topic Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware in Kitchen

Pitting on stainless steel flatware

turquoisebb — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:33:43 GMT

Can anyone tell me what causes pitting? Will it make the flatware useless? Thanks.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Desi — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:38:02 GMT

I can tell you avoid lemon dishwasher cleaner, and anything with bleach. I have some stainless flatware which has rust spots and that isn't supposed to happen either - hence, stainless.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Desertdi — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:38:07 GMT

Do you use a dishwasher? Could be the product you use. Stainless usually doesn't pit unless harshly treated with some chemical........

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

JustJules — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:51:48 GMT

If you leave it in contact with anything acidic for a long period of time it will cause pitting or staining that cannot be polished off. I always rinse off my flatware before putting it in the dishwasher. Pitting doesn't make your flatware useless, just makes it ugly. I have several different sets of stainless flatware, from everyday to really expensive. The everyday I put in the dishwasher, but when I have used the expensive for dinner parties I always wash it by hand after and never let anything acidic sit on it for long.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

turquoisebb — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:54:35 GMT

Thanks for the replies... It happened to my sister and I think she must have used something caustic. Yes a dishwasher and maybe the lemon stuff. Anyway, it did a number on the knives. Live and learn. Appreciate your info.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Ibby114 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:56:28 GMT

On 7/19/2014 Desi said:
I can tell you avoid lemon dishwasher cleaner, and anything with bleach. I have some stainless flatware which has rust spots and that isn't supposed to happen either - hence, stainless.

There's all different quality stainless flatware. 18/10 and 18/0, for example.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Kachina624 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 07:27:52 GMT

In all my years of using stainless flatware, I've never had pitting on it. It must have been poor quality flatware. I have been warned not to let acetic food linger on silver and even had a silver pendant pit when I got a drop of vinegrette dressing on it, but not stainless.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

stilltamn8r — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 07:40:29 GMT

When they demo the stainless flatware, they always warn against using any kind of lemon dishwasher detergent or additive..I'll bet that is what happened to yours, sorry..Even 18/10 is susceptible to it.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

colliegirls — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 14:39:22 GMT

I always wipe the mayo or any other acidic foods off the knives before I put them in the washer.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Ibby114 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 15:16:53 GMT

They've cut corners all over the place, I wonder if 18/10 these days is really 18/10.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

sidsmom — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:02:40 GMT

On 7/20/2014 kachina624 said: In all my years of using stainless flatware, I've never had pitting on it. It must have been poor quality flatware. I have been warned not to let acetic food linger on silver and even had a silver pendant pit when I got a drop of vinegrette dressing on it, but not stainless.

ITA. My mother gifted me a set of Oneida flatware back in college (almost 40 yrs...yes, the Dinosaur Age) and to this day, I'm still using....without a scratch. I believe it's 18/10. Oneida's not cheap...buy quality. You pay for what you get. #thanksMom

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Tyak — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:27:40 GMT

Check where its made. Most are made overseas in places like Vietnam and China. There is only one company producing ss flatware made in the USA. I returned a set of 18/10 Gorham, (made in China) that began rusting only a few months after purchase.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Pickwickpapers — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 17:01:03 GMT

Forgo the lemon dishwasher detergent........

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

MartieHugs — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:34:30 GMT

I have a small set of Reed and Barton that I've had almost 50 years and a newer, larger set that's about 10 years old. I've always washed them by hand ... never put them in the dishwasher ... and even the old set is still nice and shiny.

Re: Pitting on stainless steel flatware

Kachina624 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 21:41:01 GMT

On 7/20/2014 sidsmom said:
On 7/20/2014 kachina624 said: In all my years of using stainless flatware, I've never had pitting on it. It must have been poor quality flatware. I have been warned not to let acetic food linger on silver and even had a silver pendant pit when I got a drop of vinegrette dressing on it, but not stainless.

ITA. My mother gifted me a set of Oneida flatware back in college (almost 40 yrs...yes, the Dinosaur Age) and to this day, I'm still using....without a scratch. I believe it's 18/10. Oneida's not cheap...buy quality. You pay for what you get. #thanksMom

I imagine all brands have different levels of quality. What they sell at Walmart is not the same quality as what they sell at Dillard's or Macy's, although it may be the same maker. All 18/10 means is that the pieces have been nickel-plated to preserve the shine. It doesn't have anything to do with the steel weight or quality.