Cutlery
Commercial cutlery is the flatware used for every cover served in pubs, cafés, hotels and care homes — forks, knives, spoons and specialist serving pieces designed to withstand daily commercial dishwasher cycles and heavy handling far beyond domestic use. The single biggest buying consideration is metal grade: 18/10 stainless steel (18% chromium, 10% nickel) is the commercial standard, offering superior shine retention, corrosion resistance and weight compared to lower-grade 18/0 or 13/0 steel, which is more prone to pitting and rust spotting over repeated washes. Buyers should also weigh finish (mirror-polished, satin/brushed, or PVD-coated coloured cutlery, now popular in contemporary café and hotel settings), weight per piece (heavier gauge cutlery feels premium and lasts longer under stress), and pattern consistency across a full canteen set for hotel and banqueting use. This category covers everything from boxed cutlery sets and canteens to chopsticks, dessert and fish knives, serving cutlery, steak knives, table forks and spoons, table knives, and teaspoons — each suited to different service styles, from quick-turnaround cafés to formal hotel dining rooms and care home meal services where lighter, ergonomic handles matter for residents with reduced grip strength.
Key specifications
Across the cutlery range, metal grade is the defining spec. 18/10 stainless steel (18% chromium, 10% nickel) is the commercial benchmark for shine retention and corrosion resistance, 18/0 is a nickel-free mid-range option that resists rust slightly less well, and 13/0 sits at the economy end. Standard place-setting lengths run roughly 20-21cm for table knives and forks, 19-20cm for table spoons and 14-15cm for teaspoons, so pieces sit in proportion across a cover. Finish is mirror-polished, satin or brushed, or PVD-coated colour, and holding one finish across a canteen keeps settings uniform. Heavier-gauge pieces feel more substantial and resist bending under high-turnover use. Used across pubs, cafés, hotels, restaurants and care homes.
Cutlery — FAQs
What grade of stainless steel is best for commercial cutlery?
18/10 stainless steel is the top commercial standard, offering the best shine retention and corrosion resistance; 18/0 is a common mid-range alternative with slightly lower rust resistance.
Is commercial cutlery dishwasher safe?
Virtually all commercial-grade stainless cutlery is dishwasher-safe and designed to withstand industrial wash temperatures, though PVD-coloured coatings can dull faster under harsh detergents.
How do I choose cutlery weight for a busy pub kitchen?
Medium-to-heavy gauge cutlery resists bending in high-turnover pub and café settings better than lightweight economy ranges, and heavier pieces feel more substantial and last longer under stress.
What’s the difference between 18/10 and 18/0 cutlery?
18/10 contains 10% nickel, which adds shine and corrosion resistance, while 18/0 has no nickel and is more budget-friendly but slightly more prone to spotting over time.