Stainless steel is absolutely everywhere in the kitchen. If you don’t have sleek stainless steel appliances or kitchen islands, you probably have stainless steel pans, mixing bowls, and utensils. Ever wonder how stainless steel came to be so universal in cooking? One hint: it’s more than just it’s pretty looks.
Steel is fantastic stuff. It’s an iron alloy and strong as all get-out. It doesn’t chip, bend, or crack easily (though it does scratch), and it stays shiny over years of use.
Stainless steel is a metal alloy with about 10-11% chromium. When exposed to air, the chromium in the metal forms a film of chromium oxide over the surface. This film is passive and non-toxic, and most importantly, it prevents the steel from rusting by shielding it from air and moisture. Even if the metal gets scratched, the chromium oxide reforms seamlessly.
This gives us all the excellent properties of stainless steel without the worry of rust. It’s also non-reactive, unlike aluminum and iron, so we can use it for preparing and cooking acidic foods.
Simply put, we use stainless steel in the kitchen because it’s one of the most durable, versatile, and worry-free metals available. It’s hard to argue with that!
Another characteristic feature of stainless steel is that it proves extremely easy to clean thanks to the smooth surface which is immune to bacteria. This makes it the preferred material for professional kitchens, where cleaning tasks need to be facilitated as much as possible.
The only places where dirt and bacteria can build up in a stainless steel kitchen are the inner corners of compartments and the joints between one module and the next. Before choosing a stainless steel kitchen, make sure that it is easy to clean, including inside the compartments.
Great care needs to be taken with salt air and chlorine, two substances which could corrode and damage the stainless steel with time. This is why kitchens fitted near the sea or by a pool need to be made with a special stainless steel, namely AISI 316. This is a special steel, which has been supplemented with a percentage of molybdenum, which is guaranteed against corrosion even in settings that are rich in chlorine and salt air.
Stainless steel kitchens are 100% recyclable!
Stainless steel is an environmentally-friendly and sustainable material, since it is 100% recyclable. But that’s not all: its life cycle is near eternal since it can be recycled endless times without ever losing its original properties. Stainless steel is an irreplaceable material which guarantees the sustainable consumption of resources.
For this reason, unlike almost all the other kitchens (which are only partially recyclable or often not at all), stainless steel kitchens can be 100% recycled.
Let’s tell the truth: professionally-derived stainless steel kitchens are not just practical, hard-wearing and functional. They are also genuine designer sculptures which bring a touch of “industrial” transgression into the home. Indeed, stainless steel kitchens blend in seamless with both contemporary settings, where they emphasise the attractive design, as well as in classic environments, creating a strong yet well-balanced contrast with the more decorative ambiances.
Stainless steel kitchens can be made in several finishes. The matt finishes in orbitally-polished stainless steel give the kitchen a warmer appearance and reduce the visibility of fingerprints and small scuffs. The polished or mirror finishes give the kitchen a brighter and decidedly more contemporary look. Stainless steel can also be painted, but in this case you need to be extra careful with the quality of the paintwork
Via Openinhome and Decoist