A dining table without a cutlery set seems incomplete, doesn’t it? Eating with hands does make the food tastier, and we all love that. Nonetheless, cutleries are must-haves. In fact, having the correct type of cutlery is also essential. A well-set dining table with your favourite dishes and a set of beautifully detailed cutlery set will surely make any lunch or dinner more inviting for you and your guests.
Join us as we explore how to choose the best-quality cutlery set for your kitchen. We will also provide some tips to maintain the cutlery for a long use!
What are The Must-Have Cutlery Pieces?
If you talk about a complete cutlery set, there are multiple components. You need dinner spoons and forks for your main dishes. Knives are important to cut the perfect bite-size pieces of food.
Remembering Ernestine Ulmer’s words, “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first,” you should keep some dessert spoons. And if you love a little cuppa after supper, teaspoons are good. Some sets have more tools like soup spoons and butter knives, which we leave to your preference.
How Do You Select the Most Suitable Cutlery for Your Table?
You can check out the different options and pick something that catches your attention. However, you must consider certain factors for the best quality, durability, and usage.
Material
Cutleries made with different materials are available in the market. While all materials offer perks, stainless steel is the most popular and recommended option. Stainless steel is stronger than other commonly used materials. It is long-lasting. Cutlery made with stainless steel will not bend or break easily. Its rust-resistant quality will allow you to use it for a long time without worrying about unpleasant spots. And its appearance is equally suitable for fancy dinners.
Ergonomics and Comfort
You want to see a beautiful spoon or fork when eating, but it will be difficult to enjoy the food if you can’t hold onto the cutlery properly. Here’s where the matter of ergonomics comes into factor. Be it the spoon, fork, or knife, the weight should be correctly distributed. The handle should be just long enough to fit into your hand. It should also be slip-resistant to prevent feeding the food to your clothes or tablecloth.
How to Pick the Right Design?
Some cutleries look no less than art pieces; their designs are so beautiful, and their details so intricate. Minimalistic designs have a strong fanbase, but you can also be a bit fancy.
For Daily Usage
If you want to buy cutlery for daily use, simple designs can be a popular recommendation. That is because they will be more practical for frequent use and easier to wash and clean. A plain, sleek handle or one with vertical patterns is a good option.
For Special Occasion
Want to impress your guests on a special occasion? Then, pair some of the most delicious food with a stunning cutlery set. Opt for handles with aesthetical details. Instead of only stainless steel, experiment with a bit of gold detailing. They can add a rich look to the table.
Here’s a Secret!
You don’t have to buy huge cutlery sets all the time. Some pieces, like the knives, may not be used regularly on your table. They will sit around like showpieces. The better idea is to pick items separately. That way, you can pick the exact type of items in the exact number you require. If you need more spoons than forks, there is no point in buying a set with an equal number of both.
Try to pick items of a similar theme. For example, if you buy spoons with tiny gold engravings, the forks and knives should have the same designs. So, you buy what you want, and they still look like a complete set.
Consider Your Budget
Premium quality cutlery can seem expensive, but here’s the catch! High-quality stainless steel is quite durable. So, you will not have to replace the cutlery frequently, making it a profitable long-term investment. You can also set a budget first and check out options within the same range.
Cutlery Maintenance Tips
Now that you are all set to purchase the best cutlery for your kitchen, get familiar with these maintenance tips and tricks, too!
- Don’t let the cutlery soak or stay in the dishwasher or sink for long.
- Do not use rough cleaners or steel sponges to clean your stainless steel cutlery; they might leave scratches.
- Stick to mild detergent and a soft sponge when cleaning your stainless steel cutlery.
- The chlorine released from aluminium can lead to discolouration of stainless steel. Avoid putting stainless steel cutlery with aluminium utensils.
- It is always suggested to point down the spoons and forks’ handles, and the knives’ handles should be up when putting them in the dishwasher to avoid any mishaps when unloading the dishes.
- Dry the cutlery with soft clothes after washing to avoid getting water spots on them.
Conclusion
When buying cutlery, aim for the combination of high quality, aesthetics, and best price. The cutlery you pick should blend well with the rest of your table. Keep this guide bookmarked, and evaluate your options for all the important factors we discussed. Don’t forget the maintenance tips to extend the durability.
Enhance your dining experience with the best cutlery, and the foodie in you will thank you!
