# Stainless Steel Refrigerators **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072 "2019-09-11T23:35:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/21 "2019-09-12T02:40:16Z")
> [@kirkrapine](#): > > I once read that the dress swords of Marine officers and noncoms are now made of stainless steel, which is too brittle to be of any use in combat (not that anyone would use a sword in combat, against an enemy who has rifles. In WWII, the Japanese attached bayonets to light machine guns, which were too unwieldy to use as thrusting weapons, but that was because of the sword-based samurai heritage of their military culture). Don’t know nothing 'bout swords but I do know that stainless steel _screws_ are soft not brittle. I used them on my cedar deck and probably stripped the head on 10% of them. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/22 "2019-09-12T02:42:31Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > So now I have this giant useless surface that attracts fingerprints. Where I used to have a grocery list, and coupons, and old children’s art that still made me smile, and Christmas cards, now I have this ugly useless thing. 😕 Did you just write or draw on your old fridge? ETA: My stainless steel fridge holds magnets just fine. If you don’t like it, just return it and get what you want. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/23 "2019-09-12T02:46:25Z")
It turns out that whether or not stainless steel is magnetic [is determined by quantum mechanics](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-dont-magnets-work-on/)! It’s incredibly hard to understand physics, right in your kitchen! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/24 "2019-09-12T02:55:58Z")
As a minor note, if anyone wants to search the archive for a circa 2002 thread about someone trying to buy a fridge that _didn’t_ have an icemaker, I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/25 "2019-09-12T02:56:43Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > ETA: My stainless steel fridge holds magnets just fine. If you don’t like it, just return it and get what you want. Mine also - to the point where you can’t really tell that it is stainless steel because you can’t see much of the surface. But it is good to know that if/when we shop for a replacement, I should bring a magnet along to test if it will hold all the crap that is on the current one. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/26 "2019-09-12T03:36:07Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > As a minor note, if anyone wants to search the archive for a circa 2002 thread about someone trying to buy a fridge that _didn’t_ have an icemaker, I highly recommend it. Yeah, a quick internet search showed me that wasn’t going to work. Almost nothing on the market doesn’t have an icemaker. I think I can remove the icemaker from this one, though. As soon as we finish cleaning the old one, so I can temporarily move all the stuff from the freezer into it, I plan to attack the ice maker. That should buy us a couple of inches in that portion of the freezer. (Neither I nor my husband uses ice enough to want an ice maker. Ice gets nasty if it sits too long, and it takes up space I could use for butter and meat and broth and frozen veggies. I really was surprised how small the new freezer is – it looks huge from the outside, but there’s probably only 60% of the space we used to have. I guess I should have shopped more carefully, but we never really did much with the freezer in the basement, so I wasn’t too worried. Now we will be doing more with the freezer in the basement… ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/27 "2019-09-12T03:40:11Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > …And, puzzlegal, I also found an [article with suggestions](https://homeguides.sfgate.com/put-magnets-nonmagnetic-refrigerators-26483.html). I dunno if it will help, but I offer it in hope… Thanks. It turns out the side are magnetic. That’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing, and it means I don’t need to find a new home for my thermometer. Bedawrek pointed me to magnetic tape, and I may buy a roll or two of that, and stick it to the front. It will likely be ugly, and not quite as flexible as being able to drop a magnet anywhere, but I think that will address most of my major concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/28 "2019-09-12T03:55:36Z")
As the proud owner of a nickel-imbued stainless steel refrigerator, I WELCOME my new blank-faced beer-holding monolithic overlord. My oven-mitt magnets, beer-opener magnets, magnetized calendar and shopping lists live happily on the side, and I give a jolly wink at the empty frontage as I brew my morning tea and butter my English muffin each day. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/29 "2019-09-12T06:25:10Z")
If you really have to put a bunch of crap on your refrigerator that you quickly come to ignore because you see it so much then just use tape or gummy removable adhesive. Let’s face it: You put it up and stays there for months and you completely forget about it, so using magnets isn’t really necessary. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/30 "2019-09-12T12:34:41Z")
