What does it mean if a material is described as "durable"?

When a material is described as "durable," it indicates that it is hard wearing and capable of withstanding significant wear and tear without deteriorating. Durability implies that the material can maintain its performance, appearance, and structural integrity over time, even under demanding conditions. This characteristic is especially important in culinary settings where equipment and utensils are frequently subjected to rigorous use, heat, moisture, and cleaning processes.

The other choices address different properties of materials: "easy to clean" refers to how simply a material can be maintained, "lightweight" describes the mass or heaviness of a material, and "biodegradable" indicates a material's ability to break down naturally in the environment. While all these traits are valuable, they do not directly correlate with the concept of durability, which emphasizes resilience and longevity.