Aluminium Vs. Stainless Steel: Main Differences

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Aluminium and Stainless steel may look pretty similar, but they have some fundamental differences. Both are widely used: you’ll find Stainless steel in everything from cutlery and household appliances up to ships and infrastructure projects. Because of its light weight, aluminium is widely used in aircraft, bicycles and cars, amongst other things. Looking at the main differences between the two should help highlight which metal is right for you.

Strength

There’s no denying the fact that stainless steel is much stronger than aluminium. But this strength comes at a cost – it’s a much heavier material….

Strength to weight ratio

Aluminium is about one third of the weight of stainless steel – hence the reason it’s used in industries such as aeroplane and bicycle manufacturing. You’ll also find aluminium sheet widely used in the automotive sector. So, although Stainless steel is stronger, the strength to weight ratio of aluminium is much better.

Cost

Typically, commercial quality aluminium and stainless steel are similar in price per kilogram, but due to aluminium being lighter, it often makes it more cost effective.

Typically, commercial quality aluminium and stainless steel are similar in price per kilogram, but due to aluminium being lighter, it often makes it more cost effective.

Corrosion

With good corrosion resistance properties, aluminium does not rust.

But stainless steel takes the advantage here as it has chromium added, giving it a protective film and excellent corrosion resistance. Stainless steel is also non-porous, giving it an extra level of corrosion resistance.

Conductivity

Stainless steel is one of the worst conductors of electricity, whereas aluminium is a very good electrical conductor. Likewise, when it comes to heat, aluminium is a better conductor. However, stainless steel can be used at higher temperatures than aluminium, which will soften at higher temperatures.

Malleability

Aluminium is easier to work with: it’s relatively soft and easier to cut, stretch and manipulate. You can bend aluminium into shape without breaking it a lot easier than you can stainless steel, which, as it is harder to form, can be more difficult to work with.

Hopefully this rundown has given you an understanding of the fundamental differences between aluminium and stainless steel – for any further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Hopefully this rundown has given you an understanding of the fundamental differences between aluminium and stainless steel – for any further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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You want to forget plastic bags for freezing food and ready meals... but how? Which boxes can you use in the freezer for your ingredients and recipes, and all your food preparations? Glass or stainless-steel containers?

Freezing without plastic, and with glass

Today, we are all trying to find new alternatives to plastic to limit the pollution of our planet, and we are very aware of the health risks of using some plastics (we all have heard about phthalates and bisphenol A...).

This is why the use of glass containers is becoming more and more widespread for storage in the refrigerator, but also for freezing food, in the jars we all own (glass jars that we can reuse after consuming the contents), and whose closure is hermetic.

The range of glass containers for freezing is diversifying, and there are now glass boxes with lids specially designed for freezing.

Stainless steel withstands very high temperatures and can be used in the oven, but can it also be used in the freezer?

Stainless steel perfectly tolerates freezing. It is even recommended for long-term freezing, up to 12 months! Stainless steel is resistant to extreme cold temperatures. Lids with silicone seals are airtight, ensuring that your stainless-steel container is airtight.

Stainless steel boxes are particularly suitable for freezing meat and fish, but also fruit and vegetables.

In order to avoid compacted blocks, we advise you to pre-freeze the pieces of fruit and vegetables on a horizontal plate, well-spaced out, for about 3 hours, and then you can place them in your stainless steel container in the freezer.

It is important that your stainless-steel container is airtight, so that it does not let cold air pass through.

Otherwise, the food will be drier and more rigid when cooked. Forget greaseproof paper, aluminium trays and cling film, which can only be used once, and which may contain traces of toxic products.

Remember to fill your containers to no more than three quarters of its volume: frozen food increases in volume when it is frozen, just like water!

Stainless steel is suitable for freezing, storing, cooking and transporting food at temperature. Known for its excellent heat conduction, it also allows the food it contains to be kept at temperature for several hours. It can be used in the traditional oven... the only negative point is that it is not compatible with microwave use. We invite you to discover the stainless-steel lunchboxes, which are perfectly suited to freezing your food. You can also opt for stainless steel gastronorm trays, but you are advised to use a hermetic lid with a silicone seal. All your stainless-steel dishes can be placed of course in the freezer.

To reheat the filled stainless-steel box, you can use the traditional oven, place it in a bain-marie, or reheat the contents in another dish.

Of course, you can also freeze some foods without packaging... like bread for example. But this is a method that should only be used for very short freezing time, as the food dries out under the effect of the cold and quickly loses its taste and nutritional qualities