Stainless Steel vs. Ceramic Kitchen Sink: Which 1 Is Best for You?

Fret not because here’s a list of FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR YOUR KITCHEN SINK: 

• HYGIENE
• DURABILITY
• MAINTENANCE
• PRICE
• SOUNDPROOFING

STEEL VS CERAMIC SINK

What is a Ceramic Sink?

A ceramic sink is made from clay that is heated to high temperatures, resulting in a strong, smooth, and non-porous surface. These sinks are popular because they are visually appealing, easy to clean, and resistant to stains and odours. They are commonly found in both kitchens and bathrooms and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and finishes.

FACTOR 1: HYGIENIC SINK

Hygiene is a major factor when it comes to kitchen sinks and is one of the most important factors to consider when looking to shop a sink.

As per the study published in Journal of Food Protection in 2001, stainless steel showed better resistance to microbial organisms and responded well to usage of detergent based cleaning thereby resulting in effective decrease in contamination levels. 

Ceramic however were more prone to accumulation of microbial organisms, likely because of their porous nature which could be a contributing factor to the higher attachment 

Therefore, Stainless Steel is the better surface for cleaning due to its smoother surface and effectiveness in preventing microbial accumulation.

Score: Stainless steel: 1,  Ceramic: 0

FACTOR 2: DURABILITY

Ceramic sinks are prone to chipping so the idea of heavy utensils being dropped and played with inside the sink bowl can seem quite risky, making it not the ideal solution for the kitchen sink material.

On the other hand, stainless steel is sturdy and can easily withstand impacts, offering long term resistance. They are also less prone to showing scratches compared to ceramic. 

Score: Stainless steel: 2,  Ceramic: 0

FACTOR 3: MAINTENANCE

It is easier to clean stainless steel sinks compared to ceramic ones as they don’t absorb liquids or odours unlike the porous ceramic. 

Even though stainless steel can show scratches in the long run-it can be easily buffed out making it as new as a baby!

While cleaning ceramic is also simple, they can show discoloration and stains upon soap build-up. 

Score: Stainless steel: 3,  Ceramic: 0

FACTOR 4: PRICE

The price of a sink varies as per the sink dimensions ( width, length, depth etc.), material, finish, design feature, inclusion of complimenting accessories and a lot more.

Stainless steel sinks are more affordable compared to ceramic ones. A good quality steel sink- made up of 304 stainless steel (SS) typically has a pricing range starting from ₹8,000. A ceramic sink tends to be slightly less affordable, having a similar but a bit higher range than SS. 

Score: Stainless steel: 4,  Ceramic: 0

FACTOR 5: SOUNDPROOFING

A well designed stainless steel kitchen sink comes with soundproofing pads or coating. Also the thicker the steel, the more sound absorbing it will be naturally. 

Whereas a ceramic sink can be noisy when water hits its surface, making SS a good choice to go for. 

Score: Stainless steel: 5,  Ceramic: 0