is silverware real silver

[MacGabriel]

That's a great question, and the answer can be a little tricky because we use the term "silverware" so broadly!

Oftentimes, what we call silverware isn't actually made of real silver. Most of the forks, spoons, and knives we use every day are made of stainless steel, a durable alloy that contains no silver at all. The name is more of a holdover from a time when silver was more common for flatware.

However, "real" silverware does exist, and it's typically called sterling silver. To be considered sterling, a piece must be made of 92.5% pure silver, with the other 7.5% being another metal like copper to add strength and durability. You can identify sterling silver by looking for small markings, or hallmarks, on the back, such as "Sterling," "925," or "92.5."

There is also a middle ground called silver-plated flatware. This is when a base metal, like copper or nickel, is coated with a very thin layer of actual silver. It looks beautiful, but that thin layer can wear off over time.

So, while many people own and use genuine sterling silverware, often for special occasions, the everyday "silverware" in most kitchen drawers today is usually stainless steel. The best way to know for sure is to check for those special markings