Ultimate Guide to Second-Hand Cutlery
As a food stylist and a hungry person, I have considerable experience buying cutlery. Whether you're looking for food photography props or a flatware set that will last for generations, I have all the tips you need for finding second-hand silverware.
Where to Find Second-Hand Cutlery
Etsy
Etsy is a popular online market for artists and vintage sellers. It turns out, Etsy is also a B Corp, which means that a third-party holds them to high social and environmental standards (yay!). All the second-hand items on Etsy are at least 20 years old and are usually in good condition, so they tend to be more expensive than items at second-hand stores or garage sales. However, there is a huge selection on Etsy so you might be able to find a great deal.
Food52 Vintage Shop
Food52 is a popular site for publishing and collecting recipes, but they also have an online vintage shop. This shop only carries high-quality vintage pieces, so they can get pretty pricey. If you want cutlery for food styling, entertaining or interior design, this is the place for you. However, if you're looking for an everyday flatware set, stick to the other seller options.
Second-hand stores
Of course, the most obvious places to buy second-hand goods are second-hand stores. Second-hand stores are my favorite places to buy utensils because I can look at the pieces' quality and test their comfort. To find second-hand stores near you, do some online searching or ask around.
Some second-hand stores only accept vintage items, while others accept newer used items. Like I mentioned earlier, vintage items are often pricier than newer second-hand goods, but may be of higher quality. More modern items are often less expensive but could be low-quality. Most shops specify on their websites or social media whether or not they are strictly vintage retailers.
Garage and Estate Sales
I've found some of my favorite food styling pieces at garage sales and estate sales. These sales are perfect if you are on a tight budget, and they often have larger flatware sets than Etsy or Food52. Depending on the sale, you might also be able to find some high-quality vintage pieces. To find garage sales near you, just walk through a neighborhood on a sunny weekend morning — you're bound to find one!
Which Cutlery to Buy
Go for Stainless Steel, Ideally 18/10
Stainless steel is the most durable and safest cutlery material. It is heat-, cold- and water-resistant, won't bend or snap and isn't linked to any negative health effects.
Manufacturers label stainless steel according to the amounts of chromium and nickel it contains. Common grades for stainless steel cutlery include 18/10 (18% chromium and 10% nickel), 18/8 (18% chromium and 8% nickel) and 18/0 (18% chromium and 0% nickel).
Higher percentages of nickel make the stainless steel more resistant to corrosion, so most experts recommend buying 18/10 stainless steel. When buying second-hand, look for one of these ratios etched into the side of the flatware. If you can’t find the ratio on the flatware, ask the seller if they know the stainless steel’s grade.
Go for Single Materials
Stick to cutlery than is made of entirely stainless steel rather than cutlery featuring wooden or plastic handles or other mixed-material decorative touches. Speaking from experience, mixed material cutlery just doesn't last. Inevitably, the wood warps from an accidental trip to the dishwasher, or the plastic breaks off from the rest of the piece. Mixed materials look great in food photography, but are not practical for everyday use.
Be Wary of Colored Metals
Manufacturers create rose-gold, black and other metal cutlery colors through either electroplating or physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating. Both of these processes are subject to wear down over time. Again, these colors are great for food photography, but not for eating dinner. If you want your silverware to last, skip the trendy colors.
Test the Balance
Maybe it's the snobby foodie in me, but I think silverware's weight distribution is super important! This is partially due to comfort, but also practicality. If I'm putting a knife or fork on my plate, I want to know that it will stay there without toppling onto the floor.
If you're at a second-hand shop or garage sale, test flatware's balance by picking up and assessing if it feels comfortable. You could also try to balance it horizontally on one finger to find its center of balance. Ideally, the center of balance should be in the middle of the utensil.
If you're shopping online, ask the seller if the pieces are top-heavy or bottom-heavy. They'll likely be happy to answer!