Stainless steel mesh is a stylish material choice for food handling applications. Food grade wire mesh has all the properties of stainless steel metal, making it a suitable product for the food industry. Due to its high heat resistance, food-grade stainless steel wire mesh is used to make many cookware items that are exposed to high temperatures. In addition, the material has an oxide layer that prevents it from rusting, which could contaminate food.
As with many materials, there are a few things you need to know about food-grade stainless steel wire mesh before rushing to use it.
Stainless steel is known to be corrosion resistant and has a bright surface. However, it is important to understand that a clean and bright surface does not necessarily mean that it is food grade. The surface finish of stainless steel wire mesh must meet the hygiene standards used in the food industry. This feature is enhanced by eliminating any surface elements that could lead to the growth of bacteria and making it easy to clean and sanitize.
This effect is produced by processes such as electropolishing rather than manual grinding or filing. This process removes the surface layer, leaving a microscopically smooth strip. By doing this, the strength of the oxide layer is enhanced, and microscopic defects containing contaminants are removed.
Pizza Mesh Screen
Steel wire brushes are commonly used to clean metal surfaces to remove deep stains. However, this is not the case with any stainless steel objects. The particles produced by an ordinary steel brush can easily become embedded in the surface of the stainless steel wire mesh and affect the oxide layer. If this is repeated over time it can make the stainless steel mesh prone to rusting.
You should always be aware that not all stainless steel mesh sold as food grade is made equally and is a suitable item for food processing. There are many different alloys of stainless steel on the market, all of which can be used to make stainless steel mesh. Each alloy has different properties, depending on the alloying element used to make them.
Coffee Filter Disc
For example, 304 stainless steel is resistant to corrosion but can be affected by the salt if exposed to it for a long period of time. This means that 304 stainless steel mesh is not suitable for making cookware that is exposed to salt or brine for extended periods of time.
On the other hand, 316 stainless steel is more resistant to salty conditions and is therefore ideal for cookware exposed to salt or brine.
Most stainless steel mesh used in the food industry has a melting point well outside the temperature range experienced by the industry. However, temperature extremes may affect any coating or surface of food-grade stainless steel mesh. Most alloys will become brittle at temperatures below -49 0 F. However, this should be an important issue as standard cooking applications will not reach such extreme temperatures.
If you want to get more information about the food-grade stainless steel mesh, welcome to contact us today or request a quote.
