The Best Flatware of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter
The Best Flatware of | Reviews by Wirecutter
Flatware should be anything but flat, and a good set can enhance your table at every meal, whether it&#;s a weekday dinner or a special occasion.
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After handling over 300 forks, knives, and spoons over the years, we now recommend 11 sets in a variety of styles&#;modern, retro, classic, or formal.
Our picks meet our strict quality standards, but they also cover a variety of weights and prices, so you can find the best flatware for your lifestyle and budget.
The 4 Best Flatware Sets of , Tested & Reviewed
Even though it was slightly lighter, the Oneida Voss 45-Piece Flatware Set&#;s 60-gram salad fork felt bulky and unwieldy compared to Robert Welch Westbury&#;s 64.6-gram version. Still, I overall preferred the heavier sets. The average weight of dinner forks was 56.8 grams. Models that fell significantly below this, including the 36.4-gram and 44.7-gram offerings from Pflatzgraff and HENCKELS, felt thin and flimsy.
Smooth Finishes Were Pleasant
Forks should be smooth in the mouth; I disliked ones that had rough edges that caught on my cheek when eating.
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
The ideal flatware should feel pleasant both in the hand and in the mouth, and I preferred forks and spoons with a smooth finish. Some sets, like the Williams Sonoma Pantry 36-Piece Flatware Set with Caddy and the Pflatzgraff, had rough edges as though they had been stamped out of a metal sheet. This created an unpleasant sensation&#;the fork tines caught slightly in my mouth. Other sets, like the Mikasa York 20-Piece Flatware Set and Reed & Barton Flatware Place Setting had a smooth texture but felt thin and tinny. The Made In Flatware, Dansk Bistro Cafe Flatware Sets, and Robert Welch Caesna Mirror 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting had a pleasant balance of body and presence.
Good Design Was Essential
Stainless steel sets were durable and easy to clean&#;a must when they're you're everyday eating utensils.
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
Certain design elements are practical. All the sets I tested were 18/10 stainless steel and dishwasher-safe&#;a must for everyday flatware. Stainless steel is durable and low maintenance. It will last for years and doesn&#;t require polishing. Beyond those basic elements, setting your kitchen table is a visual endeavor. The flatware I tested ranged from simple and classic to ornamented and elaborate. Design is a personal choice&#;the best flatware set is the one you&#;ll be excited to use. My winners are all beautiful and versatile, but a few models deserve a special design callout: The Reed & Barton is vintage-inspired and ornate, while cottagecore fans might enjoy the charming and rustic Ginkgo Lyon Stainless-Steel Flatware. For modern design lovers, check out the sleek Dansk Bistro Cafe Flatware set.
The Criteria: What to Look for in a Flatware Set
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
The best flatware sets are balanced, with a pleasant heft and smooth edges. Complete sets should include a minimum of five pieces&#;a dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, large spoon, and a soup or dessert spoon. Anything outside of this (like a butter knife or matching salad serving set) earns bonus points. Look for reasonably sized utensils that can fit comfortably in your mouth. For ease and durability, choose a dishwasher-safe set with stainless steel construction. Utensils should last a lifetime and will get near-daily use, so don&#;t be afraid to invest in a set that you love and will stand the test of time.
Our Favorite Flatware Sets
What we liked: The Made In flatware set is simple and elegant. Each piece is pleasantly heavy and well-balanced. They&#;re also well sized&#;the utensils accommodate a generous amount of food and fit comfortably in the mouth. Their smooth finish has a pleasant mouthfeel. The knife is sharp enough to slice through chicken but won't accidentally nick you if you reach for it in the drawer.
What we didn&#;t like: This is an expensive set. At $10 per piece, it&#;s the priciest winner. Made In doesn&#;t manufacture any serveware, like a slotted spoon or large fork, so if you want your serving pieces to match your flatware, this isn&#;t the set for you.
