Sink with drainer or not? Do you need a drainer?

When buying a new kitchen sink, several important decisions need to be made, after all, it's an appliance that you buy for several years, so it should be both functional and elegant. Apart from decisions regarding its colour or shape, and whether it should be a single-bowl sink or a model equipped with two bowls, you also need to decide whether it will be a sink with a drainer or without. Before making a final choice, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the available sink models and with information on where each type of sink will work best.

Do you need a sink with a drainer?

Many people wonder about the necessity of buying a sink with a drainer, motivated by having a dishwasher. Indeed, if you've essentially given up hand-washing dishes, a sink with a drainer may seem like equipment that only unnecessarily takes up space on the cabinet or countertop. This is a popular belief especially among people with a small kitchen or kitchenette.

However, a drainer is useful not only when washing dishes; it can be a convenient extra place for setting down a hot pot, putting vegetables or fruits you want to wash, and it is also handy for placing items intended for defrosting. Besides, drainers are the element that somewhat separates the sink from the countertop. So it is also a way to protect against splashing during cleaning, something especially appreciated by those with a wooden worktop made from natural wood in the kitchen.

Solid sinks with a drainer

Modern sinks equipped with or without drainers are available in a very wide range of colours, shapes, and sizes. They can also differ in installation methods, giving you the option of choosing a built-in or overlay model. Deciding whether it will be a two-bowl or single-bowl sink with a drainer is one of many decisions you will have to make when buying a new sink. However, it is worth knowing that regardless of whether you choose stainless steel, granite, or other materials for the sink, the drainer will be a practical solution.

The choice of material does not actually affect the durability of the sink, as both appliances made of enamelled steel, composite, and other materials are very resistant to mechanical damage and high temperatures. In this case, a low price does not necessarily mean inferior quality. However, if you have limited countertop space and don't want to dedicate it to a drainer, you can opt for a 1.5-bowl sink model, the additional narrow bowl equipped with a separate drain will effectively serve as a classic drainer.

Drainer for the sink – main advantages

Dishwashers are present in an increasing number of kitchens, so some decide to buy a single-bowl sink without a drainer, viewing it as a redundant detail that doesn't fit the worktop. Yes, it takes up a bit of extra space, but the wide range of sink models means finding one that will perfectly match your kitchen should not be a problem. You will quickly appreciate the presence of a drainer.

What do you do with dirty dishes before placing them in the dishwasher? Where will you put dirtied vegetables or fruits brought from the shop? And your favourite cup, from which you drink coffee or tea several times a day? Stainless steel drainers – this might be the answer to all the questions posed above. If you don't have room to place a classic drying rack for frequently used dishes, the drainer is where you'll conveniently place them. In other words, a two-bowl or single-bowl sink with a drainer continues to be a proven solution!

Modern alternatives to traditional drainers

If you have a single-bowl sink in the kitchen, for example, due to very limited space, and yet you lack space for resting washed dishes or cutlery, check out the original solution of a drainer that hooks onto the sides of the sink. In this way, water from washed items can flow directly into the sink basin, and no additional devices will appear on the countertop. The main advantage here is the size of the drainer, and the fact that you can dismantle it at any moment. If you have a two-bowl sink, the second bowl can successfully take on the functions assigned to drainers, serving for drying washed pots before you store them in the cupboard.

Another idea, also worth taking a closer look at, could be a dish drainer hidden in the cupboard under the sink. This handy and aesthetically pleasing solution allows you to conveniently dry dishes while maintaining kitchen order. The countertop and single-bowl sink remain clear, even after a large wash-up. Additionally, you avoid the need to wipe dishes before putting them in their proper place. Another idea is a container to dry cutlery; not all can be washed in the dishwasher, and there is not always time to dry them thoroughly, here an extra drainer placed on the countertop or the edge of the sink will come in handy.