Farberware Poppy Pebble Mirror Silverware Stainless Steel Flatware Set, 20-Piece

If there’s one true milestone of adulthood, it’s the first time you purchase your own flatware. Every household has a set, so it’s easy to take for granted that you’ll always have a knife or fork at hand when you need one. But when it’s a set of your very own, you’re going to want that set to reflect your own personal style — and more importantly, you’re going to want it to last.

Flatware, by the way, is a term that specifically means eating utensils: spoons, knives and forks. Officially speaking, “silverware” refers to any items in your household that are made of silver, such as tea sets or serving trays. And yes, sometimes that might include your flatware.

Most likely, though, your modern flatware set will be made from stainless steel — not silver. For most households, that’s preferable. Sterling silver utensils are still very much a thing in formal situations, and a good set does have a shine that might warrant its hefty price tag (if you can afford it). But they do require frequent polishing and can’t be run through automatic dishwashers. Those two factors make sterling silver a deal-breaker for everyday use.

All stainless steel flatware is not created equally, however. The process by which they’re made makes a big difference. If you’re looking for durability, definitely consider forged utensils over stamped ones. If they are forged, they’ll typically say so, and proudly. Forged flatware is heated and carved out of a solid rod of metal, and that heating (among other things) makes it significantly more likely to last. Cheaper flatware is more commonly stamped, which means it is pressed and cut out of a single flat sheet of stainless steel. The finished product is a less hardy piece of metal that’s easier to bend and more prone to scratching.

And then there’s the actual composition of the steel. Stainless steel is an alloy and can be made from a mix of different metals. In the case of flatware, the ones that determine its usability are going to be chromium and nickel. There are typically three grades of quality for stainless steel: 18/0, 18/8 and 18/10. That refers to the ratio of chromium to nickel in the steel. 18/0 is common to budget flatware, which is more prone to rust and corrosion due to the absence of nickel. 18/10, the highest grade, has significantly more staying power.

So what exactly can you expect to get in a flatware set? A single setting traditionally includes five pieces: a dinner fork, salad fork, soup spoon, teaspoon and dinner knife. You can certainly pick up single sets and even single utensils at most houseware stores, but box sets are much more common these days. They’ll include multiple settings of flatware, as well as some less common utensils you might find useful for special meals.

• You’ll use your flatware frequently, so make sure the style matches the plates and furnishings on your table. And since those might change over the years, your best bet for everyday flatware is an understated design.
• Speaking of style, there are two basic kinds of finish for flatware: mirror or satin. Respectively, they convey either a shiny or brushed look to the utensil. Some find that a satin coat hides scratches better, but the finish won’t have much effect on the actual durability of your set either way.
• Pay particular attention to the knives and forks in the set. Long tines on a fork might give it an elegant look, but they can be awkward depending on your eating style. Eating a lot of steak? Maybe look for dinner knives with a serrated edge.
• If you’re buying on a budget, the basic five components of a dinner setting should be in any box set, and they might be all you need. But it might be helpful depending on your lifestyle to get a larger set with some specialty items, such as sugar spoons or cheese knives.