Since its invention, disposable cutlery has always been designed for customers to eat their to-go orders at any location. However, these eating utensils are not only for your patrons' convenience. When packed in assorted sets, cutlery kits can be simply dropped into takeout bags, eliminating the hassle of your staff searching for proper utensils to pair with meals.

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A cutlery set with a fork, knife, and spoon included matches any meal and ensures your customer is never missing a utensil. To choose the best type of cutlery set for your business, read through our buying guide to learn about the different types of cutlery sets.

What Are The Different Types Of Cutlery Sets?

In the foodservice industry, there are two types of disposable cutlery sets:

• Cutlery packs - An assorted set of cutlery that sometimes includes a napkin and is usually wrapped in plastic or paper.
• Retail packs - A boxed set of cutlery that contains a large number of eating utensils.

How Many Pieces Are In A Cutlery Set?

Depending on the vendor, each cutlery pack will have two to five pieces. Some sets only include a fork with a napkin, while others may have a fork, knife, spoon, and napkin. Retail flatware packs consist of ten or more assorted pieces.

What Is A Full Cutlery Set?

While a place setting typically consists of five pieces (dinner fork, dinner knife, salad fork, teaspoon, and tablespoon), cutlery sets include the most essential pieces (fork, spoon, knife, and napkin) for the pack to be more compact. Because of their disposability, cutlery sets are more suitable for informal or semi-formal events.

Cutlery Set Materials

Whether wrapped or unwrapped, most disposable cutlery is crafted from plastic or wood. While most plastic cutlery is seen as harmful to the environment, some are constructed from compostable bioplastics, making them a nature-friendly option. Cutlery made out of natural wood is strong, sturdy, and environmentally friendly, with some even being made from sustainable bamboo. Despite there only being two types of materials, these sets are available in various styles.

Wooden Cutlery Sets

Wooden cutlery sets can be made out of different types of wood such as birch, bamboo, pine, poplar, and more. If the wood is natural, unvarnished, and made without chemicals, it can be composted. Thanks to their high heat tolerance, wooden cutlery can be used to enjoy all kinds of food. They are also very sturdy to prevent cracking during use.

However, wooden cutlery kits don't just boast a strong and eco-friendly construction, each piece features a unique wood grain pattern to give your place settings a rustic touch. You can find many types of wooden cutlery sets such as wrapped cutlery kits, tied cutlery kits, retail packs, travel sets, and even handmade sets. One of the best things about wooden cutlery sets is that their look is versatile. Use them for takeout and delivery orders, or add them to your tablescapes. They will never look out of place!

Plastic Cutlery Sets

The most common type of disposable cutlery is plastic utensils made out of polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS) plastic. Plastic flatware can be made in different sizes and colors, making it easy for you to find a set that complements your restaurant's or event's theme. Both types of plastic are recyclable and easy to dispose of in a nature-friendly way. While these plastic eating utensils might have a lot in common, they do have slight differences.

• Polypropylene - PP plastic is very flexible, it can twist and turn to a certain degree without breaking. It can even be used for food that is as hot as 250°F.
• Polystyrene - PS plastic can handle food that is as hot as 180°F, but it is not very flexible and will break if used with excessive pressure. Despite not being as strong as PP, it is a cheaper option.

CPLA & PLA Cutlery Sets

Most polylactic acid plastic (PLA) cutlery sets and crystalized polylactic acid plastic (CPLA) flatware sets include forks, knives, and spoons. Both of these plastics, also known as bioplastics, are made out of plant-based materials such as cornstarch. They're both biodegradable and compostable, known for their lightweight construction. The main difference between the two is that CPLA can tolerate temperatures up to 185°F while PLA can tolerate temperatures up to 105°F.

Cutlery For Convenience

Disposable cutlery sets offer major convenience for catering services, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other foodservice establishments. They eliminate the need to clean cutlery after serving each guest and don't have to be replaced if lost. Not to mention, they can be simply added into takeout bags so you won't have to rummage around your cutlery storage area to look for a small dessert spoon.

Cutlery sets include an assortment of pieces that can match multiple meals or be used to eat several courses. Including a prepacked cutlery set with every dish allows customers to have everything they need within reach. They also save you time arranging place settings or packaging meals to ensure you quickly give guests their orders.

Perfect for enjoying meals on the go or simply reducing cleanup time after an event, CiboWares has all the disposable cutlery and utensils to suit any restaurant or food service location. From eco-friendly to plastic, individually wrapped or packed in bulk, we've got cutlery options that are sure to make the cut.

Eco-Friendly Cutlery

Go green with CiboWares' selection of eco-friendly cutlery! Made from renewable and sustainable materials, many of these products are also compostable to help reduce our impact on the environment.

