There are many grades of SS, as the grade goes up, so does the price.
I have a cheap Walmart SS stock pot that rusts if you just look at it (not used for brewing).
The frequency of requiring passivating (or done at all) depends on grade of SS.
The lazy monster is powerful, some would rather spray and forget.
Below copied from various sources on the internet.
So what exactly is 18/10 Stainless Steel and how does this compare to 18/8 and 18/0?18/10 stainless steel, just like inferior 18/8 and 18/0, are fractions that explain the percentages of chromium and nickel alloys added to stainless steel in order to reduce rust and enhance shine and durability. 18/0 contains limited nickel and is, therefore less resistant to oxidation. 18/10 provides the highest amount of nickel which produces the greatest resistance to rust and longest-held polish.
Some stainless steel corrode more easily. Others do not. Where stainless steel is used:
The main alloying element in stainless steel is chromium (the proportion in the alloy is 12-20 %). To improve corrosion resistance, nickel, titanium and molybdenum are also added to the alloy in varying amounts, depending on the properties required. To keep it simple, we will look at the most common stainless steel grades AISI 430, AISI 304 and AISI 316 / 316L.
Grade AISI 430 is a low-carbon chromium-iron stainless steel and contains no nickel at all. Thus, oxidative reactions can occur in a very short time with this steel grade and the application of the material is therefore rather limited.
Material AISI 304 is probably the most common grade in the stainless steel family and contains at least 17.5 % chromium and 8 % nickel. This nickel content ensures the formation of an oxide layer on the surface, which gives the steel good corrosion resistance and makes it resistant to a wide range of chemicals. These properties enable AISI 304 to be used in many areas, such as architecture and the building industry, the food industry, the construction industry, apparatus and mechanical engineering, vehicle construction, sanitary and catering products, household appliances and many more.
AISI 316 / 316L is one of the austenitic steels that is particularly resistant to corrosion thanks to the presence of nickel (at least 10 %) and molybdenum (at least 2 %). This material is therefore recommended for use in environments where there are particularly aggressive factors such as chemical stress, sea water, adverse weather conditions or similar. It is used in the architecture and construction industry for projects near the sea and air with high salt content or other locations that place higher demands on the material in terms of their quality. Grade AISI 316 / 316L is also found in large quantities in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, in tanks, silos and containers, yacht and ship construction only to name a few.
https://techiescientist.com/does-nickel-rust/AISI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Iron_and_Steel_InstituteThen there's "all clad", and aluminum encapsulated in bottom of
pot to conduct heat, aluminum is a better conductor of heat.