Stainless steel straws that are made from good quality stainless steel do not taste like metal. They are long lasting, easy to clean and help to reduce waste ending up in landfill and oceans from plastic straws. If you buy a good quality set of stainless steel straws they will last many years and will not taste like metal.
This article will explore all you need to know about cleaning stainless steel straws to get rid of any residue and simple safety tips.
How to clean a stainless steel straw
When you buy your stainless steel straw they will come with a thin cleaning brush, which looks like a tiny bottle cleaner. Cleaning your stainless steel brush is simple just follow these easy steps.
Step 1: Rinse the straw with cold, clean water from a tap.
Step 2: Fill a sink with warm soapy water and clean it with the straw brush, rubbing it through both ends 5-10 times. Then clean the outside with a sponge.
Step 3: Rinse the straw again with cold, clean water from a tap.
Step 4: Leave it to drain upright in a utensil stand or dish rack.
Drinking iced coffee through a stainless steel straw
Stainless steel straws are fantastic for drinking iced coffee. Bring them with you when you go to a café and make sure you ask for your drink without a plastic straw. Drinking cold drinks like iced coffee with iced cream is delicious through a stainless steel straw.
The best tip I can give is to rinse them with water straight after you have finished drinking. When you get home give them a scrub with your stainless steel straw brush or a pipe cleaner and let them drain upright in the sink.
Check out stainless steel straws from Amazon here.
Drinking bubble tea through a stainless steel straw
You can definitely drink bubble tea through a stainless steel straw. I would recommend a stainless steel straw made for smoothies. These have a wider opening, around 12mm and are a similar size to the straws you get at the Bubble Tea shops like Chatime. Keep them with you in a clean bag and you will be ready to save a plastic straw when its bubble tea time.
Drinking hot drinks through a stainless steel straw
Stainless steel conducts heat so will heat up as you drink through it. If you like a hot long black coffee, you may find that the straw heats up as you drink it and becomes too hot for your mouth. If you are drinking very hot drinks then choose a stainless steel straw with a silicone tip. This will help to reduce the heat conduction at the end you drink through.
If the drink is not too hot, a warm latte or a coffee that has cooled down then drinking through a stainless steel straw will be fine. Just try it slowly, sip it first and stop if it starts to feel too hot.
Drinking milkshakes through a stainless steel straw
You can drink milkshakes through a stainless steel straw. I would suggest you choose one that is wider as it will be easier to drink through. You can certainly use a thinner straw but it will be slightly more work to drink through.
Cleaning stainless steel straws in the dishwasher
Your dishwasher will clean the outside of the stainless steel straw really well but won’t clean the inside. To get your stainless steel straw very clean you can first clean the inside using your straw brush and warm soapy water, then place it in the dishwasher to clean the outside thoroughly.
How to clean a stainless steel straw without a straw brush
If you don’t have a thin, straw brush then a pipe cleaner works really well to clean your stainless steel straw. It is like a very long straw brush so you can use it in the same way. Clean the outside of the straw with warm soapy water and a sponge. Then use the pipe cleaner to clean the inside of the straw. Rinse with cold, clean water and stand it upright to drain.
Should kids use stainless steel straws?
Starbucks has recommended that kids don’t use their metal straws and have recalled 2.5 million of them. Stainless steel straws are strong and if kid are moving around while they are drinking from their metal straw they could injure themselves if they fall. I have kids myself and I know it is hard to keep them still while they are eating and drinking. It is safer to use paper straws for kids instead which will bend if fallen on.
Some companies have created stainless steel straws choose with silicone ends which make them softer on the end. This can protect your mouth from the hard edge of the straw.
In 2016 Starbucks recalled 2.5 million stainless steel straws sold through their stores as they had reports of children experiencing lacerations, 3 USA and 1 Canada. They had recommended children do not use their stainless steel straws.
Is it safe to drink from stainless steel straws?
When drinking from stainless steel straws it is important not to be moving around while you are drinking. Because of the strength of the stainless steel, if you fall while it is in your mouth it might cause injury. If the straw is in a cup without a lid, this will help to give it room to move out of the way if you happen to fall.
I have been using them for 3 years now and haven’t had a problem but with the trend of people walking around with drinks we just need to take care. When I’m out I always order a hot latte, so no straw for me.
Are stainless steel straws eco friendly?
It has been found that metal straws will need to be used 37 times for their impact to be less than using a plastic straw. This is because of the mining and process of production required to make metal straws is more intensive than plastic.
If you regularly use your metal straw for iced tea, milkshakes or iced coffees then it will only take around 1 month of use to be better option for the environment than using plastic. Because stainless steel straws last for so long, you will have these for years so they will be better for the environment if they replace your use of plastic straws.
Can you get stainless steel tumblers with straws?
I’ve recently been looking around for new reusable cups and found large milkshake cups with stainless steel straws included. You could use these for milkshakes, bubble tea or even iced coffee. I would remove the hard lid and just use the cup with the straw so that the straw has room to move.
How long does a stainless steel straw last?
Stainless steel will last for years without looking like they have worn. Mine are 3 years old and they look exactly the same as the day I bought them. I will be using these for years. Keep them clean and they are a great addition to an eco friendly home.
Do stainless steel straws taste like metal – Summary
Stainless steel straws will not taste like metal if they are good quality. Wash and them well and regularly in warm soapy water and don’t forget to dry them upright so the water can drain out. Stainless steel straws are great for drinking cold drinks like smoothies and iced coffees.
I am an accredited practicing dietitian, experienced gardener and a dedicated cook. I love writing and sharing my experience so you can learn from my successes and mistakes.