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Are you remodeling or designing your kitchen?
If you are, then you should strongly entertain the idea of purchasing the best undermount sink for your new kitchen. They have a few benefits such as being aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-clean, and extremely convenient due to the lack of a lip.
Anyway, enough talking. Let’s get into the best stainless steel sinks with undermount installation of the year.
Contents
| Product name | Type | Material | Size | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kraus Undermount Sink Best Undermount Kitchen Sink Overall |
Single | Stainless Steel | 14-30'' |  |
|
| 2. Frigidaire Undermount Sink Our Runner Up |
Single | Stainless Steel | 23-32'' |  |
|
| 3. ZUHNE Modena Best Budget Pick |
Single Double |
Stainless Steel | 10-32'' |  |
|
| 4. Ruvati Double Bowl Undermount Best Double Bowl Kitchen Sink |
Double | Stainless Steel | 34'' | |
|
| 5. Elkay Quartz Classic Best Quartz Undermount Sink |
Single | Quartz | 24'' |  |
|
This section will cover my 5 favorite products. I have taken appearance, functionality, and price into account. Other important factors such as durability and sound were also considered while compiling this list.
I’ve also included a general buying guide in this article that will help you figure out what undermount kitchen sink will work best for you.
Kraus has a reputation for good design. This particular one is a perfect example of that reputation. I like the large dimensions that can accommodate all kinds of large pots, pans, and baking sheets. The exact dimensions are 30”x18”x10”. However, that isn’t the only reason the Kraus earned the top spot. Here are some of the reasons why it’s so great and what all kitchen sinks should follow.
Simply put, this Kraus has a superb build-quality. The stainless steel design actually has dent-resistance built into it. And it’s pretty thick at 0.05”. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but that’s pretty thick for stainless steel. In other words, you won’t have to worry about replacing this sink. This one will most likely outlast your home, which is perfect.
I have already covered the durability and strength of the sink itself, but what about the paint? Well, this has an extremely high quality (read: commercial grade) satin finish, so you don’t have to worry about scratches, fading, or corrosion. It’s also very simple to clean.
You’re buying a fixture for a residential kitchen not a commercial kitchen. So you don’t want to have a kitchen that sounds like a commercial kitchen with all the banging and ringing. Kraus took this into account and placed a SoundGuard coating on their products that greatly reduces the sound. They have also padded about 85% of the surface, which really prevents a lot of sound.
The Frigidaire has just about everything that you need, and a lot of what you want, in their undermount sink. And it comes from a company with a storied reputation – Frigidaire. My favorite feature? The lifetime warranty. This alone indicates that Frigidaire has faith that their fixture will withstand the test of time. Some other features I like include the following.
First things first, it works best with a 36” kitchen cabinet. The exact dimensions are 31.5 ”x 30”x 18.5”. What I really like, however, is that this sink works with all types of countertops. Granite, quartz, and even marble are all compatible with it. That isn’t something that can be said about every undermount sink available.
This product has a beautiful design, so it will fit in perfectly in a higher-end kitchen with fancy appliances. The 0.4” corner also makes it super easy to clean the sink. Additionally, Frigidaire placed a normal-sized drain on this one. What does that mean? It can be used as a normal garbage disposal. Very convenient.
The feet on the bottom are detachable, too. This means you can easily pull it out to clean. And don’t worry, you can clean the feet in the dishwasher.
Frigidaire has proprietary technology that actually increases the heat retention of the sink. This means that hot water stays hot for a much longer period of time compared to a normal one. This technology also reduces the sound, so you don’t have to hear banging and clanging while you’re in the kitchen. Chalk this up as a “nice to have” feature on a kitchen sink. Personally, I can’t live without it.
The ZUHNE is one of the top selling undermount sinks on Amazon. And for good reason. This product is just plain awesome. My favorite part of this fixture is the affordability. It costs less than the sinks reviewed previously, but it still has most of the same features. I’ll start with an important one: this sink has about a quarter more stainless steel than comparable ones.
Other features that I like include the following:
ZUHNE does not make expensive fixtures. However, they still make high-quality products that are built to last. For one, it is made from high-quality stainless steel. None of that cheap steel from China that has a tendency to break. And yes, it’s the standard 16-gauge thickness that you find on other more expensive models.
ZUHNE actually put a lot of work into designing something as seemingly basic as a kitchen sink. First, its bottom is angled, which will prevent water from pooling up.
