What Are The Different Types Of Food Grade Stainless Steel And Their Qualities?
Food businesses that offer various kinds of food have the need to ensure that the quality of their food is not affected by the equipment used in preparing it. Therefore, restaurants, kitchens and people in the hospitality business have a strict code about the kinds of materials used in food preparation. They must only use equipment and materials that will not bring harmful changes to both quality and aesthetics of the food prepared.
Of all materials being used in the hospitality industry, stainless steel is one of the favourite. It is an alloy of iron that generally has about 10.5% chromium. Chromium is known to make stainless steel durable and resistant to corrosion. Certain properties of stainless steel makes them ideal for use in different industries. These include resistance to corrosion as mentioned earlier. Other factors are their ability to resist high temperature, high tensile strength and so on. The reason why stainless steel is a favourite among chefs is perhaps its beautiful appearance and the fact that it doesn't tarnish and will last for a long time not to mention the fact that it is environmentally friendly.
Main Properties of Food Grade Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is acceptable for fabricating many tools and materials because of its properties. Compared to other materials, it is highly useful in food related business. It is easy to clean and cannot be easily damaged by fire, acid and stain (it is literally named stainless). No wonder they are very popular in many kitchens, be it commercial or private. In modern kitchens, Stainless steel sinks, stainless steel benches and Stainless steel shelves are a must have if not for their usefulness alone but also for their ability to transform any kitchen.
In addition, the surface of stainless steel materials cannot be permeated by germs and they cannot be penetrated and contaminated which makes them ideal for food processing. However, not all stainless steel possesses the qualities that make them ideal for food processing. Many factors are responsible for determining if a particular grade of stainless will be ideal for food processing. One of these factors is the percentage of chromium it contains. For a stainless steel material to be acceptable, it must possess at least 11% chromium as this offers great resistance to corrosion, rust and damage after continuous usage.
Another factor to consider with stainless steel is its resistance to heat. Most food processes include high temperatures and the stainless steel used in the processing of such foods must be able to withstand the heat. The stainless steel material should also be chemical and moisture resistant.
Different Types of Food Grade Stainless Steel
Of over 150 types of stainless steel materials, only 3 types are recommended for food processing. These 3 types are discussed below:
Grade 304: This type of stainless is cheaper than the other 2 stainless types and more commonly used. It has usage in processing dairy, beer among other products. It is easily cleaned and can withstand corrosion to an extent. Exposure to saline environments has been known to damage this type of stainless steel material.
Grade 316: This grade is relatively better than the 304 as it can withstand corrosion and has a high resistance to chlorides, acids and alkalis. It has a high chromium and nickel content. In the kitchen the grade 316 can be used to package and process almost any kind of food. Stainless steel fabricators often prefer this grade.
Grade 430: Grade 430 stainless steel has less nickel compared to the two other grades. This means that it is more vulnerable to corrosion and harsh treatments. In fact, products made out of grade 430 stainless steel have to be dried immediately after use or else it will rust. A strength of the grade is that it does well against organic acids and it is great against stress corrosion cracking.
2. DESIGN AND MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN INSTALLING STAINLESS STEEL BENCHES IN COMMERCIAL KITCHENS
Everyone will agree that there are lots of differences between a commercial kitchen and a residential one. For one, there are a lot more activities going on in commercial kitchens. This means that a lot of thought has to be put into buying equipment for commercial kitchens. Appliances and workbenches have to be sturdier to accommodate for the prolonged and frequent usage. For these reasons, most commercial kitchen owners prefer to purchase stainless steel benches but of course, these benches come in different types and designs. Therefore, a lot of considerations have to be put into installing stainless steel benches based on their designs and the material they are made from.
Considerations based on Design
· Drawers
When choosing stainless steel kitchen benches, drawers should be considered because they are important for storing kitchen tools such as gloves, knives and towels. A stainless steel bench that has a drawer compartment will make work more efficient in the kitchen.
· Casters
Casters allow benches to be easily moved from one side of the kitchen to the other. They are convenient for cleaning around workspaces and making use of benches in different parts of the kitchen. They increase the height of a workbench so care should be taken when purchasing casters if height is paramount.