Yeah, the fingerprint situation was bothering my gf after we did our kitchen remodel. I got a pair of white gloves from a friend whose hobby is watches. I left the gloves on the counter and put them on any time I opened the fridge. It took my gf three days to notice, but was worth it for the laugh. Oh, and I fine tuned the leveling feet on the refrigerator so that the door stands open without assistance. Between that and using the recess openining area there are very few prints. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/31 "2019-09-12T12:42:21Z")
Last time I bought stainless steel, I had to pay a premium for it. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/32 "2019-09-12T12:59:36Z")
Hey, maybe you get no joy from your child’s old artwork, but I do. Also, the magnets themselves are fun. There’s no joy in sticky putty. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/33 "2019-09-12T13:00:37Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Last time I bought stainless steel, I had to pay a premium for it. Yeah, I was surprised that the non-stainless options cost more. Less demand, so slower thruput, I’d guess. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/34 "2019-09-12T14:22:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > It’s an appliance, not a fashion statement. The only ones who dictate whether an appliance is “in style” are the companies making appliances. It’s a scam. > > Does it still work, and function as intended? That is all that matters. It’s not a fucking scarf that is no longer “in season” While I agree with you in principle, unfortunately there will come a day when the kids have moved out and Mrs Magill and I will say “screw that” to cleaning the homestead. On that day, having a “timeless kitchen” will make selling the old Casa de Magill much easier. > [@robby](#): > > We bought all new appliances when we built our house 15 years ago, and I hated stainless steel even back then. All of our appliances are white. And yes, we have fridge magnets and grocery lists covering the refrigerator. 🙂 Which is the entire reason to have a fridge. Well, that and it’s a good place to keep the milk. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/35 "2019-09-12T15:35:48Z")
Some stainless appliances have fingerprint resistance as well. Our [Maytag](https://www.maytag.com/fingerprint-resistant-stainless-steel.html) does, and it lets us stick magnets on the front. The previous Kenmore had neither and is now the downstairs beer fridge. FWIW, I would have had to pay extra for the stainless front microwave/range I installed. The black one was $100 less, and shows fingerprints really easily. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/36 "2019-09-12T16:33:07Z")
For notes have you considered something like this? > **[Amazon.com : 17x11 Stain-Resistant Magnetic Whiteboard for Fridge - Includes 4...](https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Erase-Whiteboard-Kitchen-Fridge/dp/B01HC3EEAE)** > > Amazon.com : 17x11 Stain-Resistant Magnetic Whiteboard for Fridge - Includes 4 Markers and Big Eraser with Magnets - Magnetic Dry Erase Board | Refrigerator White Board Organizer and Planner : Office Products You stick it on the front of your fridge and now it’s a dry erase board. And it covers up the stainless steel surface that collects all those fingerprints. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/37 "2019-09-12T16:40:45Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > For notes have you considered something like this? > > [https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Erase-Whiteboard-Kitchen-Fridge/dp/B01HC3EEAE](https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Erase-Whiteboard-Kitchen-Fridge/dp/B01HC3EEAE) > > You stick it on the front of your fridge and now it’s a dry erase board. And it covers up the stainless steel surface that collects all those fingerprints. I think her major complaint is that the front isn’t magnetic, so a magnetic whiteboard may not help much. Plus if it doesn’t stick, it isn’t going to prevent fingerprints. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/38 "2019-09-12T17:23:43Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I think her major complaint is that the front isn’t magnetic, so a magnetic whiteboard may not help much. Plus if it doesn’t stick, it isn’t going to prevent fingerprints. Shit, sorry that was the wrong link. [https://amazon.com/Embellish-Whiteboard-Wall-Decal-Sticker/dp/B07F5R5T6G/](https://amazon.com/Embellish-Whiteboard-Wall-Decal-Sticker/dp/B07F5R5T6G/) That’s what I meant to link to. It’s a film you stick on, like a huge sticker, that covers up the stainless steel surface and turns it into a whiteboard. It is supposed to stick to stainless steel just fine. And as I said it would cover up the fingerprint-prone chrome with something less likely to show prints. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/39 "2019-09-12T17:26:48Z")
Huh. Magnets work fine on all of my stainless steel appliances. Whirlpool fridge, Frigidaire mini-fridge, Frigidaire range, Maytag dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072/40 "2019-09-12T17:40:09Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Huh. Magnets work fine on all of my stainless steel appliances. Whirlpool fridge, Frigidaire mini-fridge, Frigidaire range, Maytag dishwasher. On our stainless steel refrigerator, magnets stick fine to the sides, but not the front. Which, coincidentally, works perfect for us. Keeps a nice uncluttered look in front and allows a few things to be stuck to the sides. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stainless-steel-refrigerators/840072.md?page=3)