# Is there any real advantage to stainless steel appliances? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940 "2015-09-20T12:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/21 "2015-09-21T03:34:44Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Then there are the new ‘no fingerprint’ finishes. I wonder how durable that ‘no fingerprint’ treatment is. Stainless steel finishes on kitchen appliances normally will show the smallest smudge or fingerprint. This may be an advantage in an environment that requires near-perfect cleanliness, but in your average home kitchen it’s a pain in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/22 "2015-09-21T22:23:24Z")
I think the biggest advantage stainless steel has is that the only other options are shiny white and shiny black. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/23 "2015-09-21T23:51:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Purely esthetic\*. It goes with a “modern” look. But many people prefer a more tradition look with wood panels on the fridge and dishwasher so they blend in with the rest of the cabinetry. (That can also be a “modern” look, but more often it’s a traditional one.) > > \*Although they do tend to be the more high-end type, so there might be some functional advantage. But people LIKE them for the looks. I been checking out new houses and condos on line and I haven’t seen any fridge and dishwasher with wood panels. I been seeing a lot kitchens in all white everything is boring white ! ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/24 "2015-09-21T23:59:00Z")
The high-end cooktop I installed ca 1985 was stainless. When I went to sell in 2008, I got the fancy _NEW_ SS refer. The finishes were different, but, since the refer was 12’ from the cooktop (yes, very old house with huge kitchen\*), the difference was not all that noticeable. - In years past (see userid), all parties ended up in the kitchen. Now that kitchens have been minimized, where do they end up? I’ll guess deck/patio when available. Those ‘Greatroom’ designs must be a pain. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Al](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@Dirty\_Al](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Al)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/25 "2015-09-22T03:20:55Z")
The real advantage to stainless in residential appliances is that most stainless steel is non-magnetic. That means refrigerator magnets and their notes, lists, drawings, etc. won’t stick to the panels keeping the kitchen free and clear of such litter! ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/26 "2015-09-22T07:11:04Z")
The next big thing is probably going to be a play on stainless that’s got the anti-fingerprint coating and a patina to make it look sort of charcoal gray, dimming the “oh lord, turn off the lights” reflectiveness of standard stainless, without going fully back to any kind of enamel or texture on the metal. It’s pretty slick looking but also wouldn’t work with most kitchen decor that doesn’t look like it was designed by the set masters from Star Trek. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/27 "2015-09-22T14:42:16Z")
There may be a scientific benefit… the bare metal surface may be anti-microbial… (wrecked if its lacquered… not wrecked due to patina ) ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/28 "2015-09-22T14:48:12Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Stainless steel finishes on kitchen appliances normally will show the smallest smudge or fingerprint. This may be an advantage in an environment that requires near-perfect cleanliness, but in your average home kitchen it’s a pain in the ass. I don’t care for stainless steel in my house for this reason. It always looks smudged. ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/29 "2015-09-22T15:17:19Z")
You can forget about using refrigerator magnets. They don’t stick on stainless. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/30 "2015-09-22T16:06:45Z")
I like the look of polished copper-are copper clad appliances available? ---
**Author:** ![iceiso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@iceiso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iceiso)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/31 "2015-09-22T16:10:38Z")
> [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](#): > > You can forget about using refrigerator magnets. They don’t stick on stainless. Some types of stainless are magnetic, others are not. My refrigerator is stainless and magnets stick to it. Same with my cookware. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940/32 "2015-09-22T16:12:29Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I like the look of polished copper-are copper clad appliances available? Sure, just hop in your time machine and head back [about 40 or 50 years](http://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/1968-ge-kitchen2673crop2.jpg). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-advantage-to-stainless-steel-appliances/731940.md?page=1)