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 stainless is easier to clean than regular stainless and hides smudges and fingerprints. But, if your appliances are likely to suffer dings and nicks, it may not be the best choice since any scratches will strip away the dark coating and be noticeable.