Stainless Steel & Aluminum Uses in Foodservice Operations
Jun. 17, 2024
Stainless Steel & Aluminum Uses in Foodservice Operations
Imagine a commercial kitchen with no stainless steel or aluminum. Its hard to do, isnt it? Thats because stainless steel and aluminum are the most commonly used metals in foodservice. Stainless is a bit more popular than aluminum, but theyre both used in countless front-of-the-house applications.
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But whats the difference between the two metals? Why would you use one over the other, or does it even matter? Were going to walk you through the qualities of each metal and showcase some of G.E.T.s front-of-the-house examples where each metal shines on its own.
Pictured: Stainless Steel Copper-Plated Mug, Stainless Steel Martini, Stainless Steel Copper-Plated Martini,
Stainless Steel in Foodservice Operations
The most popular foodservice metal, stainless steel takes up residence in tabletop applications due to its durability, cleanability, and often elegant look. Of the many grades of stainless available on the market, the ones primarily used in foodservice are 18/8 and 18/0.
Grade 18/8 and 18/0 Stainless Steel Similarities
Grade 18/8 stainless steel is favored over grade 18/0 because its a bit sturdier, but they each get plenty of love from foodservice operators. For both, the top number represents the percentage of chromium present in the metal. The bottom number does the same for the percentage of nickel.
Chromium reduces the opportunity for rust to form because it creates a barrier on the surface, essentially locking out oxygen. This property makes stainless steel highly anticorrosive, while nickel supports the overall durability and shine. Grade 18/0 doesnt have any nickel, which is why 18/8 is sturdier and more lustrous.
Pictured: Stainless Steel Round Tray
The anti-corrosive properties of stainless steel are central to its popularity. It doesnt react with naturally occurring acids or bases (alkalies) in food, and its dishwasher-safe, which makes it a fine candidate for tableware.
Both 18/8 and 18/0 are durable and can withstand high-volume tabletop rotation. Stainless steel can dent or scratch, but less easily than aluminum due its higher density. Over time, youll need to replace these pieces, but universally, stainless steel generally has the best service life of all the food-safe metals, including aluminum. However, service life is of course dependent on the thickness of the metals because the metals alone are made and used in different weights and designs for various features and benefits.
Pictured: Stainless Steel Boat Tray, 2 oz. Condiment Cup
Easily sanitized ware is one way to a foodservice operators heart. Because stainless steel is non-porous and frequently manufactured with a smooth surface, theres no place for food to hide. Food stays on the exterior, so once its cleaned, you dont have to worry about small, hard to see pieces of food sticking around.
Engraving or embossing can be performed on both grades of stainless steel. If your operation typically incorporates custom branding into their tabletop pieces, stainless will be able to accommodate this practice.
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Grade 18/8 and 18/0 Stainless Steel Differences
The biggest difference is that 18/0 does not contain any nickel. Like we mentioned earlier, the absence of nickel means a few things:
- Softer shine
- Less durable than 18/8
- May stain or corrode faster than 18/8, requiring it to be replaced more often
- Magnetic
Without nickel, 18/0 is more susceptible to staining and corrosion, but its still a very popular food-safe metal.
Pictured: Stainless Steel Serving Utensils, Stainless Steel Action Stations
If your operation includes induction cooking, sometimes used for action stations/display cooking, 18/0 stainless is naturally induction-ready. Grade 18/8 isnt always suitable for induction, so if you want to use that method of cooking, stick with 18/0 and youll be fine.
At G.E.T., we use 18/8 for its superior shine, durability, and anticorrosive properties (except for products intended to be used for induction cooking) because we know how much foodservice operators value these qualities.
Aluminum in Foodservice Operations
Aluminum is the second-most used metal in foodservice. Like stainless steel, it can be used for a wide variety of applications, which helps its popularity and usefulness regarding tabletop service. Aluminum has zero carbon in it, which means its incapable of rusting. You can expect to find similar types of ware made from aluminum that you can with stainless, but their service life, characteristics, and costs are different.
Pictured: Aluminum Rectangular Tray, 12x12 Waxed Food-Safe Paper, Ultrawareª Oval Platter, Ultrawareª 3.5 oz. Bowls
Aluminums durability is substantial enough to be commonly used in dinnerware and display pieces, but its not as strong as stainless steel, which means that it can dent and scratch more easily. If aluminum gets dented, you dont necessarily have to stop using it right away, but overall, aluminums service life is a good deal shorter than stainless if its used in similar application pieces.
