There's something special about carefully aiming your best silverware set on your dining room table when you're expecting guests for supper – a fact that's especially true during the holiday season. With Thanksgiving and the winter holidays around the corner, we've started to consider those little finishing touches that will make our feasts and festivities much merrier. But who's to say we must wait? If you ask us, life's way too short to simply use good utensils for company. If you think we do and want to put your best flatware forward on a more consistent basis, we've got your back. Below, find our picks for the best silverware sets you should use whenever the flamboyant strikes!
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What is the best silverware set?
Those looking for stainless steel cutlery will likely come across the next descriptions: stainless steel 18/0, stainless 18/8, and stainless steel 18/10. The very first number depicts the percentage of chrome found in the product, while the second number represents the percentage of nickel. For a heavy-duty, rust-free, stainless product with lots of corrosion resistance, opt for the highest level of nickel – 18/10.
When it comes to cutlery, most collections are comprised of your basic dinner forks, spoons, and knives. The best silverware sets may also include separate forks, spoons, and knives for various meal courses, as well as serving utensils, for example ladles or butter knives.
How to Place Silverware
While you are able to, of course, place your eating utensils any which way you want, be it on the plate, covered with a napkin, or upright in a glass, fans of a good protocol can follow these five simple steps below in the etiquette gurus over at The Emily Post Institute to produce a table placement that will rival a royal butler's.
- Forks visit the left of the plate, with knives and spoons on the right.
- Knives are placed using the blade facing the plate.
- Eating utensils ought to be placed in order of use, working from the outside in
- Only set out the utensils that'll be used (i.e., you shouldn't have for a dessert fork if you're serving chocolate mousse).
- Dessert spoons and dessert forks should be placed on the table horizontally at the top plate, using the spoon on the top and the fork underneath. The spoon head should be angled toward the left, while fork prongs should face the right.
To recap, if you're serving soup, salad, a primary course, and cake – in that order – the table setting, from left to right, would go: salad fork, dinner fork, plate, dessert spoon (placed horizontally above the plate), dessert fork (placed beneath the dessert spoon), dinner knife, salad knife, and soup spoon.
To completely floor your guests, you may also set a small bread plate above the forks with a butter knife resting diagonally across its width. Glassware is going over the knives on the righthand side.
How to Polish Silverware at Home
To ensure your cutlery stays in tip-top shape, dry items well after washing. It's also wise to give them a quick polish when taking them from the dishwasher and before putting them away. To obtain them extra sparkly, you can soak them in a basin water and white wine vinegar mixture (one part vinegar to eight parts hot water) every couple of months. Leave them in the solvent for any full Ten minutes before giving them a fast rinse under the tap. To finish them off, wipe them well with a clean lint-free dish towel.
Before you're able to cleaning, however, you'll need to choose which of the greatest silverware sets may be the one for you. We've selected nine of the most stylish, durable cutlery collections on the market to suit every style, requirement, and budget. As well as for much more kitchen inspiration, take a look at our roundups of the best nonstick cookware sets and also the best Dutch ovens to add to your collection!
9 Best Silverware Sets of 2022
Argent Orfèvres Orava 20 Piece 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Most Stylish Silverware Set
46% off!
Buy from Wayfair, $168.07 (originally $314)
Why we like it:
- Gorgeous two-toned, silver and gold design
- Ideal for both casual and formal table settings
- Designed to last if washed by hand
There's something so effortlessly chic about a two-toned, silver and gold design, and this Orava flatware set is a prime example. Produced from heavy-duty 18/10 stainless with woven gold block detailing to complement the silver base, this four-setting assortment includes tablespoons, dinner forks, dinner knives, salad forks, and teaspoons. Perfect for impressing guests, this set will also help elevate the most casual weeknight meals.
Happy customer: “This set is lovely; beautiful in design and weight. Worth the price and great to obtain or give. Wonderful gold and silver blend.”
Villeroy & Boch Montauk 20 Piece 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set
Best Silverware Set for 4
45% off!
Buy from Wayfair, $137.59 (originally $250)
Why we love to it:
- Unique, nautical design
- Rust-resistant
- Great for everyday use
Sea lovers will love the unique, twisty “rope” handles of the nautical-inspired 20-piece cutlery set by Villeroy & Boch. Having a super-shiny, lustrous finish that's tarnish-resistant and is it dishwasher safe, this handy collection will feed parties as high as four. We like these pieces look equally in position on the casual dinner table as they do in more formal settings, plus they just might become the perfect new everyday go-tos.
Happy customer: “Fabulous! Very cool look and has a few pounds to it.”
Kate Spade New York Fair Harbor 45-Piece Flatware Set
Best Designer Silverware Set
Buy from Bloomingdale's, $215
Why we like it:
- Minimalist design
- Includes service for 8, as well as 5 serving pieces
- Dishwasher safe
As is typical of Kate Spade products, this Fair Harbor flatware set is plenty durable thanks to its 18/10 stainless construction. We mostly like it, however, because of its chic and minimalistic design, featuring clean lines that are not too “in your face.”
