We subjected seven different benchtops - stainless steel, laminate, timber, engineered stone, marble, granite and Corian - to various tests. Here's how they fared.

Hot saucepan: All surfaces passed this test, despite the fact the results differed from certain manufacturers' recommendations.

Crème brulée blowtorch: The timber butcher block scorched, the laminate popped from its timber backing, and the acrylic resin crazed. However, as you're unlikely to hold blowtorch to your benchtop surface on purpose, you shouldn't really have a problem.

Red wine and curry paste: The acrylic resin and engineered stone benchtops discoloured slightly. The discolouration was easily removed with cleaner.

Lemon-paste cleaner and scourer: Most surfaces fared well when cleaned with the paste and scourer. However, the stainless steel surface showed the scour marks and the marble had a yellow stain from the lemon-paste cleaner.

Dropping a heavy can: The stainless steel benchtop had a slight indentation and the timber butcher block had a definite dent.

Cutting carrots and tomatoes: Granite was the only surface that didn't mark.