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I haven't seen magnets on a fridge door in years. Decades even.

As stainless steel finishes became popular, magnets didn't work anymore.

Manufacturers have wised up though. We just got a brand new Samsung with s/s finish, and lo and behold: magnets work.

I don't know if they're using it's-not-really-stainless-steel, or if they are backing with something more ferrous, but either way, fridge magnets are back, baby!

Many different alloys are classified as "stainless steel", and some are magnetic. [0] The ss sink in my kitchen is not magnetic, but the our ss range IS magnetic. Just as you report, new ss refrigerators are likely to be made amenable to surface magnets.

[0] https://www.fastenal.com/content/feds/pdf/Article%20-%20Magn...

I find that quite surprising.

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