Steel vs. Plastic Chai Channi: A comparison of plastic and steel tea strainers: Stainless steel strainers are better for health and taste. Steel resists rust, chemical leaching, and is durable. Plastic is cheaper but can pose health risks.

Steel Vs Plastic Chai Channi: The smallest thing used in making tea - the strainer - can also affect your health. Yes, it may sound strange, but the tea strainer is as important for making tea and our health as tea leaves and sugar. You will find both plastic and steel strainers in the market, but not everyone will be able to tell which one is best for health. Many people choose plastic strainers because they are cheaper, while some people buy steel strainers because they are durable. But the question is about health, which strainer is better among the two? Well, both have their own advantages and disadvantages - let's know in detail.

First, understand that straining tea involves temperatures of around 90-100°C. Therefore, if the strainer is of poor quality, it can deteriorate quickly and release chemicals and microplastics.

Steel Strainer - Safe and Durable

• Steel strainers – especially stainless steel (SS 304 or SS 316) – are considered best for straining tea.
• Steel sieves are anti-corrosion and do not lose their properties when the temperature changes.
• Steel does not leach any chemicals and is also easy to clean.
• This is why most homes, restaurants and tea stalls use steel sieves.
• If dirt gets accumulated in the mesh of the sieve and it does not get cleaned, then you can burn it in fire and burn the dirt, then the sieve will get cleaned easily.

Plastic strainer – cheap but careful

• Plastic sieve is the cheapest, so most people use it.
• However, filtering hot water, milk, and tea through plastic poses the risk of chemicals and microplastics leaching into it.
• Especially if the quality of the strainer is poor or contains BPA/fillers.
• This can change the taste and can also have a bad effect on health.
• Plastic sieves are generally lightweight, inexpensive, and easily available.

Image Credit: Gemini