I recently moved into a new house and the previous owners didn't provide much information about the kitchen surfaces. I've been trying to figure out if my countertop is soapstone. Google Lens thinks it might be, but I want to be absolutely sure before I start placing hot pans directly on it. Here's a link to a photo for reference: https://imgur.com/a/A9YnoUz
2 Answers
I’d agree that your stone might be quartz rather than soapstone, especially if there’s not much color variation. Soapstone usually displays greens and blues with white striations. If you're seeing water marks, it could be from a sealer trapping moisture rather than it being in the stone itself. A good test is scratching it as described earlier, that usually gives a clear answer!
From what I'm seeing, your countertop looks a lot like my soapstone. Soapstone is generally softer than materials like quartz, so a quick test is to gently try scratching it with your fingernail on the underside. If you see some residue after scratching, that's a good sign it's soapstone. Also, if it's showing signs of a glass ring, that's a hint that it might not be soapstone since it's usually non-porous. In my experience, sealing with mineral oil is key to maintaining soapstone, but it does require regular reapplication. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the tip! I noticed a few cup ring stains, which made me doubt if it's soapstone. Good to know about the sealing too.
That makes sense! I was concerned about the water stains too. It’s tricky to tell sometimes.