Stainless steel food: GOST. How to determine food stainless steel? What is the difference between food stainless steel and technical?

Stainless steel is the most popular material from which containers and utensils that come in contact with food are made. Stainless steel has good anti-corrosion properties, durability and low weight. However, it should be taken into account that this material is not always resistant to aggressive media, in this case special food compositions are used.

Of course, store food is best in steel or glass containers, as popular today, foam does not meet all the necessary requirements. In addition, its service life is much less than that of products made of steel.

Many people are interested in how to distinguish food stainless steel from a material that is not suitable for food storage? To answer this question, it is worth considering the advantages, features and classification of this metal.

Advantages of food grade stainless steel

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

• Environmental safety of the material;
• Ease of maintenance;
• Resistance of the material to most chemicals;
• Wear resistance;
• Compliance with standards for the dissolution of heavy metals.

In addition, it has long been proven that instead of frying pans with non-stick coating, it is much more useful to use dishes made from food stainless steel. The same material produces the best cooking plates and surfaces of refrigerators.

Which stainless steel is considered food

Stainless steel, suitable for storing and cooking food is a high-alloy metal, which contains 25% chromium. It is thanks to this chemical element that alloys are famous for their anti-corrosion properties. In case of contact with an aggressive environment, a special protective film is formed on the surface of the metal. Due to this surface layer, the metal does not rust.

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

GOST and Stainless Steel

If we talk about state standards, then they do not have rules for stainless steel. That's why experts find it difficult to answer which material is recommended for use in the food industry. In turn, manufacturers of this stainless metal answer that regardless of its brand, it is suitable for food.

Is it really true that the standards do not say anything about food stainless steel? GOST 5632-72 is, perhaps, the closest normative document that can be used when choosing the best alloy for use in everyday life. This State Standard refers to the brands of high-alloy steel and corrosion-resistant and high-temperature alloys. Let us consider this classification in more detail.

08H18N10

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

This material is distinguished by its low price and good quality. It is often used in the food industry, but only on the condition that the metal does not come into contact with caustic soda or sulfamine solutions.

12H18N10T

The European analogue of this brand 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 collectors of exhaust systems. The thing is that this steel is suitable for use at high temperatures from 600 to 800 degrees.

08X13

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

This can be safely heated or stored in it 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 washes, as well as for the production of utensils for hygienic or heat treatment of food products. The European analogue of this brand is AISI 420. If one of these markings is on the dishes, you can safely buy it for use in everyday life. This stainless steel does not rust, it tolerates a sharp change in temperature, it is also quite plastic and wear-resistant material.

12X13

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

08X17

In Europe, this steel is produced under the brand name AISI 430. Such a stainless steel is indispensable if the food in the dishes is heat-treated. Steel of this type is distinguished by the highest strength. However, this material is rapidly deformed under sulfuric conditions. In this case, the stainless steel does not rust and can withstand mechanical loads. From this material it is recommended to buy frying pans, 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 stainless steel can be safely used for cooking and storing food. In order not to delve into the difference between food and stainless steel from technical, it is much easier to read several useful recommendations. They will allow you to quickly determine whether the material is suitable for food. It is useful to know every consumer who worries about his health.

How to distinguish food from stainless steel 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 such a label stands on the dishes, then it is suitable for cooking and storing food.

But sometimes it happens that the material of an unknown brand is before your eyes, and the seller insistently asserts that this alloy is absolutely environmentally friendly and can not harm a person. In this case, it is sufficient to place the metal in a 2 per cent vinegar 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 color consistency means that the stainless steel is really food. It can be used.

There is another method that consumers often use, having read the information on how to determine food stainless steel. They use a magnet for this. But it is worthwhile to understand that this method is completely inactive, since stainless steel is magnetizable and non-magnetizing. Accordingly, the use of a magnet does not help to determine whether it is possible to use a material for food.

To choose the best metal, it is worth to study the information about the product and ask the seller for the accompanying documents. Any dishes should be made in accordance with certain norms and requirements. If there is no marking on the product, then it is better to refuse such goods. Otherwise, you can buy a low-quality and dangerous to human health utensils.