Next, they took the initiative to install a standard sized drain that allows you to install any garbage disposal or use any type of standard plug.
Finally, this has a satin finish, which looks great and should last you a long time. It’s also fairly scratch resistant.
The Ruvati has one advantage that not a single other fixture on this list has: it’s a double bowl sink, which makes it excellent if you have a larger kitchen or simply enjoy the convenience of a double bowl. It has other perks, too. For one, it is made from quartz, so it has a much different appearance. It’s also way more durable.
Other features that I like include the following:
It is made from quartz, which means it can handle huge temperature changes and extremely hot temperature. Basically, you can put a pan straight from the oven into the bowl without destroying the satin finish because this sink doesn’t have a satin finish – it’s quartz. Plus, quartz is much more hygienic than metals. Nothing really seems to stick to quartz, which makes cleaning super easy.
Of course, this sink has an angled bottom to facilitate drainage. However, this product stands out because the location of the drain at the rear does not interfere with your work. That’s a huge positive.
Don’t know if you want a drop-in or undermount kitchen sink? You don’t have to worry about that with this Ruvati because it allows you to install it under the countertop or as a drop-in sink.
Do you want a traditional all-white sink in your kitchen? If you do, the Elkay Quartz Classic is the option for you. It has that perfect between a very elegant, traditional style and a trendy style. Oddly, this works in most modern kitchens. Of course, it works in traditional kitchens, too.
Don’t want a white kitchen sink? No problem. This product is available in 9 different colors. Anyway, here are some of the reasons that I like this one.
It has pretty large dimensions of 24.5” x 18.4” x 9.6”. In other words, this sink is bigger than any of the other sinks listed. All this space gives you plenty of room to do all your kitchen tasks. This fixture is even big enough for commercial use. Personally, I wouldn’t use it commercially, but you could do it.
Quartz is non-porous, which makes it extremely sanitary for two reasons. First, food and liquid doesn’t get stuck to it. So you don’t have to deal with weird slime forming on the wall of the bowl. Yuck. I definitely recommend a quartz sink, like this one, if you have any kind of germ phobia or OCD. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Finding a model that checks all the boxes of your needs is extremely part of choosing a kitchen ware. This section will cover some of the things that you should look for in an undermount kitchen sink.
This one should be obvious. You want a product that you can actually use and that fits in your cabinet. Seriously, what use is a sink that doesn’t fit in your cabinet or that you can’t wash dishes in?
Exactly. Not much use.
I recommend the size no wider than 24 inches for smaller kitchens. If you have a larger kitchen, you can increase that to 30 inches or so. You can also consider purchasing a sink with two bowls in a larger kitchen.
If you purchase a stainless steel sink, then don’t overlook the thickness of it. The most common thickness is 16-gauge. However, you can find some fixtures that are a little thicker than that. Thicker ones will have a smaller gauge.
Why would you want a thicker stainless steel?
They last much, much longer. And they do a better job of absorbing heat.
You probably frequently put red hot pans and pots into your sink. Additionally, you can load it up with ice.
Unfortunately, that can damage some materials with poor temperature resistance. And it will definitely ruin the finish.
I took the initiative to only review sinks that have good temperature resistance, though. If you decide to purchase a different one, then you definitely want to make sure that it has some form of temperature resistance.
This is normally some type of padding or special finish. Look for it and only purchase fixtures that have it.
Sinks of the past used to be loud. You’d hear them all the time while washing your dishes.
Really, the best way to prevent all that annoying sound is to just purchase a model that has some sort of sound proofing on it.
You want an affordable kitchen sink. Unfortunately, it’s pretty difficult to find a cheap undermount kitchen sink that is durable.
Personally, I recommend spending a little more money on a quality product that will last the test of time. All the options listed above fit those criteria.
One more thing, make sure to read the recent reviews to determine if there are any potential problems before you purchase anything.
That about covers it for everything that you need to know about purchasing an undermount kitchen sink in 2021. All the options listed above work great.
If you do decide to purchase a model not listed, then I highly recommend you make sure it has some sort of sound-proofing and at least a 16-gauge stainless steel thickness. Thicker is better, though.
For a quick pick, I recommend the Kraus KHU100-30 Undermount Kitchen Sink. It has everything you want and need for an OK price. More importantly, it’s a quality product that should last a very long time.
