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MicheleQ
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I have to make a decision about a kitchen sink soon and I can't decide between a stainless or cast iron. I love the look of the cast iron ones but are they harder to keep nice? I hear pros and cons of both and would love your input here ladies!
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Michele Quigley
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Donna Marie
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I am all ears.
I assume you want a sink that can handle whatever a large family can throw at it...or in it  
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Donna Marie from NJ
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MicheleQ
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Donna Marie wrote:
I am all ears.
I assume you want a sink that can handle whatever a large family can throw at it...or in it |
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Well I can't say anyone here is prone to throwing things in the sink but it does need to be able to stand up to wear.
I am also trying to decide between a double sink or one large one (33 in.)
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Michele Quigley
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Mackfam
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Polished enamel over cast iron sinks are SOOO pretty when they're clean, but are not the most practical solution for a family that is constantly using a sink. We have a white one, and though I really do LOVE how it looks when it's clean, it is usually scratched or has gray/silver streaks from the washing of stainless pots and pans. I try to clean it once a week.
They're also hard on glassware. It helps to keep sink mats in the bottom of the sink...but of course, that's another thing you have to keep clean. I throw mine in the dishwasher and then clean them with a bleach squirt when the sinks get cleaned.
I've had an enamel over cast iron sink for 16 years now.  Sigh. Most irritating --> when the glossy finish wears off the sink and no amount of cleaning the marks will bring it back.
Most practical option for a family that uses a sink all.the.time? Stainless.
If and WHEN I ever get to replace mine, I'd love a farmhouse/apron front sink in either solid surface material or stainless...with only one big, deep basin!
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Jen Mackintosh
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organiclilac
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I have a cast iron sink, and it's hard to keep looking nice. Even when I scrub it with Bon Ami (the best cleaner I've found), some stains don't come out. It is very old, though. Also, I've broken sooooo many dishes and glasses in it. I think stainless has a bit more "bounce" and might have prevented some of the breakage. I've been wishing for a stainless steel sink for years!
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MicheleQ
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I use a dishpan so that would help with breakage and it works well with the one big sink (stainless but need replaced when the counters get done soon) so I can remove it for washing pans and large items but otherwise we use the dishpan for soaking dishes. I love the farmhouse apron sinks too Jen --but I think they are out of my price range budget wise. 
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Michele Quigley
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Mackfam
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Well, if you use a dishpan a lot, and IF you get one big basin, I think that would cut down on SO MUCH of the opportunity for the sink to get scratched up! But you'll probably still need to use a sink mat for when you clean your larger items...or if not a sink mat, just get in the habit of tossing a towel in the bottom of the sink if you're washing a large stainless pot.
The biggest problem is that pots (which are necessarily larger to accommodate cooking for larger families) don't fit as well in two basin sinks. They're more likely to hit the sides and scratch the sides, no matter how careful you are. HOWEVER...if you have a larger, one basin sink, the pots fit easily and there's less opportunity for scratching!!!
So....IF I used a dishpan regularly (or could find a large sink mat in lieu of the dishpan)....and IF I had a nice deep one basin sink {{swoon!!!}} I'd probably consider getting a nice pretty enamel over cast iron sink (with the hopes that the glossy finish technology has improved enormously since my sink was installed. And it probably HAS!!).
My, but they are pretty when they're all shined up and clean!
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Jen Mackintosh
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lapazfarm
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I prefer a stainless double sink, hands down.
(We have moved so much and I've lived in a LOT of houses and used a LOT of different sinks, so I have a good feel for how they all work.) To me the stainless is easiest to keep looking nice, and a double sink is just a necessity.
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CrunchyMom
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Have you seen that Ikea has a decent farmhouse sink? Domsjo Double bowl for $313 and the single bowl for $106
This is where I was leaning because I wanted a farmhouse sink.
However, I do like the sink I have--a single bowl stainless with the stainless drainboard to the side. It is original to my 1950s kitchen, and while not my dreamy farmhouse variety, very practical. I have a large gooseneck faucet with the sprayer nozzle, too.
And, I recently read a thread on kitchen remodeling at This Old House that said a single bowl sink with a gooseneck faucet with built in sprayer was the most versatile option for a working kitchen. So, my feelings that the set up was functional were affirmed
Here's the article, "Read This Before You Remodel Your Kitchen", and slides 20 and 21 are about the faucet and sink.
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Lindsay
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JennGM
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I don't like using dishpans, and much prefer double sinks. I think the stainless is very durable and cleans up well...and hides the mess.
I'd recommend a deeper sink, no matter what you do. I have probably contractor grade double stainless sink. My sister has a new double sink made of composite granite -- it cleans like the cast iron ones. What I like is that it's deeper.
There are sinks that are black or darker color. I've wondered how they look?
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JodieLyn
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As to the double or single sink.. I really like the mismatched double sink.. one big deep side and one smaller side. I think that would give me lots of options for washing large items only on the big side but could still use the double basin dishwashing with smaller items. And oh yes the faucet sprayer is WONDERFUL. And I mean the one where the faucet pulled out.. not a seperate sprayer.. that thing is sooo versatile.. want to fill that big 5 gal water cooler? just set it on the floor and pull the faucet to it.. same with mop buckets and so easy to rinse large items.. AND unlike the side sprayer you have the total control of water pressure that you do with a regular faucet.
