The workhorse of any kitchen, worktops need to be tough and practical to use, as well as stylish.

While cabinetry will be the main and focal style decision you make for your home kitchen, never underestimate the impact your worktop choice will have on the overall theme of the kitchen. Along with the flooring, it sits on a horizontal plane, making it outstanding, so it’s important to give it due consideration and not to view it as an after-thought.

Worktop materials have changed quite radically in the last few years, offering a vast choice across all budgets. Technology has given us super tough materials that are virtually indestructible options for the busiest of family homes.

Picture Your Budget

Worktops are available at a variety of price range – from cheaper laminates to expensive granites – and what you choose usually be driven by how much you have to spend on the kitchen works. Cheaper options can be a good idea but may not last as long more durable stones or composites.

If budgets are tight, try mixing and matching your worktops. Place panels of more expensive stone in harder working areas such as by the cooker or sink and wood or laminate everywhere. Combining worktops is on trend, too, so your kitchen will look very up-to-date and appealing for the common ground.

Picking the Profile

The depth of worktop you choose can also alter the look of a kitchen. Thinner profiles of 10 or 20mm are still popular but thicker edges, created by adding a strip of the composite or stone to the front of the worksurface creating edges of 50mm, are also having a resurgence.

The standard thickness is 30mm.

Choose the best kitchen worktop material for you

The most popular materials for kitchen worktops – granite, wood, glass, composite stone, stainless steel – have different advantages, so it’s important to look at all the factors involved.

Many of the made-to-measure worktops – marble, concrete – are pretty costly and can prove unrealistic if you’re on a budget, so opt for a quality look-alike instead. Pre-cut laminate worktops still provide gorgeous surface design and durability without the hefty price tag. Solid wood can also be a good option as it’s easy to maintain.

Granite Worktops

What is a granite worktop? For some, nothing beats the beauty of natural stone, it’s veining and colouring unique to each slab. Marbles are classically beautiful and luxurious, tend to be rarer and therefore more expensive.

Best used – Any area of the kitchen, including around the sink and next to the hob or oven. A large expanse of glossy granite makes a striking island worktop

Best look – It’s a luxury material that never falls out of fashion and suits traditional and modern styles. Choose from a classic polished finish or a honed matt for a more contemporary look.

How durable is a composite worktop? Granite is hard and resistant to heat and scratches, but it must be treated with respect to preventing damage. The best of all the natural materials, it can withstand high temperatures, is water resistant and impervious to most stains, but wine and citric acids must be cleaned up at once to avoid damaging the stone. and will usually need to be protected by a special sealant.

Flexibility and fitting – With advances in modern technology, granite can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes, although it is very heavy to transport and difficult to manoeuvre.

How do I look after a granite worktop? One great thing about granite is that it’s very low maintenance. You can clean it using a damp cloth and a mild detergent.

Laminate Worktops

What is a laminate worktop? Long-considered the best budget option, laminates are non-porous, offer easy maintenance and come in lots of design and colour choices. Made by fusing multiple layers of impregnated paper under high-pressure temperature, bonded to a substrate, they are resistant to impact, scratching and moisture.

Best used – General usage, including food preparation areas, sink runs and around hobs and cookers.

Best look – Can accurately mimic other worktop materials, including granite, slate and wood, so will suit modern and traditional schemes.

How durable is a laminate worktop? Resistant to most stains and chemicals, but not to heat or steam. Not suitable as a cutting surface. Choose a thicker, high-pressure worktop for greater durability.

Flexibility and fitting – Laminate is one of the few materials that can be cut and fitted by a DIY enthusiast rather than a kitchen professional.

Does laminate require any initial treatment? No

How do I look after a laminate worktop? Laminate is very low maintenance. Clean with a cloth and mild detergent.

Stainless Steel Worktops

What is a stainless steel worktop? Durable, heat resistant, hygienic and impervious to water, stainless steel is an alloy of iron. The addition of chromium makes it resistant to rust.

Best used – Around the sink, by the hob and in all food preparation areas.

Best look – Stainless steel is the restaurant kitchen favourite and great for creating the industrial aesthetic in your home. It works best in contemporary schemes, but you can team it with other materials to soften the look.

