
- Potential Denting – Not all stainless steel pans and utensils will dent. However, buying low-quality stainless steel products greatly increases the likelihood of dents.
- Noisy – Stainless Steel tends to reverberate, causing loud clanging and crashing sounds. For example, setting a stack of plates on a stainless steel bench can cause an excessively disruptive noise.
When you look at the numerous advantages stainless steel has over other materials used in commercial kitchens, it is not easy to understand why anyone would choose a different type of product for commercial kitchen use. A tough, good-looking material that will hold up for decades is hard to resist.
Considering the drawbacks of stainless steel are relatively superficial, like being noisy or collecting fingerprints, there are no very strong cases to keep you from outfitting your commercial kitchen with stainless steel appliances and other elements. Even the possibility of denting is preventable by purchasing high-quality stainless steel equipment. You can have extra peace of mind by buying stainless steel products that come with a warranty.
Whether you are opening a new kitchen, outfitting a franchise of kitchens, refurbishing an existing one, or replacing a few essential items, the kitchen experts at Tob Labs Commercial Kitchens can help you create a commercial kitchen that looks exceptional and is built for productivity.
Our team offers end-to-end customer service. We can take you from the design phase through the opening of your establishment. Tob Lab advocates the use of equipment and utensils crafted from top-of-the-line stainless steel, which we can source for you. Do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help.
