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Food grade stainless steel mesh is a critical component in modern food manufacturing, preparation, filtration, and handling processes. It combines durability, hygienic performance, and chemical resistance, making it essential in industries ranging from commercial kitchens to large-scale food factories and pharmaceutical production.
In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about food-safe stainless steel mesh — including the best materials (304, 316, 316L, and advanced alloys), common applications, mesh specifications, and tips on how to choose the right type for your needs.
Table of Contents
一、What is Food Grade Stainless Steel Mesh?
Food-grade stainless steel mesh is a woven or welded metal screen made from alloys that meet FDA, EU, and food safety standards. These materials are non-toxic, corrosion-resistant, heat-tolerant, and chemically stable when in contact with food, beverages, or pharmaceutical ingredients.
二、Why Use Stainless Steel Mesh for Food Applications?
Food-grade mesh is used extensively in the food and beverage industry because of its:
● Corrosion resistance in acidic, salty, or moist environments
● Non-reactivity with food, oils, enzymes, acids, or alkalis
● High strength & heat resistance for baking, drying, or steaming
● Ease of cleaning & sterilization for hygienic operations
● Compliance with FDA, ISO, HACCP, and EU food regulations
三、Types of Food Grade Stainless Steel Mesh
Here is a comprehensive overview of the most common food-grade mesh types, their features, and use cases:
304 stainless steel mesh has excellent high temperature resistance and anti-oxidation performance, is non-toxic and tasteless at room temperature, meets food grade standards, and the price of 304 stainless steel mesh is moderate and stable, so it is most widely used in the food industry
Material: 304 stainless steel wire
Mesh Range: 1–635 mesh
Weaving method: plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave, welded weave
Key Properties: Excellent rust and oxidation resistance, Non-toxic, odourless, Affordable
Common applications: fruit and vegetable washing, food grading screen, flour screening, coffee screening, steaming tray, barbecue tray, etc.
Molybdenum (Mo) element is added to 304 to enhance the ability to resist chloride corrosion, better moisture resistance, better acid and alkali resistance, higher hygiene and safety level, and more suitable for high-standard food environments.
Material: 316 stainless steel wire
Mesh: 1-635 mesh
Best For: Salty, acidic, and high-moisture environments
Weaving method: plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave, welded weave
Key Features: Withstands chlorides, salts, and acids, High cleanliness and low metal leaching
Common applications: seafood processing, sauce filtration, dairy filtration equipment, fermentation equipment mesh screen, etc.
The carbon content of 316L is lower than that of 316, which is more suitable for welding occasions, not easy to produce intergranular corrosion, excellent corrosion resistance, and suitable for harsh cleaning conditions.
Material: 316L stainless steel wire
Mesh: 1-635 mesh
Benefits: Superior corrosion resistance after welding, Excellent for high-pressure cleaning
Weaving method: welded weave, plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave
Common applications: pharmaceutical factories, medical food equipment, high-end beverage production lines, food baking racks, baking nets, food dryer conveyor belts, etc.
Titanium mesh is non-toxic, has excellent biocompatibility, strong acid and alkali resistance, is extremely light but strong, and is not easy to rust, but the price is relatively high. It is generally used in high-end food production and sterile laboratories
Material: Gr1, Gr2
Mesh: 1-635 mesh
Weaving method: plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave, welded weave
Why Choose Titanium: No metal ion release, Resistant to extreme pH and heat
Drawback: Higher cost compared to steel
Common applications: mineral water/functional water filtration, medical-grade nutritional product production line, acidic juice filtration, enzyme/lactic acid bacteria extraction system, high-end food-grade cell reactor filter support, etc.
Hastelloy mesh is a high-end alloy mesh with superb chemical corrosion resistance, high stability, no precipitation of metal ions, suitable for harsh production scenarios and experimental environments
Grades Available: C-22, C-276
Mesh: 1-635 mesh
Weaving method: plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave, welded weave
Premium Choice: For biotech or chemical food applications
Best For: Highly corrosive acids or solvents, Fermentation reactors, Food additive processing, Sterilization filters
Monel alloy mesh is non-toxic, high temperature resistant, and highly resistant to salt water corrosion, suitable for use in seafood processing
Material: Monel 400
Mesh: 1-635 mesh
Weaving method: plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave, welded weave
Ideal For: Coastal food factories and marine-based production
Common applications: seafood processing, pickle filtration, brine cooling equipment filter, drying and cleaning equipment in high-salt environments, etc.
Inconel mesh is a nickel-chromium-iron alloy with excellent high temperature resistance. The maximum operating temperature can reach 1100℃, and it does not precipitate harmful elements. It is suitable for use under extreme conditions
Material: Inconel 600, 601, 625
Mesh: 1-635 mesh
Temperature Tolerance: Up to 1100°C
Weaving method: plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave, welded weave
Ideal For: Nickel-chromium alloy mesh for heat-intensive food production lines.
Common applications: high-temperature baking furnace conveyor belt, dehydrator, bracket, support net in smoked food equipment, high-temperature extraction/concentration process support layer, etc.
Nickel mesh is a high-purity metal mesh with strong chemical stability. It can be used for electrolysis, filtration, impurity removal and other fine processes. However, when using nickel mesh, you need to pay attention to the price fluctuations of pure nickel and the contact time limit with food.
Material: Ni200, Ni201
Weaving method: plain weave, twill weave, mat weave, crimped weave, welded weave
Ideal For: Pure nickel mesh for precision filtration and electrolysis in food tech.
Common applications: precision fermentation filtration, anode materials for food-grade electrolysis equipment, electrolytic deposition of trace elements in food residues, high-purity sample pretreatment filtration, etc.
Caution: Use under controlled food-contact conditions due to reactivity
四、Mesh Sizes and Weaving Options
Mesh Sizes: 1 mesh to 635 mesh
Common Weaves:
Plain weave (for even filtering)
Twill weave (for added strength)
Crimped weave (for support structures)
Welded mesh (for grilling or trays)
Mat weave (for filtering complex particles)
Choosing the right mesh size depends on the particle size, flow rate, and application method (dry, wet, or pressure).
五、How to Choose the Right Mesh Type?
| Condition | Recommended Material |
| General food contact | 304 Stainless Steel |
| High humidity or salty exposure | 316 / Monel |
| High-temperature applications | Inconel |
| Critical hygiene or pharma | 316L / Titanium |
| Harsh chemicals or acids | Hastelloy |
| Precision electrochemical work | Nickel |
六、Common Applications in the Food Industry
Sieving & Grading: Flour, spices, coffee, tea leaves
Filtration: Dairy, juice, sauce, wine, brine
Drying & Heating: Dehydrator belts, baking trays
Fermentation: Brewery, probiotic, enzyme processing
Water Purification: Mineral water, flavored beverages
Packaging Support: Grilling mesh, steaming trays
七、FAQ – Food Grade Mesh Questions
Q1: What is the best stainless steel for food contact?
A: 304 is most common; 316/316L are better for acidic or salty foods.
Q2: Can stainless steel mesh be used for BBQ grills?
A: Yes, 304 and 316 meshes are heat-safe and food-safe for grilling.
Q3: What mesh size is best for filtering liquids?
A: Usually between 50–200 mesh, depending on the viscosity and particle size.
Q4: Is titanium mesh better than stainless steel?
A: Titanium is more corrosion-resistant and biocompatible but more expensive.
八、Get a Quote or Sample
Looking for bulk food grade stainless steel mesh or a custom solution for your production line?
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