As their name suggests, stainless steel appliances are resistant to many forms of wear and tear, including rust, water, and heat damage, notes Shimek. "Not only are they difficult to stain, but they're also hard to scratch!" Cleaning stainless steel is also easy.

Black is a versatile color for your kitchen that can be paired with many shades. But, if you already have graphite tones or other shades of black that could clash, traditional stainless steel may be a better choice. Black stainless is easier to clean than regular stainless and hides smudges and fingerprints.

Appliances are in High Demand Unfortunately, that heightened demand came at a time when manufacturing around the globe was suffering tremendously. As a result of pandemic-caused factory shutdowns, manufacturers were unable to meet demand, creating a backlog the appliance industry has yet to recover fully from.