Key Specs
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Cost per piece: $10
- What&#;s included: 4 dinner forks, 4 salad forks, 4 dinner spoons, 4 dessert spoons, 4 dinner knives
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: This set includes everything you need to host a dinner party. In addition to 12 complete place settings, it comes with two serving spoons, a serving fork, a butter knife, and a sugar spoon. This is a great option for anyone who is stocking their first kitchen. The Lenox Portola flatware delivers impressive quality for the price, too&#;the pieces are pleasantly balanced and feel durable.
What we didn&#;t like: During testing, I found that this set has slightly rougher edges than its pricier competitors, and the fork tines catch slightly in the mouth. The pieces feel reasonably high-quality, but they&#;re significantly lighter than the other winning choices and four out of five of the standard pieces fell below the average category weight.
Key Specs
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Cost per piece: $1.74
- What&#;s included: Includes (12) 5-piece place settings and 5-piece serving set with serving spoon, pierced serving spoon, sugar spoon, butter knife, and serving fork.
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Stainless Steel Flatware With Decorative Patterns. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
What we liked: This is a sleek, well-made set with heavy pieces and smooth edges. The spoons have a modern silhouette with a gentle, sloping transition between the basin and the handle&#;just enough to add a subtle design flair to your table. The forks were well sized and the teaspoon was large enough to hold satisfying bites of soup. Robert Welch also manufactures Caesna steak knives and serving sets, which can be purchased separately to complete your tablescape.
What we didn&#;t like: The dinner spoon is huge and slightly off balance&#;the handle is disproportionately heavy and might tip out of a bowl if shaken.
Key Specs
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Cost per piece: $9
- What&#;s included: Dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, dinner spoon, and teaspoon
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
What we liked: The Robert Welch Westbury flatware is smooth and heavy. The pleasant heft makes the pieces feel high-quality&#;each utensil weighed more than the average category weight. This set features a simple design&#;the utensils have clean, elegant lines and a slightly tapered handle that feel timeless and would mesh well with any interior aesthetic. The serrated knife cuts chicken easily and both forks have sharp tips and smooth sides. Robert Welch also manufactures Westbury serving utensils, which can be purchased separately to complete your tablescape.
What we didn&#;t like: The Robert Welch Westbury dinner spoon is even larger than the Caesna model&#;it may be difficult for children or people with small mouths.
Key Specs
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Cost per piece: $9
- What&#;s included: Dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, dinner spoon, and a teaspoon
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi
The Competition
FAQs
Which silverware sets don&#;t rust?
Stainless steel is our top choice because it&#;s rust-resistant. You can run stainless steel utensils through the dishwasher without worrying about discoloration and they will never require polishing.
What does 18/10 stainless steel mean?
The numbers refer to the material composition&#;18/10 steel is 18% chromium and 10% nickel, making it a high-grade metal.
What's the difference between flatware and silverware?
Flatware and silverware are often used interchangeably. These terms both refer to eating utensils including forks, knives, spoons, and serveware. Technically speaking, silverware describes utensils made from silver or plated in silver while the term flatware can be applied to utensils made from a range of materials.
How many flatware settings should you have?
The ideal number of place settings depends on the size of your household and how often you entertain. Most people will find it helpful to have at least four place settings (20 pieces), but if you plan on hosting dinner parties or have more people to feed, a 65-piece set (12 settings) should do it.
What's the best way to clean flatware?
Stainless steel flatware is dishwasher-safe. If your flatware develops any discoloration or has bits of stubborn, stuck-on food, soaking the utensils in a solution of baking soda and water will help restore their shine.
Why We&#;re the Experts
- Madeline Muzzi has over 10 years of experience as a food writer and recipe tester.
- Madeline collects vintage silver servingware.
- Madeline has been known to eat three soups in one meal and values spoon performance.
- She first tested flatware sets for Serious Eats in and recently re-tested our winners along with new options. To do so, she weighed each piece of silverware, cleaned them, and used them to eat soup, slice chicken, and fork farro salad.
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