Stainless Steel Tables

After years of commercial use in the food processing and restaurant industries as the preferred work surface for food safety and sanitation, stainless steel tables have recently become popular for home use. The longevity of a high-quality table in stainless steel makes it a major purchase; the table you choose to add to your kitchen will last for decades, making it important to select the ideal piece to suit your needs. Our Stainless Steel Tables Buyers' Guide contains everything you need to consider when purchasing the perfect piece for your kitchen or dining room.

Selecting the Right Size
Start your shopping for stainless steel tables by determining the proper size. This narrows your focus to only those products that will fit into your home's existing layout. To obtain the perfect measurements, gather masking tape, a tape measure and paper to record your figures and head right to the intended space. Then, follow these easy steps:

1. Using the masking tape, create an outline on the floor that represents the approximate size that you desire. Remember that if you plan to have the piece in the center of the room that at least 3 feet of space on all sides is necessary to easily walk around the piece.
2. Lay the end of your tape measure in one corner and extend the tape to the opposite corner along one of the "long sides" of your tape diagram. Record the resulting measurement as the length of your table.
3. Turn the tape measure and determine the size of one of the "short sides" of your tape diagram. Label this measurement as the width of your table.

Tip: When determining your measurements, accuracy is important, but keep in mind that high-quality manufacturers typically allow a 1/8-inch tolerance in case your figures are slightly off.

Determining Your Purpose
Deciding precisely how you intend to use your stainless steel table helps focus your search to save you time. Stainless steel tables are versatile and can have a variety of functions in a home, including serving as:

• Work Surfaces - As work tables, stainless steel pieces provide a sturdy area for cutting and chopping. The smooth, metal finish of stainless steel also inhibits the growth of bacteria, reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses.
• Seating Areas - Stainless steel tables can serve as permanent dining areas in a kitchen or modern dining room. You can also use them as temporary, extra seating for large dinner parties.
• Storage Spaces - In kitchens with limited cabinet space, stainless steel tables can offer additional shelves, drawers and cupboards to store equipment and utensils.
• Decorative Pieces - The beauty of stainless steel makes it ideal to place in entryways, living rooms and other areas of your home as stand-alone pieces or areas to display collectibles.

Tip: Keep in mind that your stainless steel table may serve a variety of functions. Try to anticipate your future needs as well as your current ones to make the best buying decision.

Choosing the Height
Picking the right height for your stainless steel table requires a full understanding of the purposes that the piece will serve in your home because how tall it stands greatly affects its utility. Heights for tables generally fall into four categories:

• Over 36 inches - The tallest tables are perfect workspaces for taller cooks.
• 36 inches - Most stainless steel work tables are 3 feet tall as this is the ideal level for those of average height. To sit comfortably at a 36-inch table, tall bar stools are usually necessary.
• 34 to 35 inches - Tables that are slightly lower than the standard 3-foot mark are versatile and useful for workspaces for slightly shorter home chefs as well as for seating in higher chairs and lower barstools. Stainless steel tables in this height range are also perfect for decorative use.
• Under 34 inches - The shortest tables are suited for decorative use, storage and for seating on many standard chairs.

Tip: If you plan to use your stainless steel table for seating with existing chairs, know their measurements before you shop. Use your tape measure to obtain the distance from the floor to the top of the seat. Generally, you should then add 8 inches to that measurement to obtain the minimum height for any table to complement the seating.

Comparing Styles
Manufacturers create tables in stainless steel with a variety of stylistic features that enhance their usefulness and attractiveness. Once you determine the purpose and desired dimensions of your stainless steel table, you can easily identify which of these elements to look for when comparing tables. Some features to look for are:

• Backsplashes - Built-in backsplashes are short panels that extend above the tops of stainless steel tables on just one side. Stainless steel tables with backsplashes protect the wall from particles of food and accidental splashes that occur while you prepare meals. Backsplashes are easy to clean and ideal for stainless steel tables that will be positioned against a wall as opposed to in the center of a room.
• Shelves - Open shelves provide quick access to tools and appliances while you work. They are also ideal for adding an extra display area on decorative stainless steel tables by holding more pieces without occupying more space.
• Open enclosures - Having an open enclosure in your stainless steel work table provides quick access to equipment with the added benefit of sides to keep items from falling onto the floor.
• Drawers - Stainless steel tables with drawers easily hold smaller utensils that can shift around on open shelves and create a cluttered appearance.
• Hinged doors - Stainless steel work tables with doors hide your equipment for a neater appearance. Doors are the perfect storage choice for objects that are too tall or broad to fit into drawers.
• Sliding doors - Many cooks prefer sliding doors to hinged doors because they allow for access to equipment without having to step away from the stainless steel work table to open the doors.
• Casters - Locking stainless steel casters make moving tables a cinch. If you will use your stainless steel table for seating in a pinch or plan to keep your stainless steel work table in an area outside of your kitchen when not in use, casters are a must-have feature.

Comparing Materials
To truly compare the merits of two similarly styled stainless steel tables, you must understand the differences between their materials. Consider the following: Steel/Wood Combinations - For decorative purposes, tables with steel tops and wooden bodies are often preferable. In the kitchen or dining room, the addition of wood allows you to match your stainless steel table to your existing decor with the numerous colors and finishes available today. Gauge - The gauge of stainless steel refers to its thickness. Generally, the thicker the steel, the sturdier the piece is as a workspace. When comparing gauges, the higher the number, the thinner the steel. The most common gauges found in stainless steel tables and their respective thicknesses are:

• 14 gauge - 1.98 millimeters thick
• 16 gauge - 1.6 millimeters thick
• 18 gauge - 1.27 millimeters thick
• 20 gauge - 0.95 millimeters thick

Types - The type of steel refers to the metals that make up its composition. The three primary types of steel available on the market are:

• Austenitic or Type 304 stainless steel contains nickel or manganese and gets at least 16 percent of its content from chromium. Type 304 is the most common type of stainless steel. As a work surface, Type 304 steel is long-lasting and durable and able to withstand the corrosive acids found in foods and in cleaning products. Type 304 is sometimes called "food-grade" because it is safe to place food directly on its surface during preparation.
• Ferritic or Type 430 stainless steel consists of a blend of iron and chromium. Due to its ability to withstand extremely high temperatures, this type of steel is preferable for industrial use, such as in automotive parts.
• Martensitic or Type 410 stainless steel is comprised of 12 percent chromium mixed with carbon and only trace amounts of nickel. The use of Type 410 stainless steel outside of industrial settings is extremely rare.
• Finishes - The finish of stainless steel is purely an aesthetic feature. You can choose shiny, satin, smooth, brushed and other appearances based upon your tastes and decor. The common finishes are:
• No. 4 has a brushed, non-reflective finish and is the most common for stainless steel tables.
• No. 6 is referred to as a "satin" finish as it has a smooth texture and reflects light differently across its surface.
• No. 7 has a "near" mirror finish that reflects light due to buffing after being manufactured.
• No. 8 is the true mirror finish for stainless steel and is produced by a longer period of buffing.