Naturally occurring acids and bases in foods will wear down aluminum over time, which does not happen with the types of stainless steel discussed above. Foodservice operators will want to look for aluminum pieces with coating that supports a longer service life if opting for aluminum in place of a similar item made with stainless steel. Aluminums reactivity wont affect foods taste, appearance, or smell; it simply affects the overall life of aluminum pieces.
Pictured: Pampa Bay Hammered Copper Aluminum Displayware Coming Soon!
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Some of the displayware by Pampa Bay, which will soon be available through G.E.T., is undeniably gorgeous. The pieces made from aluminum (some of Pampa Bays collection is made from titanium porcelain) are designed for elegance, but are lightweight and very competitively priced. A portion of Pampa Bays collection, like the one pictured below, are made from aluminum sheets, which have a stronger durability blend and food-safe applications. These are amazing options that can elevate your hospitality display while sticking to your budget.
Due to aluminums reactivity to acids and bases in foods, youll want to ensure proper care and maintenance procedures are carefully followed. This is because some pieces, like the Hammered Copper above, require care soon after service via hand-washing with a gentle cloth and being allowed to completely dry. Doing so will help you get the best service life out of your displayware.
Pictured: Pampa Bay Aluminum Displayware Coming Soon!
An excellent conductor of temperature, aluminum can reach desired degrees faster and hold them longer than most of the commonly used food-safe metals. You can freeze or refrigerate aluminum vessels for ice cream or other dessert service, or keep salad bowls cool, which helps keep your product crisp before its tossed and served.
Enamel-Coated and Resin-Coated Aluminum
Pictured: Heissª Induction Cookware
Enamel-coated aluminum is now available on the market because it can mimic the look of enamel-coated cast iron pieces, made popular by Le Crueset. Available in an array of colors with a dark black enamel coating on the inside, these striking pieces are less expensive, lighter weight, and chip less often that traditional cast iron. Heissª, G.E.T.s line of enamel-coated aluminum, is developed with an induction-ready base, so it can be used on an induction range for action station service at buffets or catering events. We recommend reading Enamel Cast Iron vs Cast Aluminum Induction Cookware for Foodservice if youd like to learn more.
Pictured: Bugambilia® Classic Inserts, Food Pans, & Salad Bowls
Resin-coated aluminum, like G.E.T.s Bugambilia® line are also popular aluminum choices. The resin coating gives them an attractive, inviting look, perfect for buffet salad bars and other displayware. Because aluminum is such a great conductor of temperature, this serveware is perfect for holding cold food, keeping food fresh and crisp longer than it would be otherwise. Operators enjoy the dishwasher-safe aspect, as well. Bugambilia® is also now available in a new smooth coating, giving you more options for designing your salad bar and displays.
Pictured: Bugambilia® Classic Serveware
Its likely every foodservice environment youll ever be in will embrace these two materials, so its good to get a sense for their qualities and why theyre used where they are. If youd like to dig deeper into the differences between the two stainless steel grades discussed here, we recommend reading Grades of Stainless Steel & What They Mean for Your Foodservice Operation.
What are the benefits of stainless steel pots - Stellinox
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Stainless steel pots offer a number of benefits in the kitchen.
To complete your range of stainless steel cookware, here are some reasons why you should choose stainless steel pots.
Durability: Stainless steel is a tough and durable material. Stainless steel cookware resists corrosion and scratches, and looks as good as new for a long time.
Thermal conductivity: Stainless steel has excellent thermal conductivity, which means it heats up quickly and distributes the heat evenly across the surface of the pan. This ensures that food is cooked evenly.
Versatility: Stainless steel cookware is suitable for a variety of cooking methods, including induction and oven cooking. They can be used to prepare a wide range of foods.
Easy to clean: Stainless steel cookware is generally easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Their smooth surface makes them relatively easy to clean by hand.
Food safety: Stainless steel is a safe material for cooking food as it does not react chemically with food. This makes it suitable for use with a wide range of foods and ingredients.
Aesthetic appearance: stainless steel cookware often has a modern, elegant appearance that can add an aesthetic touch to your kitchen.
No coating: Unlike some non-stick pans, stainless steel pans generally do not have a coating. This can be an advantage for those who prefer to avoid potentially toxic coatings or who are looking for a more durable option.
However, it should be noted that :
- Stainless steel alone does not have excellent non-stick properties. Some pan manufacturers add bottoms with an aluminium or copper core to improve thermal conductivity and reactivity to heat.
- Stainless steel pans may require a certain amount of cooking skill to prevent food from sticking to the surface during cooking.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit buffet stainless steel flatware.
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