Happy customer: “I absolutely love the way [this set] looks: It's heavy, [and has a] high-quality feel and easy care. Does great within the dishwasher and [you] can't beat the cost.”
Ginkgo Simple 44-Piece Flatware Set
Best Black Silverware Set
Buy from Nordstrom, $300
Why we love to it:
- Striking black finish
- Ideal for any occasion
- Sturdy stainless construction
Minimalists everywhere may have an “a-ha!” moment every time they lay eyes on this Ginkgo simple flatware set. With cutlery for eight people and 4 extra serving utensils (solid serving spoon, pierced serving spoon, meat fork, and sauce ladle) this sophisticated set includes a black finish to appeal to lovers of understated design. It is also produced from a mix of sturdy 18/10 stainless steel and titanium oxide, so that you can safely pop it in the dishwasher after use.
Happy customer: “This flatware is quite nice. The colour is nice and consistent. It washes well and feels heavy in the hand.”
Nambé 'Bend' 45-Piece Flatware Set
Best modern silverware set
Buy from Bloomingdale's,$200
Why we like it:
- Clean, modern design
- Includes 8 place settings
- Made of stainless steel
For people who prefer a far more minimalist aesthetic, this understated yet elegant flatware set by Nambé features a clean, modern design that goes with practically any table setting. Included in this set are eight five-piece place settings, in addition to a serving fork, serving spoon, slotted serving spoon, butter knife, and sugar spoon. Each piece is made with durable stainless, so they'll last for many meals to come, and you may simply put them in the dishwasher for simple cleaning.
Happy customer: “Love our new stylish silverware. It is very durable and looks classy. Cleans well within the dishwasher. Excellent looking for a reasonable price.”
Degrenne French Onde Flatware
Best gold silverware set
Buy from Food52, $111
Why we like it:
- Luxe, gold mirror finish
- Includes 5 place settings
- Dishwasher safe
Looking to take your at-home meals to the next level? An outstanding group of gold flatware, like this lovely collection by Degrenne, is sure to make the simplest weeknight dinners feel a little more special. We especially love the shiny mirror finish, cheap this set has a luxe look without veering into “gaudy” territory. For hassle-free cleanup, they are able to go right into the dishwasher, and when you are falling in love with this set around we have, it comes in silver via the same links too.
Cambridge Silversmiths Logan Rainbow Mirror 20-Piece Flatware Set
Most Economical Silverware Set
Great deal!
Buy from Walmart, $79.18
Why we like it:
- Fun, rainbow mirror finish
- Never must be polished
- Dishwasher safe
For a 20-piece stainless steel silverware set on a budget, check out Cambridge Silversmiths' Logan set, which serves four people. The funky rainbow mirror design is sure to delight your friends and relatives, and it is aurora effect means the cutlery won't ever have to be polished. These dinner and salad forks, knives, spoons, and teaspoons are dishwasher safe, and buyers report that they're sturdy, heavy, and “even more beautiful in person” – all for less than $4 per piece!
Happy customer: “I loved the set the very first time I first viewed it online- which is much more beautiful personally. VERY nice quality and that i highly recommend this set of flatware.”
Christofle Mood 24-Piece Flatware Set
Best Splurge Silverware Set
Buy from Bloomingdale's, $1,510
Why we like it:
- Includes a stylish, stainless container
- Contemporary, silverplate flatware
- Includes 6 place settings
If you are looking to purchase silverware which will never go out of style or lose its value, you might want to consider shelling out for this Christofle Mood 24-piece collection. Complete having a stainless, egg-shaped container that gives effortless storage, this set provides place settings for up to six people. Additionally, it comes equipped with care instructions from Christofle to make sure your set always stays like new.
Happy customer: “I love this idea of having the flatware handy, plus the egg adorns any table beautifully! The knives and forks are pleasant to handle and fit the hands very comfortably. Additionally, the flatware is insulated and guarded.”
Oneida Wordsworth Flatware
Best Vintage-Style Silverware set
Buy from Amazon, $107.99
Why we love to it:
- Ornate detail
- Includes 8 place settings and 5 serving pieces
- Strong, sturdy design
Oneida's Wordsworth 45-piece flatware set could fit right right into a royal setting using its superior metal craftsmanship and antique look. Made up of eight separate serving sets, plus five convenient serving utensils, this collection is crafted with sturdy stainless steel for longevity, and it has a bit of heft to it, if you prefer the design of weightier silverware.
Happy customer: “I bought this looking for my parents which is absolutely gorgeous! The weight is perfect with just the best heaviness. The pattern is elegant and beautiful. My mother accused me of buying it so I could inherit it someday, ha, ha! I think I'm going to buy another set!”
More silverware that we love>
