Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Stainless steel, specifically, contains at least 10.5% chromium and less than 1.2% carbon and other alloying elements. Chromium is the element that prevents the iron from rusting and provides heat-resistant properties.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It contains other elements including chromium and nickel. Different percentages of the elements give it different properties. For example, the more chromium stainless steel contains, the more resistant it is to corrosion.

Stainless steel can be easily maintained with warm water and soap or a mild detergent. Make sure to use a cloth or soft sponge when cleaning, as scratches on the external chromium oxide layer can lead to tarnishing and rusting.

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable, although can’t be disposed of in household rubbish collections. Instead, take it to your local waste processing centre, where metals are put into a skip and then taken off to be recycled.