Things to Consider

• UV Treated: UV treatment helps eliminate the risk of microbial or bacterial growth in wooden cutlery.

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• Renewable Resources: Made from materials that are naturally replaced or regrown by the environment over time.

• PBAT Film: Polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate is an alternative polymer. Compostable PBAT film is used to wrap CPLA cutlery and cutlery kits.

• ASTM D Compliant: ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials). ASTM D refers to the Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities.

• FDA Approved: Food and Drug Administration. All of our products are FDA accepted/safe for food contact.

Compostable Cutlery

CiboWares' selection of compostable cutlery is made from CPLA, or crystallized polylactic acid. CPLA is a fully compostable corn starch-based resin or corn-based plastic material designed to withstand hotter temperatures compared to PLA. Corn is annually renewable, making these products completely eco-friendly and non-toxic. They are petroleum-free and ASTM D compliant for compostability. They are a great choice when serving hot or cold food items.

Note: CPLA Cutlery breaks down within 60 days in an industrial composting facility. A compostable PBAT film is used for wrapped CPLA cutlery. Heat Resistance: 90°C (194°F).

Wood

Wood cutlery is made from all-natural birch wood and offers great resistance to cracking or splintering. They can be stored in high heat locations and contain no coatings, bleaches, or dyes. Wooden cutlery is also UV treated and can be thrown out with food waste. Please check your local laws and regulations surrounding waste disposal.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a renewable resource and can be used to create a wide range of beautiful products. Our selection of bamboo products is made from the sheath of the bamboo plant. The sheath is the outer layer of the plant that falls off naturally once the plant has reached a certain point of maturity. The sheaths are then collected, cleaned, boiled, laminated, pressed, and bonded into the shape of the product. This whole process is completed without the use of harmful chemicals, dyes, or toxins. Bamboo cutlery is splinter-free and designed to prevent cracking or breaking during use.

Plant-Based Cutlery

Plant-based cutlery is made from plant starch material resin produced from corn, potato, or wheat starch. PSM cutlery is not biodegradable or compostable but is a renewable resource as plant products can be grown again and again to make more quality cutlery. They are FDA approved for food contact and contain some polypropylene material to help give our products extra durability.

Wheat Cutlery
Length: Soup Spoon: 5.75" / Teaspoons: 6" / Forks: 6.75" / Knives: 7"
Color: Natural
Composition: 40% wheat starch & 60% polypropylene materials, gluten-free
Eco-Friendly: Renewable wheat plant starch

Plant Starch Cutlery
Length: 7"
Color: Natural
Uses: Cold or hot food items
Composition: 80% plant starch material resin & 20% polypropylene materials
Eco-Friendly: Renewable corn & potato starch

Plastic Cutlery

A great disposable option, plastic cutlery helps reduce cleanup time after events and can easily be thrown away after use. We have a varied selection of polypropylene and polystyrene options available. Our polystyrene and polypropylene cutlery can withstand temperatures up to 80°C or 176°F.

Note: Wrapped plastic cutlery is wrapped in polypropylene.

Things to Consider

• Polypropylene: Polypropylene cutlery offers excellent flexibility and unless you choose a heavier weight, it is better suited for lighter dishes. They also have a shinier surface to give them a sleek look. Available in medium, medium-heavy/mid-heavy, and heavyweight styles.

• Polystyrene: Polystyrene is denser than polypropylene and can be used to create sharp edges. While it is a strong material, it is not as flexible as polypropylene and can sometimes break under extreme pressure. Available in medium-heavy and heavyweight styles.

• Medium Weight Cutlery: Designed to serve as an economical option that is great for enjoying light meals.

• Medium Plus Weight Cutlery: These are denser than medium weight, without the full strength of heavyweight cutlery. A good option for when medium just won’t cut it.

• Medium-Heavy Weight Cutlery: If you don't need something quite as strong as heavyweight cutlery but medium won’t do, their shatter and break-resistant design might be just the thing.

• Heavy Weight Cutlery: Useful for serving heavier dishes. Perfect for when you need cutlery you can count on.

• FDA Approved: Food and Drug Administration. All of our products are FDA accepted/safe for food contact.

Plastic Cutlery Kits

Cutlery kits allow customers to take all the supplies they need to enjoy a meal on the go. From 2-piece kits to 6-piece kits, there are a variety of options available to suit any foodservice location. All cutlery kits are individually wrapped to ensure they stay sanitary prior to use, and can easily be placed in takeout packaging.

Disposable Utensils

For more information, please visit biodegradable cutlery Set.