Food stainless steel: GOST. How to identify food grade stainless steel? What is the difference between food stainless steel and technical stainless steel?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Stainless steel is the most popular material for making containers and utensils that come into contact with food. Stainless steel has good anti-corrosion properties, durability and low weight. However, it should be borne in mind that this material is not always resistant to aggressive environments; in this case, special food-grade formulations are used.

Of course, it is best to store food in steel or glass containers, since the popular today's polypropylene does not meet all the necessary requirements. In addition, its service life is much shorter than that of products made of steel.

Many are interested in how to distinguish food grade stainless steel from a material unsuitable for food storage? To answer this question, it is worth considering the pros, features and classification of this metal.

Food grade stainless steel advantages

If we talk about the advantages of food stainless steel, then it is worth highlighting:

• environmental safety of the material;
• ease of maintenance;
• material resistance to most chemicals;
• wear resistant;
• Meets heavy metal dissolution regulations.

In addition, it has long been proven that instead of pans with non-stick coating it is much more useful to use dishes made of food grade stainless steel. The same material is used to make the finest hobs and refrigerator surfaces.

Which stainless steel is considered food grade

Stainless steel suitable for food storage and preparation is a highly alloyed metal containing 25% chromium. It is thanks to this chemical element that alloys are famous for their anti-corrosion characteristics. In case of contact with an aggressive environment, a special protective film is formed on the metal surface. Thanks to this surface layer, the metal does not rust.

In addition, titanium, molybdenum, nickel and other chemical components are added to food grade stainless steel, further increasing the anti-corrosion properties of the material.

GOST and stainless steel grades

If we talk about government standards, then they do not spell out the rules related to stainless steel. That is why experts find it difficult to answer which material is recommended to be used in the food industry. In turn, the manufacturers of this stainless metal respond that, regardless of its brand, it is suitable for food products.

Do the regulations really say nothing about food grade stainless steel? GOST 5632-72 is perhaps the closest standarda document that can be used when choosing the best alloy for domestic applications. This State Standard refers to high-alloy steel grades and corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant alloys. Let's take a closer look at this classification.

08X18H10

Under this brand, austenitic corrosion-resistant stainless steel is made. The European analogue is AISI 304. This material is not magnetic. It is used in all industrial and commercial sectors.

This material is of low price and good quality. It is often used in the food industry, but only if the metal does not come into contact with caustic soda or sulfa solutions.

12X18H10T

The European analogue of this grade is AISI 321. This heat-resistant steel is also not magnetic. Stainless steel of this brand is often used in the manufacture of elements of furnace fittings, heat exchangers and exhaust manifolds. The thing is that this steel is suitable for use at high temperatures from 600 to 800 degrees.

08X13

The European analogue of this material is AISI 409. This steel is widely used in the manufacture of kitchen utensils and cutlery. Such food stainless steel is most often found in stores. The material gained such popularity due to the high degree of adhesion and the ability to adapt to different operating conditions.

This dish can be safelyheat or store food in the freezer.

20X13-40X13

Steel of this type belongs to the category of composite materials, so it is often used in the manufacture of household and industrial sinks, as well as for the production of utensils for hygienic or thermal processing of food. The European analogue of this brand is AISI 420. If one of these markings is on the dishes, then you can safely buy it for household use. This stainless steel does not rust, tolerates a sharp change in temperature well, and is also quite ductile and wear-resistant material.

12X13

In Europe, this material is produced with the AISI 410 marking. This type of steel is more often used in the manufacture of equipment for winemaking, food processing and the manufacture of alcohol. In addition, this material is characterized by increased heat resistance in a slightly aggressive environment.

08X17

In Europe, this steel is produced under the brand name AISI 430. This stainless steel is indispensable if the food in the dishes is subjected to heat treatment. This type of steel has the highest strength. However, this material is rapidly deformed in a sulfur environment. At the same time, stainless steel does not rust and can withstand mechanical stress. It is recommended to buy frying pans from this material, since 08X17 is characterized by a high coefficient of thermal conductivity.

All other materials are used in special conditions, their cost is much higher. However, not all stainlesssteel can be safely used for cooking and storing food. In order not to delve into the difference between food stainless steel and technical stainless steel, it is much easier to read a few useful recommendations. They will allow you to quickly determine whether a given material is suitable for food. This is useful for every he alth-conscious consumer to know.

How to distinguish food stainless steel from technical?

To determine the composition of the anti-corrosion alloy, as well as the possibility of its use in everyday life, you can write out the brands that were listed above. If this marking is on the dishes, then it is suitable for cooking and storing food.

But sometimes it happens that a material of an unknown brand is in front of your eyes, and the seller insists that this alloy is absolutely environmentally friendly and cannot harm a person. In this case, it is enough to place the metal in a 2% acetic solution and wait for the reaction. If the shade of the material has changed, it has become dark, then it is better not to use it. The invariance of color suggests that stainless steel is indeed food grade. It can be used.

There is another method that consumers often use after reading information on how to identify food grade stainless steel. They use a magnet for this. But it should be understood that this method is completely ineffective, since stainless steel can be magnetic and non-magnetic. Accordingly, the use of a magnet will not help in any way to determine whether the material can be used for food.

To choose the best metal, you should study the product information and ask the seller for supporting documents. Any utensils must be produced in accordance with certain standards and requirements. If there is no marking on the product, then it is better to refuse such a product. Otherwise, you can purchase low-quality and dangerous utensils for human he alth.