There are some industries where it isn’t surprising that someone might need to buy stainless steel wire. If you own a farm or are working in the recycling business, it’s essential to keep high-grade wire in stock, because it plays a vital role in your daily operations. However, what might be surprising is that stainless steel can be the perfect material for the food production industry, as well as other kinds of manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
What is “Food Grade” Stainless Steel?
If you just got started in the business of manufacturing food production equipment, it might come as a bit of a surprise that not all stainless steels are created the same. When your business is creating materials for industrial kitchens out of stainless steel, it’s essential to use what’s called “food grade” stainless steel.
Food grade stainless steel has undergone a slightly different method of finishing than more traditional kinds of stainless steel. Most of the time, stainless steel can be ground down to get the flat, polished surface stainless steel is known for, but with food-grade steel, this method leaves too many surfaces for bacteria to grow in. To make the surface easy to clean and therefore truly qualify it as “food grade,” it needs to undergo a process called “electropolishing,” rather than grinding.
Electropolishing is preferred over grinding for food-grade steel because it’s a process of stripping away the top layer of the steel to create a smoother surface that doesn’t have much room for bacteria to grow.
Where Can You Find Stainless Steel in Food Production?
Stainless steel is a durable substance that resists oxidation, so it can be used in many different processes involved in food production.
Most commonly, it can be used in instances where the temperatures necessary would melt plastic equipment. Some examples of these would include:
- Fryers
- Ovens
- Sanitizing equipment
In addition to appearing in areas of the industrial kitchen that require equipment to withstand high temperatures, stainless steel can appear in equipment that needs to be durable, such as:
- Stand mixers that need to last a while
- Freezers
- Refrigerators
- Shelving
- Conveyor belts
Does it Have to Be Maintained?
Like anything else, it pays to maintain your stainless steel equipment for as long as you can. Maintaining your stainless steel surfaces will reduce the amount of wear and tear on the equipment, the chance of corrosion, and keep the risk of bacterial growth low, keeping it safe while you use it throughout its prolonged life.
Stainless steel can be found in almost any aspect of the food production process since it’s such a versatile material. If you want to find out about how stainless steel can be used in your food production processes, or if you require steel strapping materials, call the Wickwire Warehouse Inc. team today!