Best Cutlery Set in Egypt: 18/10 or 18/0 Stainless Steel?

What do 18/10 and 18/0 mean?

The first number is the percentage of chromium in the stainless steel, and the second is the nickel percentage. 18/10 means 18% chromium and 10% nickel: it has a bright white shine, better resists stains and rust, and is usually heavier and more expensive. 18/0 means almost no nickel: cheaper, magnetic, and resists rust but a bit less if left wet. There is also 18/8, which is very close to 18/10. Remember that this number is the seller's claim, so check the stamp on the back of the spoon handle if available.

How many pieces do you actually need?

"24 pieces" means 6 people × 4 pieces: a dinner spoon, fork, knife, and teaspoon. In the Egyptian home, spoons and teaspoons are the ones that run out first and get lost, while knives are used less. So for a family of 4, a set for 6 and an extra box of teaspoons is better than a set for 4. And if you host often, a 72 to 86-piece set serves 12 people, or two 24-piece sets of the same model.

Why do spoons rust or stain?

• Stainless steel is not "completely rust-proof", it is rust-resistant. If the spoon stays wet for hours, or is left in water with salt, lemon, or vinegar, brown spots appear.
• Water in Egypt contains limescale, so white spots are left if the spoons dry by themselves in the air.
• If the spoons are placed in the dishwasher next to silver or aluminum items, blackening or spots can happen.
• The solution: wash them right after eating, dry them with a towel, and do not leave them soaking until morning.

The dishwasher

Not every set goes in the dishwasher, even if it is all stainless steel: natural wood handles, and gold and black finishes can be ruined. Read the sales page, and if it says "hand wash", believe it. If you put it in the dishwasher, place the spoons and forks with handles pointing down, and the knives with blades pointing down, and take them out and dry them as soon as the cycle ends.

Gold, black, and pink sets look great for gatherings, but this color is a coating over the stainless steel. Most of their pages advise hand washing, and the color can fade or scratch over time. If you use them every day, silver lasts longer.

Stand or drawer? And serving tools

Many sets come with a metal stand or a box on the counter. The stand looks nice and saves space in the drawer, but the spoons stay exposed to dust and cooking steam, so you will need to wash them again before a gathering. A drawer with a plastic or wood organizer keeps them clean, provided they go in completely dry. And for gatherings, regular spoons are not enough: you will need a soup ladle, a large rice spoon, and a serving fork for meat and chicken. Some large sets like the Herdmar 75-piece have these things, and small sets do not, so get them separately in the same style if you can.

Check before you buy

• Read the piece list: "24 pieces" sometimes means just spoons and forks without knives.
• Some pages have a choice of more than one piece count, so check the selection before paying.
• As soon as it arrives, count the pieces and feel the edges of the forks and spoons. If an edge is rough or jagged, return it.
• Many pages have a "Generic" brand, so compare it to well-known brands in number of reviews and return policy.