The equipment and work surfaces used in an average commercial kitchen have to put up with a tremendous beating, and whether your commercial kitchen serves a small bistro or a multi-storey hotel, you should ensure that the materials used to design and build it are up the challenge. This is particularly important when it comes to commercial kitchen sinks, as they are exposed to scalding hot water, harsh cleaning chemicals and heavy physical impacts on a regular basis.

Consequently, most commercial kitchens eschew the ceramic and composite plastic sinks found in many residential kitchens, and invest in stainless steel sinks and tapware instead. This unique metal has a number of properties that make it ideal for all kinds of commercial sinks, and brings the following advantages to the table:

Durability

Stainless steel sinks are prized for their immense durability, and even freestanding models that do not benefit from the support of a benchtop or work surface are capable of withstanding enormous punishment. The thickness of steel used in most commercial-grade stainless steel sinks ensures that they do not dent easily, even when heavy pots and pans are dropped into them, and they are totally immune to even the harshest of cleaning chemicals. Rust and corrosion are non-issues, as stainless steel is immune to rust even without protective coatings.

Easy cleaning

Stainless steel has a smooth, non-porous surface that gives bacteria, parasites and other malicious microbes nowhere to hide. Consequently, they can be kept clean and sterile with remarkable ease, and a damp cloth and moderately powerful disinfectant are generally at that is required to keep a stainless steel sink sanitary. Because non-porous surfaces do not retain any moisture, the hidden underside of your sink is also much less vulnerable to accumulated mould.

Custom fabrication

Custom stainless steel fabrication is performed by a wide variety of fabrication companies and workshops and gives you unparalleled flexibility if you choose to design your new commercial sink yourself. This is particularly useful if your kitchen is relatively compact or oddly-shaped, and will not accommodate a standard-sized, 'off-the-shelf' commercial sink setup; long, thin sinks can be placed close to walls to free up valuable aisle space, while triangular corner sinks are very handy for space-saving in smaller kitchens. 

Recycleable

Once it reaches the end of its working life and becomes too worn-out to function effectively, a composite plastic or ceramic sink generally has to be thrown away. By contrast, an unwanted stainless steel sink is a valuable commodity, as metal recycling firms will pay good prices to take the valuable scrap metal off your hands. This can help you recoup the costs of purchasing your sink, and helps the environment as an added bonus.

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