· Under-shelves
Many commercial grade stainless steel benches come with under-shelves. These shelves are particularly useful in small kitchens where space maximization is paramount. Extra space will be freed up from kitchen counters and shelves with a stainless steel under-shelf. They can be used for storing small equipment and cookware in the kitchen.
Consideration based on the Material
· 18-Gauge Stainless Steel
When it comes to affordability, an 18-gauge stainless steel is considered as the most affordable choice for benches. However, durability may be an issue as against other types of benches. It is also not as strong and can only be used for processes that are not heavy handed such as sorting, salad preparation, sorting etc. it is also not sturdy and loading it with heady items can cause dents on its surface.
· 16-Gauge Stainless Steel
This is a good option for commercial businesses that want a balance between quality and affordability. The 16-gauge benches are more durable than the 18-gauge and still quite affordable. It can also be used for a wide range of operations in the kitchen including stainless steel benches with sinks.
· 14-Gauge Stainless Steel
The 14 gauge offers a higher quality and durability than the other alternatives. It is the preferred choice among kitchen owners because of its heavy duty usage threshold. It is suitable for all kinds of kitchen processes and users do not need to worry about dents or damage of any kind.
Consideration based on type
· Type 304
One of the most popular types of stainless steel is type 304. It has a high chromium and nickel content with a relatively low carbon content. This makes it rust and corrosion resistant. Due to the contents of the minerals, it can be used for commercial settings as it allows heavy-duty utilisation. It is also easily cleaned and sanitised which makes it ideal for big commercial kitchens with lots of activities.
· Type 430
Although the Type 430 stainless steel is of a relatively lower grade than the type 304, it is still used in many commercial kitchens. When it comes to corrosion and damage, it is also not as resistant. When cost is being considered, then the type 430 is ideal as it is relatively cheaper than the 304 type. It is also ideal for small processes around the kitchen such as fruits and vegetable processing, combining ingredients, and playing meals.
COMMERCIAL BUTCHER SHOP FIT OUT: WHY CUSTOM FABRICATED STEEL MATERIAL IS THE BEST CHOICE
There are many upsides to owning a butcher shop. Apart from the fact that the demand for products sold out of these shops are growing, it is a very profitable business. When opening a butcher shop however, there are many things that should be considered. There is the issue of finding the right location to set up shop. There is also the need to have all the right equipment and tools setup once the shop has been secured. The type of equipment needed will be determined by the kinds of services rendered and the target market.
Basic Composition of a Commercial Butcher Shop
A fully functioning Commercial butcher shop must have all the tools that are needed for meat processing. These tools include butcher’s knives, a set of utensils, cutting boards, cleaver, and bone saws and so on. To ensure that meat is available to customers at a moment's notice, the shop must also have meat processing. Another important equipment to have at the shop are food scales as they are necessary to measure purchases from customers.
Preservation is important in the meat business to avoid running into loss, so it is important for the shop to have Walk-in coolers and other refrigeration units. Products that need to be refrigerated for shorter periods can be stored in freezers which means that freezers are also a must have. One other important equipment that every commercial butcher shop must have is shelving units. Shelving units are made from high quality and durable materials and they perform various functions in the shop. They can be used as work tables and butcher blocks, preparation and packaging spaces and so on.
Using Custom Fabricated Steel Material in a butcher Shop
Many of the equipment, tools and furniture needed in a commercial butcher shop can be fabricated from stainless steel materials. Although different types of steel materials exist today based on their designs and types, the widely used one in butcher shops are custom fabricated. Custom fabricated stainless steel is ideal because of its durability and ability to withstand sharp and pointy objects without cracks and damage.
Custom fabricated stainless steel can come in various shapes and sizes. This alone makes it ideal for use in a butcher shop as it can be fashioned to fit the space available at the shop. Additionally, custom fabricated stainless steel equipment and tools are easy to clean, disinfect and maintain. Less time is spent cleaning these products compared to other types of materials and this can take a ton of time and effort off the already hectic workload. They are a great way to save space, time, and money and so on. Many products can be made from custom fabricated steels, some of them include stainless steel benches, Stainless steel sinks, Stainless steel shelves, trolleys etc.