What’s the best knife blade material? Stainless steel vs ceramic
We all know that there are many kinds of blade materials. Today, let us discuss stainless steel and ceramic blades.
First, let’s take a look at stainless steel blades
Stainless steel is arguably the most popular material for knives, as it offers great durability and resistance to rust and corrosion. The alloy is made using carbon and iron as a base, and chromium is added to repel stains and give the blade a lasting shiny finish. This makes the blades strong, durable, and very good at resisting staining.
The downside of stainless steel is that there are currently a wide variety of alloys commercially available, so the quality of the steel can vary drastically depending on the supplier.
Steel knives can be made from carbon, iron, titanium and more materials which makes the hardness and durability vary.
Then, let’s take a look at ceramic blades
A ceramic blade is one that is crafted using hardened zirconium dioxide. They are non-metallic and non-magnetic, and sometimes coated in other materials for extra durability. They’re very lightweight, which many chefs prefer, and they’re also thought to be more hygienic than metal styles. Another bonus of ceramic is that the blades can be printed with stylish patterns, colours or detailing , which makes them all the more impressive to have on display.
The biggest downside of ceramic knives is their fragility: they’re more prone to breaking or cracking if dropped compare to other types of knives, so they need to be handled with care. They also need sharpening with specialist tools, as regular whetstones will damage the blades. But, with the proper attention, they should be an effective cutting tool for years to come.
No matter what industry you are a part of, ceramic blades can be beneficial. They have a variety of properties that makes them a great option. Some of these properties include:
Non-magnetic
Non-conductive
Non-sparking
Non-porous
Safe up to 1600 degrees Celsius
These properties make ceramic blades a great option no matter the use. If you run into issues with your current metal blades, making the switch to ceramic may be a great choice!
Another advantage that ceramic has over steel is that it is chemically inert. Why is this important? When you cut with a metal blade, there is a chance of a chemical reaction. With a ceramic blade, you can avoid this and your blade will also have a strong defense against harmful bacteria. Rust is another issue that you don’t have to worry about with ceramic, where as metal requires a special lubricant to avoid premature rusting.
Finally, let’s make a comprehensive comparison
The toughness
People are often confused with the hardness and toughness of ceramic and metal knives. However, they are not the same.
If a knife has high toughness, that means it isn’t breakable. In contrast, a tough knife will break easily when a hard surface affects it. Because the ceramic blade is harder than the steel knife, the ceramic one does not excel at its intended.
For that reason, ceramic knives aren’t meant to cut hard food items, but steel knives are meant to cut hard things.
The sharpness
People design ceramic knives with a razor-sharp edge. That allows some sorts of food such as vegetables and fruit, or boneless meat to be easily sliced on the cutting boards. However, ceramic knives aren’t used to cut hard food.
Unlike steel knives, ceramic doesn’t lose that sharp edge quickly. On the other hand, people have to maintain steel knives regularly to keep them sharp.
The longevity of their edges
Is steel or ceramic more durable?
The answer is steel. That’s because steel is more shatterproof than ceramic. Hence, steel knives are tougher than ceramic ones.
Moreover, the stainless steel knife can anti-rust so that it can last longer than the ceramic knives.
Why choose YIERCITY
We do professional knife set retail and wholesale business. We hope to be your stable global supporter and partner.
We are an enterprise integrating factory and trade, specializing in the design, manufacture and sales of high-quality knife sets.
We always make every effort to ensure the quality of each set of knives.
Why choose YIER Knives
● The complete knife set contains all kitchen knives.
● Delivery from the local warehouse, within 3 days.
● Manufactured in our own factory, cost-effective.
● Transparent acrylic knife holder, like a work of art
● Excellent materials, safe and durable.
● Free returns
● We listen to customer needs and feedback.