August 2007
How to choose: Sinks
You might not cook every day, but is there ever a day when you don't use your sink? We subjected 16 models to a barrage of
hot pots, scouring pads, dropped weights, and stains. The results of our sinks review:
Stainless: Gauge doesn't matter. More people buy stainless steel kitchen sinks than any other type. We tested 18- to 23-gauge sinks; the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. We also listened to the noise made by running water and dropped weights to see if we could hear a difference between the thicker and thinner models. All resisted dents, stains, scratches, and heat, and silenced noise similarly.
Enamel: Colorful and easy to clean. These sinks, sold in two versions (enamel on cast iron or lighter, less expensive enamel on steel), are available in many colors. They were the easiest to keep clean. Our hot-pot test didn't damage them, and scratches were less noticeable than on other sinks. But during the sinks review, when we dropped a 5-pound weight, similar to what could happen if you dropped a heavy pot, enamel-on-steel sinks dented, cracked, or chipped. Enamel on cast iron chipped when we dropped a sharp, light object similar to a knife on them. Damaged enamel can cause the metal underneath to rust. Acrylic sinks might look like enamel but they scratch easily. Our hot-pot test melted the surface.
Solid surface: Smooth but fragile. These sinks can be paired with counters made of the same material for a sleek, seamless look. Though solid-surface sinks scratch easily, we found in our sinks review that the damage can be sanded away with abrasive products. A heavy-duty scouring pad even removed burns. But beware: Some solid-surface sinks shattered during our impact tests.
Most people tend to fall in love with the look of a sink first, and then think about functionality. That's the opposite of what they should be doing, according to kitchen designers.
Count inches. Double-bowl sinks let you perform two tasks at once, such as soaking and rinsing. But we observed in our sinks review that if the bowls are too narrow, it will be hard to fit large pots or roasters. If your space is tight, a single bowl is better. Take a large pot with you to the store to check size. Sinks that are rectangular shaped are standard, but D-bowls have a curved back and offer more space, front to back.
Think about depth. Bowls are 6 to 12 inches deep. The deeper ones reduce splashes, but a sink that's too deep can require lots of bending and make it difficult for short adults to reach the bottom. Remember that under-mounted sinks will be up to 1 ½ inches lower than a drop-in.
Stainless: Gauge doesn't matter. More people buy stainless steel kitchen sinks than any other type. We tested 18- to 23-gauge sinks; the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. We also listened to the noise made by running water and dropped weights to see if we could hear a difference between the thicker and thinner models. All resisted dents, stains, scratches, and heat, and silenced noise similarly.
Enamel: Colorful and easy to clean. These sinks, sold in two versions (enamel on cast iron or lighter, less expensive enamel on steel), are available in many colors. They were the easiest to keep clean. Our hot-pot test didn't damage them, and scratches were less noticeable than on other sinks. But during the sinks review, when we dropped a 5-pound weight, similar to what could happen if you dropped a heavy pot, enamel-on-steel sinks dented, cracked, or chipped. Enamel on cast iron chipped when we dropped a sharp, light object similar to a knife on them. Damaged enamel can cause the metal underneath to rust. Acrylic sinks might look like enamel but they scratch easily. Our hot-pot test melted the surface.
Solid surface: Smooth but fragile. These sinks can be paired with counters made of the same material for a sleek, seamless look. Though solid-surface sinks scratch easily, we found in our sinks review that the damage can be sanded away with abrasive products. A heavy-duty scouring pad even removed burns. But beware: Some solid-surface sinks shattered during our impact tests.
Most people tend to fall in love with the look of a sink first, and then think about functionality. That's the opposite of what they should be doing, according to kitchen designers.
Count inches. Double-bowl sinks let you perform two tasks at once, such as soaking and rinsing. But we observed in our sinks review that if the bowls are too narrow, it will be hard to fit large pots or roasters. If your space is tight, a single bowl is better. Take a large pot with you to the store to check size. Sinks that are rectangular shaped are standard, but D-bowls have a curved back and offer more space, front to back.
Think about depth. Bowls are 6 to 12 inches deep. The deeper ones reduce splashes, but a sink that's too deep can require lots of bending and make it difficult for short adults to reach the bottom. Remember that under-mounted sinks will be up to 1 ½ inches lower than a drop-in.