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JennGM
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I agree on the sprayer. We don't have gooseneck, but a faucet sprayer and I love how I can fill buckets and such away from the sink.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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St. Ann
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Within the next 2 weeks my kitchen will be getting an overhaul. New fronts, new stove top , new counter tops, new SINKS! Like Jodie, I have the mismatched stainless double sink. If I had more space, I would choose a matching double sink. The extra basin is necessary for us to dump pasta or potato water while washing up in the big sink. Sometimes I use the little sink to scrub my potatoes and just to empty the coffee grounds ... I kind of wash up dishes as I cook, so I need the large sink continually just for washing up. The extra sink is a necessity in our home.
I can see how a gooseneck and or faucet sprayer would be very helpful...We'll see how far our money stretches.
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CrunchyMom
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I think it must be tricky finding the ideal sink. It might be the added depth I prefer on this one as opposed to the fact that it is a single. But then, I've also read that you don't want too deep a sink because it can cause back pain and fatigue to work at it if you are leaning over further.
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Lindsay
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Tami
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I"ve had both: ceramic over iron and stainless steel, double and single sinks.
I can't say that I have a strong preference re: material. The iron is definitely 'quieter', however. I did appreciate that.
As for size, I definitely prefer a single sink. When I have a pot or pan that needs to soak, I don't want it doing so on the counter. I was always frustrated when I had a double sink….
As for the new deeper sinks, I would caution you about the double ones - they seem particularly deep. A friend has one in her home, and it is truly hard on the back to clean things in it, and I'm only there occasionally doing so. I can't imagine if I had to do it everyday.
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hylabrook1
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I agree that stainless steel is the better material for a well-used sink. My kitchen sink is stainless steel, two basins, but split unevenly. All together it's 30 inches wide, but the deeper side takes up 70% of the total space. It is every bit as big as many single basin sinks, so the smaller side is a bonus. The garbage disposal is in the smaller side, but we also use that side for all kinds of things. Mostly I use it when loading the dishwasher; it gives me a place to keep things while I'm sorting through the big part of the sink, deciding what goes in the dishwasher and what needs to be hand washed. Also, my cheapie plastic collander fits perfectly over the small side - the rim rests on the top edge of the sink, so I can just put it in place and have 2 free hands.
Congratulations on your kitchen remodeling! How fun..
Peace,
Nancy
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juliana147
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Stainless!!! I loved my old sink- it was so easy to clean.
If you have water with a lot of minerals and an enamel sink, it is VERY hard to keep it looking nice... even worse if it is one of the new, trendy looking black ones. 
hope you find just what your family is looking for! 
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wahoo92
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We recently moved into a house with an enamel/cast iron sink. It is made by Kohler, a double and deep. I think it would have been purchased and installed in 2002 when the kitchen was remodeled, but there is the possibility it is newer. My experience is slightly different than those above, although we have only been here for three months, so perhaps it will change over time. The last house had a Corian-wannabe sink, so I can't compare with stainless. We have filtered well water. So far, the one side I use to drain dishes requires only your usual cleaning, no staining noticed despite the fact that it has dishes draining all day long. The slightly larger side where I wash, pile dishes, drain food etc. does develop staining, although not bad, a very, very light brown. It lightens slightly with standard wiping with a soapy sponge, and seems to clean completely with a few sprays of bleach cleaning spray. I don't like to use bleach, so I have only done this once every three to four weeks. It does get marked from pots, but not as much as some above describe and they wipe off easily with the scrubby side of a sponge. I haven't had issues with breaking so far, but dropping things on the tile....that's another story.
I love it and would definitely purchase it myself based on our experience so far. Good luck!
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Donna Marie
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MicheleQ wrote:
Donna Marie wrote:
I am all ears.
I assume you want a sink that can handle whatever a large family can throw at it...or in it |
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Well I can't say anyone here is prone to throwing things in the sink but it does need to be able to stand up to wear.
I am also trying to decide between a double sink or one large one (33 in.) |
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LOL! I guess that is a Jersey thing..."just throw it in the sink, and I'll take care of it..." is heard often but not to be taken literally!
What I was thinking was that sometimes we need to use our sinks more often in a dual capacity (or more) so maybe there are issues we need to consider like needing to wash dishes and clean veggies at the same time. We have larger pots and pans and can the sink reasonably accommodate them?
Tall faucets are nice but you want to make sure the design can handle the weight of people turning it back and forth (some designs arch out so far without any real support.) You would want to take your largest pot and put it in the sink and make sure the depth of the sink and the faucet can handle that pot without frustration. You also may want to consider whether or not the faucet extends far enough into the center of the sink to make it easy to use and easy on your back.
The easier it is to work at the kitchen sink, the less frustration you will have when things get backlogged. At least that is my experience.
I do have a dual stainless sink and that is pretty good but I wish each side was a little bigger to accommodate larger things.
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Donna Marie from NJ
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Carole N.
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I love enamel/cast iron! I have lived in several different houses with varying types of sinks including stainless steel. And I currently have a stainless steel sink. It is my plan to replace it (someday) with a Belfast or bulter sink.
Back in the States (in my perfect kitchen), my dh gave me a Kohler enamel/cast iron sink on our last Christmas. It was a mismatched double and the larger bowl was also deeper. So roasting pans and stockpots fit nicely in the larger bowl while I still had the smaller bowl for rinsing. I really loved that sink (I have replaced sinks in two homes with that same Kohler sink)!
Although they are practical, I guess I had too many negative experiences with stainless steel sinks. That is probably why I love enamel/cast iron so much.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Sinks: stainless steel, cast iron?
