How to tell if it's stainless steel?

How do you tell the difference between stainless steel and carbon steel?

• Answer:

  There are a few different ways to tell the difference between steels. There are a few different types of Stainless steel so some tests work better than others. The 300 series stainless steel contains Chromium and Nickel which makes this steel non-magnetic but the 400 series steel contains just chromium which makes this type magnetic, so first test is if a magnet does not stick to it then it is stainless steel. If a magnet does however stick to it is does not mean that is is high carbon steel, so proceed to the next test. Examine the steel, does it seem to have any rust on it, any red oxidation of the metal which indicated a higher iron content which is found mainly in carbon steels, stainless steel will NOT rust in this way, so if you don't mind putting it to the test try putting a blot of water on it and leaving it over night, if red rust occurs it is carbon steel, if not you have stainless.