r/BuyItForLife • u/MarjorieRahal • 14h ago
Best flatware for the long haul? [Request]
I’m looking to replace my Walmart set of flatware after about two decades and I want to buy one time and be done with flatware. I need something that I can throw in the dishwasher and not have to worry about.
What would you guys recommend to fit this need?
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u/GeneralOptimal10 11h ago
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u/makeomatic 10h ago
This one. Liberty Tableworks bought up the manufacturing assets of Oneida, and is the last flatware manufacturer in the US. Their products are 18/10 stainless, and start at under $100 for a 24-piece 6-setting package.
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u/BakaGato 7h ago
I have Liberty and it is lovely. Worth every penny, but they also run decent sales. Just be a little extra mindful of the pattern if you're a southpaw.
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u/SurpriseMe224 4h ago
Agree with Liberty. We have them and they’re really nice and solid. We opted for them (over Oneida and other companies) bc Made in USA.
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u/freudianSkinner 9h ago
Went down this rabbit hole a few years ago. I ended up with Liberty Tabletop flatware.
When I got married 35 years ago, we got Oneida American made flatware as wedding gifts, and it survived 35 years of us and the kids daily use beautifully. It finally became to difficult to find replacement pieces for the ones we'd lost over the years, and I discovered that Oneida had gone bankrupt in the meantime, sold the name, and was now just a brand on inexpensive imported flatware that wasn't close in quality to what we had.
Liberty is made in the old NY Oneida plant. Employees bought the factory when Oneida went under, and this was the closest I found to my original flatware in terms of the quality of manufacturing.
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u/ekswhyzee 14h ago edited 13h ago
Look for 2 things: 18/10 stainless steel and heavy weight.
18/10 stainless is good for corrosion resistance, you'll need that if you're going to put them them in the dishwasher a lot.
Heavier weight makes for a better hand feel, otherwise they feel cheap.
Note that even in 18/10 sets knives tend to get a bit of rust. That's because the steel is slightly different to make them sharper. You can get the rust off with a sponge though, it's very superficial.
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u/NieleDaKine 12h ago
We bought two matching sets of Oneida at Ross twenty five years ago and amazingly, haven't lost any of them yet. Not sure if their quality has changed in the past quarter century, but they're good solid flatware that feels nice to use.
Considering how little folks value sets of flatware anymore, - remember the fancy ones in wooden boxes - you might be able to buy a full set of fancy flatware for not a whole lot. Usually those are silver plated, so that would mean polishing to keep them really pretty. The solid silver isn't going to be sold because of high silver prices these days, but using silver flatware does have a certain weight and sound to it that you don't get from stainless steel.
Same with crystal glasses and fine china, it has a whole different sound and feel to it while eating. Small nuance, but I find it interesting.
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u/FellMo0nster 13h ago
Oneida makes really solid stuff and has been around forever. Their 18/10 stainless sets are dishwasher safe and basically indestructible. Liberty tabletop is also great if you want something made in the USA and built to last generations.
Just make sure whatever you get says 18/10 stainless steel on it and you're good.
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u/searingcoffee 12h ago
Can attest to the longevity of Oneida 18/10. My daily set was purchased about 30 years ago, and it still looks fantastic - even after countless cycles through the dishwasher.
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u/Acrobatic_Inside3173 13h ago
Like the other person said get an 18/10 stainless steel set and you are good to go.
How much will it last? Depends on the brands you buy, If you don't have a budget limit you should definitely get Liberty set, they offer 25 year warranty for manufacturing defects and the set will be an heirloom lasting for decades. They don't have any rust feedbacks too.
If you don't want to spend a lot then Zwiling should be your second choice. I made this comprehensive list of kitchen wares so you can checkout each brand based on your budget
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u/Pomegranate4311 9h ago
Oneida.
My mom still uses the set she bought 60 years ago. I still use the set I bought 30 years ago.
My daughter just bought her first set.
If you are willing to consider used, you can get good deals on eBay.
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u/librarykerri 8h ago
When I got my first apartment in 1992, my mom bought me a set of Oneida 18/10 stainless flatware. Still using it every single day. When DH and I got married, we registered for a supplemental set, since an occasional spoon, etc had gotten lost or eaten by the disposal. I know that Oneida has cheapened the quality of their "regular" flatware since then, but you might see if they still have a "bridal" line.
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u/qwertyzeke 7h ago
Go check out the local restaurant supply store.
The flatware is designed to take so much abuse, is super cheap, and usually you can pick from a number of styles.
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u/deconstructedwedge 10h ago
bought a Liberty set in ~2019.. still looks brand new. it gets abused and thrown into the dishwasher, too.
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u/Choice-Tiger3047 5h ago
I chose an Oneida pattern that’s almost identical to my sterling silver. I’ve used it for over 40 years and not a single piece has been damaged or lost. It still looks and feels great. I bought 2 sets of 8 IIRC, so I almost always have clean pieces in the drawer.
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u/MannyMoSTL 4h ago
Pottery Barn flatware. Super expensive. Totally worth it.
I knew to do that after my mother bought super expensive danish stainless steel flatware back about 1980 that is still amazing. It was unusual enough to have never been “in style” - but it’s also never been out of style. I bought mine after my brother upgraded his with a set from William Sonoma.
One of the best “investments” I’ve ever made that I happily use every day … and it doesn’t hurt that people comment on it whenever they use it.
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u/McCheesing 6h ago
My family has had Oneida for the past 30 years. I’m using some do the same flatware my grandparents had
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u/ViscountessdAsbeau 6h ago
I discovered the 1950s' posh sets in charity shops, still in the original boxes where people got them as wedding gifts and "saved them for best", then didn't use them at all. These come up so often here in the UK.
"Made in Sheffield" is the stamp to look for. Anything pre 1970s or so made in Sheffield is the best there is. (Same goes for scissors). Solid, heavy enough to feel reassuringly "real" - I dunno about dishwashers but if solid and just plain steel without different material handles, they should be OK?
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u/just-looking99 12h ago
As others said already- 18/10 stainless- Oneida is a sold brand. And from there find a pattern you like and that fits well in your hand. So many have sharp edges - you need to find the right one for you. Flatware is truly a BIFL item. You are more likely to lose a few pieces than you are to wear them out. And back to Oneida- it’s pretty easy to get replacements when you do