Based on the parts you listed, I think it's wrong. Like totally.

Enameled cast iron was the standard for decades because it was so much better than real stone sinks it replaced.

Composite and solid surface sinks are durable and resurfaceable: Corian? Silgranite? Absolutely hardcore sinks.

@julieste - those types of articles that pigeonhole things that way are just clickbait. Pay them no mind.

An under mount stainless of good quality will out live you.

And I don't care if you cook all darn day.

I agree with Jan--stainless steel would be my choice--durable, neutral, easy care. Enameled cast iron is hard to keep clean and it can chip. Not a fan of solid surface or silgranite, but that's just me.

The article is pretty good, but the idea of reinforcing a cabinet to support a sink is nonsense. If you hold any cast iron or fireclay sink with a Pete's Sink Mount Kit, you're safely transferring the load to the cabinet sides. No reinforcements necessary.

Stainless steel is a great sink material, but the article fails to mention denting. If you use a grate, the risk is minimized. You're only one dropped pot away from disaster with cast iron or fireclay. The chip in cast iron will rust and the sink will begin to slowly self-destruct. Fireclay will just leak and be ugly and unsanitary.

The composites can chip, but the chips can be repaired inconspicuously; I've done it. Plus, the color goes all the way through. I'm waiting on a replacement composite apron front, my first. I haven't determined if it was manufacturer/installer defect, or customer abuse.

I would never own an enamelled cast iron sink I have seen way too many chipped and really beyond repair . Stainless is the best choice IMO and I have never had a stainless sink dent in my home or in a commercial kitchen the grids make me crazy they get gross and need an extra cleaning that is IMO totally unnecessary . A good quality stainless sink will last forever.

I've never had anything except a builder-basic stainless steel sink, and they've never sustained any damage or wear whatsoever; logic would dictate that the higher-quality stainless steel sinks should be all-but-bulletproof. The sink in my old house was 50 years old when we left and was in perfect condition.

I can't comment on any other materials, but I don't see any reason not to use stainless steel when it's relatively inexpensive and so long-lasting.

I am ready to push the "buy" button on a composite sink--either Kohler Neoroc or Elkay Luxe (haven't decided yet). That's why I found the article a bit disconcerting when it ranked composite sinks lowest in the durability category and said they are more appropriate for those who use their kitchens lightly. It got me wondering if what the article said is true about composite sinks.

I've had cast iron for decades and know exactly what I would be getting if I get another cast iron. I am one of those who just can't get enthused about stainless.

I've had my Blanco silgranit sink for 6 1/2 years and it is extremely durable. It is great! We cook a lot and it looks as good as the day it was installed.

We’ve only had our Blanco silgranit sink about a year, but so far I’ve been really happy with the selection.. I love that it’s easy to clean and even better that it never looks dirty/spotted. Although we did pick a slightly darker color (truffle) so assume that makes a difference.

I’ve flung iron skillets containing a flaming on fire croquette (don’t ask) into a stainless sink with zero denting. The only damage was having to redo the plastic drain pipe that melted from the heat. No other sink type would stand up to that. Including the plastic composite ones that are so called ”quartz”. Or cast iron.

"flaming on fire croquette"--That must have been quite the sight!

It's reassuring to hear from those of you who have silgranite and think it's a fine material.

Thanks all.

I’ve had several stainless steel sinks in my life and I hated them. They never look or feel clean enough to me. I love my Kohler cast iron andam putting another one in the house we are moving to but I must admit I’m a bit worried that it will develop cracks as there is a thread here with numerous complaints about Kohler cast iron. The one I have here still looks as good as new!

Shannon_WI makes a good point about the color of the composite sinks. Mine is anthracite and nothing stains it. I've also read the lighter colors stain more easily.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned about SS sinks is the noise from metal on metal. The sound of silverware scraping against a SS sink is awful imo. I know not everyone is bothered by such sounds, but if you are sensitive to that, do not get a SS sink.

I have had two Kohler cast iron sinks in the last 25 years, both in white. I cook every day. I have never had an issue with chips or scratches and they look just as good as the day they were installed. The only reason I replaced the first one was we did a complete kitchen remodel. I have stainless at our beach house and I despise it. IMO not aesthetically pleasing and never looks clean.

Don't agree with the categories. We cook a lot and clean a lot. Not to mention all the projects we get involved in that are less about cooking and more about everything else. Favorite sink by far for me is granite composite-- one was a Franke, the other was no brand in particular (I think it was Lowes or HD brand). Quiet, durable, look fab. Both were dark colors.

Least favorite for me is stainless. I just cannot like them much. They never look really good to me, nor do they ever seem as quiet as the granite composite.

Have had cast iron, porcelain, stainless, granite composite. Did have a white-ish swanstone (??) sink that came with one of our houses. That was dreadful. I cleaned it several times (like major cleaning). It stained very badly and the stains were near-impossible to remove. Possibly there was a way to seal it, but sealing a sink is well beyond my interest level in terms of cleaning or maintenance. Could not get rid of that sink fast enough!

Given the choice, stainless would be my last choice -- but many people love it. I do put a high priority on quiet, clean look, and looking new.

@Holly-Kay I am debating between a composite (maybe leaning that way) and a Kohler cast iron. I too have been reading that thread about Kohler cracking, and it is giving me pause.

@mimimomy--It's good to hear from someone who has had all different types of sinks and is able to compare them from personal experience.

To everyone: Your comments are so helpful in making what is turning out to be a much more complicated decision than I had originally thought.

I do know that if I go with composite it will need to be a darker color because I have read too many negative things about lighter composite sinks.

It's too bad that stainless just doesn't call to me the way it does to some people. I get the idea that it probably is extremely durable. It was the categories in the article that threw me for a loop.

How many of these threads (and debates) do we have on this subject? I have responded to at least one other this month. I will not repeat what I have said on the other threads other than my DH and I are in the Kohler Cast Iron camp...and have been for 3 houses prior to our new build.

Holly- Kay - I have not seen the thread about the cast iron cracking. Could you post a link, please? It is disturbing and I wonder if it is a recent manufacturing problem.

BTW- When my plumber was hooking things up the other day, he made the comment that he noticed I had picked a "good ole cast iron sink". He said that he has not seen one in quite a while and they are the best!!!

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2692381/hairline-cracks-in-kohler-cast-iron-kitchen-sink

I’ve had several stainless steel sinks in my life and I hated them. They never look or feel clean enough to me.

I understand that -- if you associate bright white with clean. Stainless steel is always going to be rather dull in tone.

Well I ended up going with the material that I am familiar and comfortable with. I ordered a Kohler cast iron in white. To me there are more pros than cons with this material. The gray color marks that some people complain about are due to metal pans rubbing on the surface. It's a three second job to remove these with Barkeeper's Friend. In many decades of use I have never dropped anything that chipped the sink. We have used ours very occasionally for cleaning paintbrushes with latex paint on them, and the sink easily cleans up afterwards.

I have two Kohler Whitehaven sinks and love them. order the sink grid. i makes a big difference in trrms of keeping the sink free from scratches. And the grid works as a dish drainer too because you can stand plates up between the bars.