Why You Should Have A Stainless Steel Kitchen Island, According To Ree Drummond

Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman of TV, retail, and blogging fame, hates bananas ... but she absolutely loves stainless steel countertops and islands. At The Lodge, the property on her home ranch where Drummond films the "Pioneer Woman" TV show, the kitchen is large enough that there are butcher block, engineered marble, and galvanized steel surfaces all in different areas. On her home kitchen island, however (at least in 2010), Drummond opted for a classic restaurant option: Stainless steel.

"I've absolutely loved the stainless top. It can't be hurt. [...] It's a very sterile surface: nonporous and easy to clean. [...] It was cheap, and I wound up liking it even more than [more-expensive] granite," Drummond gushed on her website. This is a woman whose options on kitchen surfaces we trust, given that she has plenty of them! Like she boasted, stainless steel has a lot going for it. You can set a hot pan down on it with no worries, unlike wood, marble/quartz, or laminate (which is just one reason why you should skip this countertop). It cleans very easily, which is why stainless features in so many restaurant and professional kitchens. And it's easy-peasy to buff out minor scratches, making it a choice for your kitchen island that will go the distance: Stainless steel can last 20 years or more with basic care.

Stainless steel is definitely not the cheapest countertop or island surface, but you get what you pay for. A 2024 estimate ballparked the price of stainless steel kitchen surfaces at between $80 to $200 per square foot. If you can source a pre-fabricated sheet for your kitchen project, you can pay less. A custom cut will be more expensive, on the other hand. Different finishes will also impact your cost, making this a budget choice as much as an aesthetic one. A mirror-polished steel surface will show a ton of fingerprints, but look super-glam. On the other hand, a brushed or matte finish won't make your magpie brain go "ooh, shiny!," but it will be painless to keep clean.

There are a few downsides to stainless, most of which we personally feel are outweighed by the advantages. These surfaces can be spendy, as mentioned, and smudges are definitely a concern that might get annoying if you are the "constant cleaner" type. Some people feel that a stainless steel island throws "cold" vibes, and prefer a warmer, more inviting feel to their kitchen. Also, anything you accidentally drop on stainless is going to be very, very loud. With all that said, every option for islands and counters has major pros and cons, and we don't know if it gets better than stainless steel for folks who are serious about their cooking. Ree Drummond, as usual, has great taste!