Kitchen Worktop Guide Part II: Metal and Steel

 

Metal and steel surfaces found their way into domestic kitchens, bringing with them an air of professionalism and style. They are strong and durable, easy to clean, hygienic, and can be manipulated into many shapes. Worktops are usually formed by wrapping a thin metal/steel sheet over a firm substrate, like a marine grade wood, ply or MDF. There are also variants, although much rarer, of thick metal/steel sheets or slabs (we are still talking in mm) being used as countertops with some spectacular results. They are manufactured in a variety of thicknesses, known as gauges, and the lower (the better) numbers represent thicker and stronger material. Materials most often used for countertops are stainless steel, copper, pewter, zinc, brass and bronze. Countertops are done to your specifications and come in a variety of finishes like polished, brushed, matt, hammered, antiqued, etched etc. Apart from stainless steel of higher grades, all the others are sensitive to acids and if unprotected develop patina quickly. Many people will find this characteristic appealing as having a unique worktop is no small feat, others not so. If you would like to keep them quite pristine they need protection with strong wax or sealer, although they are not bullet proof.
Like some other materials for kitchen worktops, additional elements, like sinks, can be incorporated into your worktop with no visible seams. Like all other materials, there are plenty of pros and cons in terms of their use, production and sustainability/eco credentials. What they have on their side is a high percentage of recycled content in production and being infinitely recyclable without loosing quality, which few materials can claim.

 

Stainless Steel Worktop

 

Stainless steel is most commonly used and comes in a variety of grades. Types of additional metal alloys give it different properties, of which the most important ones are antibacterial and resistance to heat and acids. The latter is known as 316 grade and was designed for labs. The material is deployed in hospitality and professional kitchens for its incredible durability, easy to keep hygienic surfaces and ability to withstand directly placed sizzling pots and pans. It will develop patina over time, although there are cleaners that can keep it looking polished.

– best cleaned with soapy water/mild cleaner and cloth, anything containing bleach can damage it
– strong and durable, resistant to heat and acids
– variety of finishes
– scratches easily which can be both + and –
– leaves finger marks and smudges but some finishes, like brushed, show blemishes less
– can dent and bruise, denting will depend on gauge options ( the higher the number the thinner the material)
– clinical and cold appearance, but some might love it

 

Copper Worktop

 

Copper possesses a natural warm glow that works beautifully as a contrasting material in overly cool surroundings. It is softer than most other metals – hardness and durability depend on its gauge, heavy being known for hardness, ease of maintenance and development of richly hued patina. Lighter gauges usually appear quite bright and, being softer, are easier to cut and handle. The softer it is, the more noticeable blemishes become: dents from banging your pans, scratches from directly cutting on it, burn marks from hot pans and acids, etc. If properly cared for, sealed copper worktops usually preserve their sparkle much longer, while unwaxed ones oxidise and evolve much quicker, developing striking and colourful patina unique to each one. It is important to note that patina will develop, no matter how gentle you are with it. It is considered a ‘living surface’ and if you would like to skip a few episodes where it can look quite messy than go for an already patinated finish. It is known for its anti-bacterial/viral/microbial properties, but not all copper is made the same way, so check for these properties.

– sealed countertops can be cleaned with products made for glass and stainless steel
– reacts with acid (orange, lemon, vinegar, etc.) and produces stains, remove spills to avoid
– cleaners containing bleach, ammonia or citric acid can cause staining
– can withstand high temperatures but care should be taken with hot pans – they can leave marks and, if soft, copper could warp
– copper with patina can be cleaned with a mixture of lemon juice and table salt, then rinsed with water

 

Bronze Worktop

 

Bronze is a metal alloy primarily consisting of copper, tin being the main additive. Often mixed with brass, but the two materials are very different in both origin and appearance. Bronze, after all, has its own era.. We can trace it back to over 5000 years ago, where it was heavily used as a stronger and more durable substitute to stone and copper. To us it is mostly familiar through art, sculptures, and architectural details. Unusually, it is resistant to salt water corrosion and used in boat and ship fittings. It is darker than copper and brass and through ageing produces patina of deep brown shades.

– develops patina slowly
– cleaned with soapy water or glass cleaning products
– wipe up liquids to avoid spotting and rings
– to minimise marks and scratches use chopping board
– use of trivets recommended to avoid burns
– reacts with acid
– metal polish and lemon juice can remove patina

 

Brass Worktop

 

Brass is made from an alloy of copper and zinc, a combination that makes it harder and less likely to dent. Although known for its many other applications, as a worktop it can provide quite a unique feature. It comes in a variety of shades, from quite bright to dulled golden hues. As other ‘living surfaces’, its appearance changes over time. Marks will appear quite soon, especially around work areas where it will age differently, being affected by water. Less frequented areas tend to develop darker shades while often used ones lean towards gold. Formed marks usually overlap and create unified look.

– easy to clean with soapy water and soft cloth
– reacts to acids like tomato, lemon, vinegar, etc.
– avoid cleaners with ammonia, bleach or citric acid or use them to speed up an ageing process
– can be wax sealed to preserve the more uniformed look
– can mark and warp from hot pots and pans, use trivets to prevent
– less likely to scratch than copper, pewter or zinc

Zinc Worktop

 

Traditionally used in hospitality, its popularity in the domestic kitchen environment has grown thanks to its cool but lively appearance. A less clinical counterpart to stainless steel, it is also sensitive and reacts to pretty much everything: fingers, water, oranges. Through ageing it develops patina in shades of blues and greys, making it suitable for many kitchen styles. This unique patina is its biggest selling point and it takes about a year to develop.

– antibacterial properties
– easy to clean with soapy water and soft cloth
– reacts to acids like tomato, lemon, vinegar, etc.
– avoid cleaners with ammonia, bleach or citric acid
– shine periodically with beeswax
– can warp and melt in contact anything hotter than 148C, so no hot pots and pans, use trivets to prevent
– soft and scratches easily

 

Pewter Worktop

 

Pewter is a metal alloy composed mostly of tin, with mostly coper and antimony acting as hardeners. It si often confused with zinc as they look quite similar when new. However, zinc becomes predominantly blue-grey while pewter develops shades of earthy brown and charcoal. It is a soft and malleable metal traditionally used for counters in French hospitality establishments where, to add to the confusion, bars are often called ‘le zinc’. If frequently polished, pewter worktop will keep its vibrant shine. Otherwise, like the rest of the metals, it will naturally develop patina.

– easy to clean with soapy water or glass cleaner and soft cloth
– reacts to liquids and acids like tomato, lemon, vinegar, etc.
– avoid cleaners with ammonia, bleach or citric acid
– can mark and warp from hot pots and pans, melting point is from 170C – 230C, use trivets to prevent
– it can be restored to look like new
– dents and scratches easily but can be re-brushed
– mirror polish look can be maintained by regular polishing

 

To help with your choice, you can visit our Pinterest board dedicated to steel and metal kitchen worktops.