Chrome Plating in Professional Kitchens: Hygiene and Performance
When it comes to chrome plating, there is still a lot of confusion around technical terms like hexavalent chrome, trivalent chrome, or metallic chrome.
This often leads to unfounded concerns: many still believe that a chrome-plated surface could be harmful to health. But is that really the case?
The answer is NO. A chrome-plated griddle, once properly treated and finished, is one of the most stable, safe, and hygienic coatings available today in the professional sector.
Chrome plating involves various chemical compounds during processing, but it’s essential to distinguish between the process and the final result.
The finished chrome surface is completely inert, releases no substances, is corrosion-resistant, and poses no risk to operators or food in contact.
A Precise Process for Superior Technical Results
It all begins with the preparation of the plate, which is carefully ground, cleaned, and pickled to remove any surface impurities or residues.
Only this way can perfect adhesion of the coating be ensured. Next, the plate is immersed in a series of galvanic baths, where a layer of chrome approximately 50 microns thick is deposited — uniform and extremely compact.
The result is an exceptionally hard surface, with a surface hardness of about 800–1000 HV (Vickers), and very smooth, with roughness below 0.05 μm Ra. These characteristics ensure wear resistance, ease of cleaning, and maximum hygiene.
Hygiene, Safety, and No Flavor Transfer
Another key advantage, often underestimated, is that the chrome surface, thanks to its extremely low porosity, prevents the absorption of food residues and does not retain flavors or odors from one cooking cycle to the next.
This avoids cross-contamination and ensures neutral and professional cooking.
Moreover, the chrome plating used is suitable for food contact in compliance with MOCA regulations (Materials and Objects in Contact with Food).
At Smartech Italia, we regularly carry out migration tests on representative samples to verify and maintain coating safety over time.
This ensures that every chrome-coated component consistently meets high standards of hygiene and reliability, even under intensive use.
Smartech’s Choice: Performance and Safety with Onfalós
Another technical benefit of chrome plating is the ability to use high thermal conductivity steels as substrate materials.
Thanks to the protective chrome layer, these materials — even if not MOCA-certified on their own — can be used safely in food-contact applications, combining excellent thermal performance with regulatory compliance.
This is exactly the solution chosen by Smartech Italia for Onfalós, our high-performance plate: the perfect blend of material technology, food safety, and professional-grade quality.
Want to learn more?
Contact us to discover our chrome solutions for your professional kitchen.
