Did you know that the average American spends about 37 minutes a day on prepping meals, cooking, and cleaning up? If you look at this broken down into groups, you’re probably not surprised to learn that women spend nearly 51 minutes in the kitchen doing these tasks while men spend only about 21 minutes.
Much of our time in the kitchen is spent cooking and cleaning up. Think of what appliance you always use when cooking and cleaning: your sink. You might not give kitchen sinks a lot of thought, but there are certain sinks that can make your clean-up much easier.
Read on for our guide to the best kitchen sinks.
Sink Type
There are three main types of sinks to choose from. What you want depends on things like the aesthetic you are going for in your kitchen, how much space you have, what your budget is, and whether you are trying to get a sink that works with your existing cabinetry or you are doing a total kitchen overhaul.
Drop-In Sinks
Drop-in sinks are traditional and what you see in most builder-grade and older kitchens. The sink is dropped into a hole in the countertop and its edges rest on the counter. These are the most inexpensive and common sinks.
Undermount Sinks
Undermount sinks are installed under the countertops, so there is no edge that the sink rests on. This makes them easier to clean as there is no sink edge to scrub and it is also easier to sweep messes right into the sink without running into the edge like you would in a drop-in sink.
Farmhouse Sinks
Farmhouse sinks are quite distinct as the front of the sink is visible instead of being hidden behind a cabinet. You can get them in a variety of materials, including stainless steel, fireclay, copper, and cast iron, though many experts agree that fireclay makes the best farmhouse sink.
Sink Material
Once you determine what style of sink you want, you’ll also have to pick a material. Just like the sink type, the material you pick will depend on your budget, what type of cooking you do, and the overall look of your kitchen.
Stainless Steel
You can get a drop-in, under-mount, or farmhouse sink in stainless steel. It is durable and cost-effective as well as easy to clean. If you do choose stainless steel, be sure you get one made of steel thick enough to prevent scratches and dents.
Granite-Quartz Composite
These sinks are also available in all three styles and are typically made of a mix of 80% granite and 20% resin. This gives you a sturdy sink that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. You can also get these sinks in a variety of different colors to complement your kitchen decor.
Cast Iron
Cast iron sinks are just like your cast iron pans, except they are coated in porcelain enamel. The surface is easy to clean and cast iron sinks will never chip, burn, or crack.
Just like your cast iron pans, cast iron sinks are extremely heavy and require special cabinets to support them. You can get cast iron in drop-in, undermount, or farmhouse styles.
Copper
A copper sink will never rust or tarnish and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, although you will have to polish it if you do not like the aged patina that it will eventually take on. Each copper sink is handcrafted and unique (which drives up the cost). Copper also has antimicrobial properties, which kill viruses and any bacteria in the sink.
Fireclay
Farmhouse sinks are primarily made of fireclay, which is clay that is hard-fired. Fireclay has a smooth glazed surface and looks similar to cast iron. Most fireclay sinks are white, but you can find different colors and textures.
Everything But the Kitchen Sink
Now that you have an idea of what is available to you in kitchen sink selection, start doing your research on what is best for you and your needs. Pick something that you won’t regret in a few months.
If you found these tips useful, be sure to check out some of our other articles.