How durable is a stainless-steel worktop? Very strong, waterproof, heat and acid resistant. It is prone to scratching, but some say this adds to its well-worn appeal, and this won’t affect its anti-bacterial qualities.

Flexibility and fitting – Sinks can be incorporated into a stainless-steel run. Simple designs can be cut from a single sheet, avoiding the need for joints.

Does stainless steel require any initial treatment? No

How do I care for a stainless-steel worktop? Easily the choice of commercial kitchens because of its hygienic properties. It is very easy to keep clean with stainless-steel cleaner. Use baby oil to keep it looking at its shiny best.

Concrete Worktops

What is a concrete worktop? The industrial look of concrete makes it a current choice. It’s also designed to withstand plenty of heavy duty use, and comes in a range of standard concrete mix colours (from white to grey) and can be mixed with pigments for stronger colours. Polished concrete worktops are flat and smooth, but concrete is porous and can stain, and it is heavy so extra reinforcement may be required.

Best used: General use, but always use chopping boards for food prep.

Best look: Industrial and contemporary schemes.

Upkeep: If food is left on for a long period of time, it can cause staining. You may need a touch-up kit to minimise the appearance if this happens.

Sealing required: You will need to use a food-grade sealer or finishing wax to prevent water and stain absorption.

Durability: Concrete is an incredibly durable material, but is also prone to scratching.

We throw away 7 million tonnes of food to and drink from our homes every year that’s roughly equal 7000000000 Kilos, much of which could have been eaten. It’s costing us £12.5bn a year and is bad for the environment too. Here are our top tips for reducing food waste in your household and other places.

1. Check Your Fridge Temperature

It should be between 0-5C. Food, especially milk, will do dire much quicker if it’s warmer.

2. Use Your Fridge Wisely

Some foods keep better outside than to keep them in a fridge. This includes bread (keep it in a cool dark place like a bread bin or cupboard), bananas, pineapples, potatoes, and onions.

3. Hold on to Your List

Make a shopping list (the easiest way is to keep it in the kitchen and add to it as you think of things) and stick to it when you go shopping. Plan ahead and shop with specific meals in mind. In such way, it’s less likely that you would buy unwanted food items.

4. Keep Your Vegetables Fresh

Keep the stems of vegetables such as broccoli, celery, and asparagus in water to help them stay fresh and crisp.

5. Freeze those 5’s

Got fresh fruit and veg that you can’t use in time? Why not freeze them?

Some fruit and veg will lose their texture when frozen – you can deal with this by freezing them pureed or stewed. This applies to tomatoes (use the puree for pasta dishes or pizza), strawberries (use the puree in smoothies or as a sauce for other fresh fruit) and apples (use a stewed apple on your porridge or muesli, or as the base for a fruit crumble).

6. Freeze those Leftovers

Many leftovers and chilled convenience meals freeze well too. If you’ve made something like pasta or rice with a sauce, freezing the sauce separately will work better and be more effective.

7. Measure Your Portions

Reduce waste by cooking only the amount you need and require. Measuring takes away the guesswork and makes it more likely you’ll get the right amount for your use.

Here’s a guide to measuring portions.

8. Sauces and Dips

Lots of leftovers can be made into sauces or dips.

If you’ve got leftover beans or pulses (either that you’ve cooked yourself or from a tin), mash or blend with some garlic, lemon juice and herbs for a hummus-style dip (don’t try this with baked beans, unless you rinse them thoroughly first).

Slightly over-ripe avocados are great for guacamole, and tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers which need using can go into home-made salsa.

9. Freeze Dairy Products

Semi-skimmed and skimmed milk freeze better than the whole. If it separates once defrosted, just give it a good shake.

Hard cheese also freezes well – cut it into smaller portions, or grate some ready to use later.

10. Revive past-it bread

Bread rolls past their best? Put them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up again. You can also make stale bread into breadcrumbs – either mix them with herbs and onions as a stuffing for chicken or to top baked fish or freeze the breadcrumbs for later use.

Loaves of bread freeze well too. If you’re freezing a loaf or rolls from an in-store bakery, transfer into a freezer bag for better results rather than just freezing it in the packaging it comes in.