are silver utensils safe

[VanColin]

Wondering if your fancy silverware is secretly plotting your demise? You can relax. Using silver utensils is not only safe, but it's also a tradition that's been around for centuries, long before food safety was even a hashtag.

According to the historical record, aristocratic households were regularly using silver serveware back in the 16th and 17th centuries. If it was good enough for the discerning palates of the Victorian and Georgian eras to dine with, it's almost certainly safe for your modern-day meals. Whether you're dealing with solid sterling silver, which is 92.5 percent pure silver, or the more common silver-plated variety, the silver itself is not a health hazard.

So, go ahead and break out that antique teapot or inherited set of forks. The biggest risk you'll likely face is developing an overwhelming desire to host elaborate dinner parties and the subsequent chore of polishing everything afterward.