Are All Stainless Steel Products Created Equal?

Ever wondered why you can purchase a stainless steel bottle or lunch container for very low cost at some stores ~ then you see others at double the price?  If you think certain web sites or stores are simply trying to gauge consumers, you’ll be interested to know that the stainless steel grade is affecting the cost.  It’s a topic I’m interested in because I’ve always wondered what the difference in stainless steel grades are. Is it quality?  Are all grades safe?  I got some answers to these question when I started communicating with mompreneur Carolyn,  owner of the estore The Tickle Trunk.  She’s been nice enough to write an explanation for Mommy Footprint readers and it helps shed some light to these questions. Her mission for starting this company was to offer parents a full-range of stainless steel products, but at different steel grades and therefore a full spectrum of price-points.  Not everyone can afford to replace plastic products with high-end stainless steel so her goal is to offer choices.  Thanks Carolyn for this helpful information.  The section of her article “so how to choose’ is awesome…a great read for confused consumers like myself.  Check out this fantastic option for lunch storage container with a sandwich and fruit compartment for only $7!  This is the place to shop for food storage options!

Types/Grades

Different countries use different names for the various grades of stainless steel. For example ’18/8′ the most commonly used grade of stainless steel is also known as ’304′ in the North American AISI grade distinction system, or 1.4301 in the European BS EN 10088 standard. So products that have the exact same grade of stainless steel may be labeled differently depending on where they were manufactured. As mentioned the most popular type of stainless steel is the ’300′ series which is austenitic, and so is not (or only very weakly) attracted by a magnet. The 300 series is made up of Iron, a maximum of 0.15% carbon, a minimum of 16% chromium and a sufficient amount of nickel and/or manganese to retain an austenitic structure. For example, the most popular in this series, ’304′ or ’18/8′ stainless steel means that there is 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 304 or 18/8 stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance.

The 200 series is also austenitic. More specifically, ’201′ is made up of 16-18% chromium, 3.5-5.5 % nickel, 0.15% carbon, and 5.5-7.5% manganese. The 200 series is a high performance stainless steel, which is cheaper due to the substitution of manganese for a portion of the nickel that is found in the 300 series. The 200 series has a higher tensile strength than the 300 series, which allows it to be thinner. It has slightly less corrosion resistance than the 300 series.

The 400 series is ferritic, (or magnetic) and martensitic (very hard). Again, more specifically, type ’430′ or ’18/0′ has 16-18% chromium, 0.75% nickel, 0.12% carbon and 1% manganese. It has a reduced corrosion resistance which is improved by having a highly polished or buffed finish. The 400 series is also easier to machine than the 300 series, lowering manufacturing costs.

So how to choose?

’304′ or ’18/8′ is one of the best grades on the market. Only ’18/10′ claims to be of a better quality. If you are looking for something that will last a lifetime, this is it. However, the ’200′ series is slowly catching up to the 300 series in popularity due to the high cost of nickel. It is only slightly less corrosion resistant, and the fact that it is stronger, therefore items can be thinner, also makes it much cheaper. ’430′, or ’18/0′ stainless steel requires a bit more attention. It is the least corrosion resistant of the three, so it requires a bit more maintenance. For example, it should be dried after washing, not left to drip dry. This does not mean that ’430′ will fall apart. It will last just as long as the other grades of stainless steel if looked after. This is a great option for lunch boxes that might not make it home. It will still be upsetting if it gets lost, but not as much as some of the other, higher priced grades.

We want everyone to have access to plastic alternatives. That is why we have chosen to carry many different types of stainless steel products. We like to give options. A parent should have the choice to pack a child’s food in a safe container, and not have to worry about breaking the bank.

All Tickle Trunk’s products are responsibly made, our suppliers are all verified, and our products are tested for contaminants and toxins. All of these grades of stainless steel are safe to store your food in. If properly cared for, they can last a lifetime.