Stainless steel is the most popular material from which containers and utensils in contact with food are made. Stainless steel has good anti-corrosion properties, durability and low weight. However, it should be borne in mind that this material is not always resistant to aggressive environments, in this case, special food-grade compounds are used.
Of course, it is best to store foodstuffs in steel or glassware, as the popular foam today does not meet all the necessary requirements. In addition, its service life is much shorter than that of products made of steel.
Many are interested in how to distinguish a food stainless steel from a material unsuitable for food storage. To answer this question, it is worth considering the advantages, features and classification of this metal.
Benefits of Food Grade Stainless Steel
If we talk about the advantages of food stainless steel, then it is worth highlighting:
- environmental safety of the material;
- ease of maintenance;
- resistance of the material to most chemicals;
- wear resistance;
- compliance with heavy metal dissolution standards.
In addition, it has long been proven that instead of frying pans with non-stick coating, it is much more useful to use dishes made from food stainless steel. The best cooktops and surfaces of refrigerators are made from the same material.
What stainless steel is considered food
Stainless steel suitable for storing and cooking food is a highly alloyed metal that contains 25% chromium. It is thanks to this chemical element that alloys are famous for their anti-corrosion characteristics. In case of contact with an aggressive environment, a special protective film is formed on the metal surface. Thanks to this surface layer, the metal does not rust.
In addition, titanium, molybdenum, nickel and other chemical components are added to the food stainless steel, which additionally increase the anticorrosive properties of the material.
GOST and stainless steel brands
If we talk about state standards, then they do not spell out the rules related to stainless steel. That is why experts find it difficult to answer which material is recommended to be used in the food industry. In turn, the manufacturers of this stainless metal respond that regardless of its brand, it is suitable for food.
Is it really that the regulations do not say anything about food stainless steel? GOST 5632-72 is perhaps the closest regulatory document that can be used when choosing the best alloy for use in everyday life. This State Standard refers to grades of high alloy steel and corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant alloys. Let us consider this classification in more detail.
08X18H10
Under this brand, austenitic corrosion-resistant stainless steel is made. The European counterpart is AISI 304. This material is not magnetic. It is used in all industrial and commercial industries.
This material is of low price and good quality. It is often used in the food industry, but only on condition that the metal does not come into contact with caustic soda or sulfamic solutions.
12X18H10T
The European equivalent of this brand is AISI 321. This heat-resistant steel is also not magnetic. The stainless steel of this brand is often used in the manufacture of elements of furnace fittings, heat exchangers and exhaust manifolds. The thing is that this steel is suitable for use at high temperatures from 600 to 800 degrees.
08X13
The European equivalent of this material is AISI 409. This steel is widely used in the manufacture of kitchen utensils and cutlery. Such food stainless steel is most often found in stores. The material has gained such popularity due to the high degree of adhesion and the ability to adapt to different operating conditions.
You can safely heat this ware or store food in it in the freezer.
2013-4013
Steel of this type belongs to the category of composite materials, so it is often used in the manufacture of household and industrial sinks, as well as for the manufacture of dishes for hygienic or heat treatment of food. The European analogue of this brand is AISI 420. If one of these markings is on the dishes, then you can safely buy it for use in everyday life. This stainless steel does not rust, tolerates a sharp change in temperature, and is also quite plastic and wear-resistant material.
12X13
In Europe, this material is labeled AISI 410. Steel of this type is more often used in the manufacture of equipment for winemaking, food processing and the manufacture of alcohol. In addition, this material is characterized by increased heat resistance in a slightly aggressive environment.
08X17
In Europe, this steel is produced under the brand name AISI 430. Such a stainless steel is indispensable if the food in the dishes is subjected to heat treatment. This type of steel has the highest strength. However, this material is rapidly deformed under sulfuric conditions. In this case, the stainless steel does not rust and withstands mechanical stress. It is recommended to buy pans from this material, as 0817 is characterized by a high coefficient of thermal conductivity.
All other materials are used in special conditions, their cost is much higher. However, not all stainless steel can be safely used for cooking and storing food. In order not to delve into the difference between food stainless steel and technical, it is much easier to read a few useful recommendations. They will allow you to quickly determine whether this material is suitable for food. This is useful for every consumer who is worried about their health.
How to distinguish a food stainless steel from a technical one?
To determine the composition of the anticorrosive alloy, as well as the possibility of its use in everyday life, you can write down the brands that were listed above. If such a marking is on the dishes, then it is suitable for cooking and storing food.
But sometimes it happens that before my eyes the material is of an unknown brand, and the seller insists that this alloy is absolutely environmentally friendly and can not harm a person. In this case, it is enough to place the metal in a 2% acetic solution and wait for the reaction. If the shade of the material has changed, it has become dark, then it is better not to use it. The constant color indicates that stainless steel is really food. It can be used.
There is another method that consumers often use after reading information on how to identify food grade stainless steel. They use a magnet for this. But it is worthwhile to understand that this method is completely inactive, since stainless steel can be magnetizing and non-magnetizing. Accordingly, the use of a magnet will not help in any way determine whether it is possible to use material for food.
To choose the best metal, you should study the information about the product and ask the seller for supporting documents. Any dishes should be made in accordance with certain standards and requirements. If there is no marking on the product, then it is better to refuse such a product. Otherwise, you can purchase low-quality and dangerous to human health utensils.