I don't care for stainless, harder to keep clean and loses heat fast. Cast iron keeps the heat and cleans well in the light colors. Granite composite sinks seem to be the best of both. IMO.

My personal opinion having had both:

Stainless steel... I was irritated by the water spots, didn't like the need to dry it after each use. (And I didn't, but then I stared at water spots most of the time.)

White cast iron... I thought I would love it! It doesn't show water spots, that's true, but I couldn't seem to keep it looking clean. It looked worse than the water spots on the stainless steel! Everything seemed to make it look stained. Granted, I have fibromyalgia and other health issues, and I find it difficult to scrub things hard like I used to be able to do, but when my white cast iron sink got too grimy looking I had to call in my hubby every time. I tried and tried to get it clean myself with numerous products but I was never successful. (Though it always looked great after my hubby cleaned it.)

So I'm back to stainless steel, and I finally got to get the undermount sink I always wanted. I'm not complaining about those water spots anymore and the undermount makes them a little less noticeable. I find it very easy to gently scrub it to a sparkle. (As long as I dry it afterwards)

I rarely handwash or soak dishes so keeping heat in the sink isn't important to me. I'm also less nervous about breaking glass in my SS sink, also no worries about chipping the coating.

cast iron, bar keepers friend on tougher things, soap and water on most everything, hated my stainless steel

To clean my old cast iron sink, which was a bit worn after 18 years, I spritzed it with Clorox Clean Up and rinsed after a minute every night. I used Bar Keepers Friend every 3 to 4 months for any scratches that hadn't come out earlier.

For my new Whitehaven I mostly just wipe it with a sponge. Sometimes a very light rub with Comet and an occasional spritz of the Clorox. I save Bar Keepers for really bad scratches or rust from kids leaving a can in the sink. I haven't used it on my new (since May) sink yet. It is a wonderful cleaner, but it is a little harsh, so I save it for really tuff stains.

The stains I get the most are from fruit - usually apples because I slice apples every day and sometimes leave the peel or cores in the sink - which leaves staines. I've gotten much better at not leaving them in the sink.

I really love the bright sunshine in the mornings on my white sink.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58831076

IMO stainless is still the best material for kitchen sinks and I have never had a problem cleaning them or getting rid of water marks I clean mine with just dis soap and water and dry with a micro fiber cloth if I get picky . Enamelled cast iron is a pain to keep clean it you drop something on the edge it will chip

Just redid a new kitchen, I chose a two sided cast iron white sink. I have seen quite a few stainless sinks in homes and I know the water spots would drive me crazy whipping it dry all the time.

How lucky do you feel? One dropped pot and you'll look at the chip in the cast iron until the day you replace it. You may get a dent in stainless; it may be removable.

I had my first cast iron sink 18 years - quite a few dropped pots, no chips. My new sink is a Kohler Whitehaven which does have a warranty. I hope I never have to find out if they stand by it.

Kohler Co. warrants the enameled cast iron component of kitchen, entertainment or utility sinks manufactured after April 29, 2008 to be free of defects in material and workmanship during normal residential use for as long as the original consumer purchaser owns his or her home. Kohler Co. further warrants that the enameled cast iron component of the product will not chip, crack or burn for as long as the original consumer purchaser owns his or her home. Gloss reduction, scratching, staining and alkaline etching of the finish over time due to use, cleaning practices or water or atmospheric conditions, are not manufacturing defects but are indicative of normal wear and tear. This warranty applies only to KOHLER Cast Iron kitchen, entertainment and utility sinks installed in the United States of America, Canada or Mexico (North America).

Thank you! Well that is certainly food for thought. Since I have two sinks, one of which is a Ceco cast iron that is showing its age, I was going to switch to two stainless steel sinks. But that Kohler farmhouse cast iron is so pretty.... I could keep the stainless in the sink I use for veggies and pans.

The Kohler Whitehaven comes in two apron sizes. The "short apron" is great for remodels because it can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet. So, if you are not changing out your sink base, it is a great choice. The "tall apron" would need a farmhouse sink base. If you go with the Whitehaven, be sure you order the right apron size. It was clear in the description when I bought mine, but I was recently looking it up for someone and found that it is not as clear as it was - buried in the small print.

Since I just did a kitchen refresh, I had the "short apron" installed. The apron is a couple of inches shorter, but the inside is just as deep as the "tall apron".

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58830325

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~54994093

So Kohler warrants the sink for as long as the original owner owns his home. Smart of them, as the average is only six years.

That's what a cast iron Kohler looks like in a decade or so.

Here's a 16-year-old Silegranit:

Joseph, I will defer to your expertise. However, my personal experience has been different. This is my 19 year old cast iron sink that was removed from my main kitchen and I put in my kitchenette. This is not a Kohler - it was from Menard's and possibly is an Elkay. It is not shiny as a new one is, but it is bright and white. I admit I am careful and do not use harsh cleaning products except on rare occasion - but I did raise 4 kids and have a sometimes klutzy husband. I have two 20 year old Kohler cast iron bathroom sinks which look fine - obviously they don' get the wear a kitchen sink gets.

Joseph Corlett's photo is a perfect example of my comment on cast iron sinks. Don't buy them if you want a dark colored sink.

jhmarie:

Thanks. I offer pictures as one-time examples. As you have shown, other's results will vary.

We have the Kohler Whitehaven and LOVE it. My question is when we gut the kitchen, and will keep the Whitehaven, we are going to add a prep sink. Do I stick with the cast iron or go to SS? Our old house had two sinks, both SS but it wasn't a 115 year old house. Will definitely be an undermount but I'm not sure I want to mix the sink finishes. However, most likely, the fridge will be SS. Opinions please.