Everything about the kitchen sink

You may not cook every day, but is there ever a day when you don't use the kitchen sink? We subjected more than 20 double-bowl sinks from major manufacturers to a barrage of hot pots, scouring pads, dropped weights, and stains. Months of testing showed that the manufacturer of a sink isn't as important as the material. Similar materials performed similarly across brands, so we based our evaluations of sinks entirely on materials. Here are the results.

With 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 and found the gauge had little to do with performance.
Tip: Sinks with sound-absorbing pads, placed on the bottom and sides of the exterior, were quieter than those with a spray coating.

Enamel is 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. Our hot-pot test didn't damage them, but when we dropped a 5-pound weight, similar to dropping a heavy pot, enamel-on-steel sinks chipped or cracked. Enamel on cast iron chipped when we dropped a sharp, light object, similar to a knife.
Tip: Damaged enamel can cause the metal underneath to rust.

Solid surface is sleek and seamless. Solid surface sinks can be paired with counters made of the same material for a seamless look. In our tests high heat and dropping a sharp, light object, similar to a knife, damaged solid surfacing.
Tip: Because they're made as a unit, if the sink or counter is damaged, you'll have to replace both.

Is it big enough? Double-bowl sinks let you soak a pot in one bowl while you rinse in the other. Just be sure that at least one of the bowls is wide enough to fit large pots or roasters. Sinks that are rectangular shaped are standard, but D-bowls have a curved back and offer more space, front to back.
Tip: Take a large pot with you to the store to check size.

Think about depth. Bowls are usually 6 to 12 inches deep. The deeper ones reduce splashes, but depending on your height, it may be uncomfortable to reach the bottom of a very deep sink.
Tip: Under-mounted sinks will be up to 1 ½ inches lower than a drop-in.

For full Ratings of kitchen and bathroom sinks, see Consumer Reports sink buying guide and check out the results of our tests of countertops and faucets.

Via: Everything about the kitchen sink