The Cleaning InstituteKitchen sinks are common household items that serve many purposes when cooking and cleaning. With years of experience, our team has tested a long list of items in the industry, including kitchen sinks. Here are a few of our top picks after spending hundreds of hours performing tests.
When it came to reviewing kitchen sinks, our testing categories included Style, Durability, and Functionality.
Style – The style of each sink contributed to how many points we awarded it.
Durability – We checked out the durability and construction of each sink to determine if it would hold up well long-term.
Functionality – The ease of use of each sink was an additional factor that determined its value.
The Rutavi Kitchen Sink offers a workstation with a single-tier track and a heavy sound guard undercoating. The sloped bottom with grooves also allows complete water drainage.
Most notable upside: We found the Rucati was a versatile kitchen sink and stands out on the market for its commercial-grade brushed finish. We loved that It included a cutting board, a basket strainer drain and a bottom rinse grid. A roll-up rack also comes with the sink and proved to be highly useful for drying produce or dishes.
Biggest downsides:
With dent-resistant stainless steel, the Kraus kitchen sink is extremely durable and is easy to clean. The surface is also resistant to rust and includes a metal grid to protect the bottom.
Most notable upside: Our favorite thing about the Kraus was that it’s built with a 3.5-inch drain opening that allows water and particles to be washed away easily. We found the beautiful design of the stainless steel material to match most appliances for a seamless look. It’s even built with an oversized bowl to accommodate large roasting pans, skillets, and baking sheets.
Biggest downsides: When performing tests, we found small food particles were prone to accumulating in the corners of the sink. However, this is a minor issue that is easy to resolve by rinsing the sink out more frequently.
With the Zuhne Kitchen Sink, the quick drain saves time cooking and cleaning with included sloped base channels. The material is also resistant to rust or corrosion to maintain its quality.
Most notable upside: We found the Zuhne stands out for its family-friendly design with coved corners that look beautiful and are easy to clean. The brushed satin finish creates a soft glow that will match any stainless steel appliances in the room. It’s also built with insulated technology for added noise control.
Biggest downsides: We discovered that the bottom of the Zuhne sink is prone to developing minor scuffs at times, but this is easy to prevent with the included sink rack that can be kept in place each day.
There are several reasons why you might be considering a new kitchen sink for your home. You might have renovated your kitchen, or perhaps you’re going for a specific theme, or maybe you’ve taken up cooking more passionately, and you want to be able to work in a more comfortable workspace. No matter your reason, you want to get a new sink for your kitchen.
While there are many different types of kitchen sinks, here are ten of the most popular types on the market, offering different materials, styles, sizes, and appearances. Each of these sinks would fit a certain theme and function, and you should choose a kitchen sink that would fit your needs, preference, and budget.
The farmhouse sink is also known as an apron sink because it appears to “drape” over the counter edge. If you have a rustic looking kitchen, this type of sink would fit perfectly into your theme. They are usually made from cast iron or fireclay and are strong and durable. Farmhouse sinks are easy to clean because of the non-porous surface.
This type of sink is installed under the counter, giving a seamless and smooth look from your counter to your sink. Sleek and versatile, it fits well with most kitchen layouts. The design makes for easy cleanup because there is no rim where food and liquids can catch. However, this sink can be quite heavy, so you need to have a strong counter to support the sink.
Lightweight, easy to install, and affordable, stainless steel sinks are popular for budget kitchens. The cost of the sink will depend on the thickness of the steel. While it is durable and heat resistant, this type of sink may dent if you use cheaper, thinner steel.
Bar sinks are usually used as secondary sinks for home bar setups; they are not recommended as primary sinks for washing and cleaning kitchenware and utensils. This type of sink is more suited for a patio, terrace, or bar.
If you have limited space on your kitchen counter, the corner sink allows you to maximize the available space. Corner sinks are double-basin sinks that are top mounted. However, installing a corner sink can be expensive, and you may need to remodel your kitchen counter before you can install this type of sink.
Cast iron sinks have a porcelain counting that gives them a clean and sleek finish, making them perfect for vintage or rustic kitchens. While they are durable and strong, the porcelain finish can chip easily, so this is not a good choice of sink if you have small children in your home. You will also need to be careful with the type of cleaning method that you use to clean this sink, as abrasive cleaning materials or caustic cleaning solutions can damage the surface of this sink and wear down the coating.
If you have a large kitchen with an open floor plan, a kitchen island sink will look beautiful and inviting. This type of sink is versatile, and can be used for both primary cleaning and secondary preparation. It also helps save space on your kitchen counters. There are several types of kitchen island sink models, such as wood, stainless steel, or even granite. However, you will need a large kitchen space, as well as extra plumbing work done to be able to install a kitchen island sink.
This type of kitchen sink is popular for smaller homes, as well as those who love to design with practicality and space efficiency in mind. They have a built-in drainboard feature where you can prepare food as well as place kitchenware and utensils to dry. The water will run off the drainboard and into the sink, so you won’t need to worry about mopping up excess water from your drying kitchenware. This type of sink is normally made from stainless steel, so it is strong and durable.
For small kitchens with limited counter space, a single bowl sink would be the perfect type of sink. It also works well for kitchens that have large cookware, as single bowl sinks can easily accommodate the cookware without the water splashing out. However, single bowl sinks are not good for multitasking such as prepping and cleaning at the same time.
Top mount sinks are also known as drop-in sinks because you create a space in your counter where you can fit your sink in. This type of sink is popular because it’s easy to install and affordable; however, the lip created by putting your sink into your counter catches food and liquids. This can make cleanup a bit difficult and tedious.
