Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug
Class-leading insulation with a polished SlickSteel steel interior, but you drink through a plastic mouthpiece in the flip-open lid.
The verdict: Minimal plastic contact
The interior is Zojirushi's polished SlickSteel stainless steel (this SM-SA model has no coating), so the liquid sits against bare steel - excellent for taste and cleaning. But you drink through the lid: the flip-open lid is BPA-free plastic with a plastic mouthpiece the coffee flows out through, plus a silicone lid gasket. So the storage vessel is steel but the sip path is plastic. Best-in-class heat retention and an easy-clean fully-disassembling lid, but not plastic-free at the mouth.
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| interior / body polished SlickSteel stainless interior on the SM-SA (uncoated); liquid sits against steel; specific grade unspecified by manufacturer | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | Yes primary 🔥 |
| lid body BPA-free plastic flip-open lid; the mouthpiece the drink flows through is plastic | Plastic other / unspecified | Yes primary 🔥 |
| lid gasket / seal food-grade silicone gasket (replaceable); confirmed by replacement-part listings | Silicone | Yes seal 🔥 |
| outer shell stainless steel vacuum-insulated exterior; grade unspecified by manufacturer | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | No |
A vacuum-insulated stainless mug renowned for keeping coffee hot for hours. The SM-SA has a polished SlickSteel interior (Zojirushi also sells nonstick- coated interior models), a flip-open locking lid, and a two-step lid release that drains condensation back into the mug. The whole lid disassembles for cleaning, and the silicone gasket is a replaceable part.
Pros
- Polished SlickSteel steel interior - drink sits against steel, easy to clean
- Outstanding insulation; secure flip-lock lid
- Lid fully disassembles; silicone gasket is replaceable
Cons
- Lid mechanism has several plastic parts
- Some other Zojirushi lines add a nonstick interior coating (this SM-SA does not)
Notes
- SM-SA sizes include 12/16/20 oz (SM-SA36/48/60); the SlickSteel interior is uncoated on this line
- Genuine and aftermarket silicone lid gaskets are widely sold as replacement parts
Common questions
Does the Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug have plastic in it?
Yes. On the Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug, the lid body is plastic and sits in the food path. The rest of what touches your food is stainless steel.
What is the Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug made of?
Part by part, the Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug is: interior / body — stainless steel; lid body — plastic; lid gasket / seal — silicone; outer shell — stainless steel.
Does the Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug have silicone in it?
Yes — the lid gasket / seal is silicone on the Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug. It is a seal rather than a surface your food sits against, which is stainless steel.
Where is the Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug made?
The Zojirushi SM-SA Stainless Mug is made in Japan.
Categories: Travel Mugs & Tumblers
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- manufacturer https://www.zojirushi.com/app/faq/vacuum-insulated-mugs-bottles brand describes SlickSteel polished stainless interior (and separate nonstick-coated models), BPA-free plastic and stainless construction, a mouthpiece the beverage flows out of, and lid gaskets
- review https://www.amazon.com/IMPRESA-Replacement-Gaskets-Compatible-Zojirushi/dp/B07RYPF2WF replacement-gasket listing confirms the SM-SA60/SM-SA48 lid seals are silicone
Spot a mistake or something out of date? Let us know — corrections are how this stays accurate.