Ultimate shame: I bought it on eBay, a cautionary tale

[Zippy]

So stainless steel is non ferrous?

I think some SS has more iron in it than other.

The phase composition varies with series - magnetic properties vary from low to negligible.

I had a refrigerator that was stainless and the magnets wouldn't stick.

It was great to see a fridge that wasn't covered with photos and grand kid art.

I think there are 'fridge designers out there that just don't like "decorative" magnets or children.

[John_P_WI]

Reaching waaaay back to University days, IIRC Stainless can either be Austenitic (non-magnetic), or Ferritic (see the Fe = iron) and martensitic which are both magnetic. Stainless primarily differs from carbon steel by the large increase of chromium content compared to carbon. Stainless is less of an electrical conductor than copper, although we used Inconel (added copper) on the welded terminal lugs of 5500Kw resistors - yes resistors.

Two examples,
304 stainless is non-magnetic and is used in the food industry frequently with Fe being a fraction of a % or so.
318, a general stainless, with a composition of 3 to 12% Fe, and is magnetic.

So, Tom needs a fridge made from 304 or its' derivatives.

Another fact, stainless can be attacked by bacteria at elevated temps, think of high temperature pipes in a power plant.

All right - more than you ever needed to know, sorry - don't know why this is still stuck in the brain.

[Structo]

Great so all the restaurant kitchens have stainless steel everywhere and a pandemic is about to happen?

Or something like that......