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Zinc castings, food safe? dishwasher safe?

Raw zinc castings-food safe or not? If so, great! If not, is there an eco-friendly plating or other type of finish which will make it food safe. I would rather not have to plate my products primarily because of the environmental impact and additional costs.

I have found lots of opinions in my research but I am looking for a definitive answer.

I have been making cast pewter utensils for 10 years but the steadily increasing price of tin has me looking into cost effective alternatives...possibly cast zinc.

I am currently producing in the US and would prefer to keep it that way.

I am also wondering if (un-plated) items cast in zinc would be dishwasher safe?

Thank you for your feedback.

Jim Dowd
designer/maker - Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
February 9, 2011

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Raw zinc die-castings will react to alkaline dishwasher detergents much the same way that aluminum does; automatic dishwashers wouldn't be a good idea.

Countless items around the kitchen are coated zinc diecastings, like the ubiquitous KitchenAid mixer, many faucet sets, handles on stoves & refrigerators, drawer & cabinet pulls, etc. Coated zinc is certainly fine for many sorts of kitchen utensils -- but I wouldn't make a bowl, drinking glass, or cooking pot from it.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 12, 2011