5 Best Mixing Bowls
Mixing bowls is a kitchen essential, and finding the best mixing bowls can be a little tricky. After all, they’re just bowls… round and unremarkable. How is one to differentiate between them?
The truth is far from that. These essential kitchen tools come in quite a variety. There are those with lids, those with rubber bottoms, those with handles… you name it. In my quest to find some great mixing bowls for myself, I came across so many I decided to make a list of my top picks:
Comparison Of The Best Mixing Bowls In 2021
PRODUCT |
CAPACITY |
BEST FOR |
HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES |
|
1.5-5 qt. | Best Overall |
|
|
1.5-5 qt. | Best Plastic |
|
|
1-4 qt. | Best Glass |
|
|
1.5-5 qt. | Best Insulated |
|
1. Cuisinart CTG-00-SMB
Highlighted Features
- High quality stainless steel
- Tall sides
- Set of 3 bowls
- Have lids
Material: These Cuisinart mixing bowls are made of stainless steel and we all know what that means. That means that your beautiful, shiny bowls have a very low probability of rusting and losing their beauty. Stainless steel, although a non-reactive material, can still be reactive in certain cases, so something acidic like lemon juice might react with the steel and discolor it. So use with caution.
Capacity: This set of 3 has a capacity ranging from 1.5 quarts to 5 quarts. The smallest, at 1.5 quarts, is great for whisking eggs and the like. The second one, at 3 quarts, is good for whipping cream and the largest one is great for tossing in spices or salads or serving popcorn. The set of 3 takes care of everything.
Bottom: These mixing bowls have bottoms wider than you’d usually find. The tall sides of the bowl curve down toward the wide, flat bottom without a lot of flare, thus providing a lot of stability. These bowls are not going anywhere as you whisk and mix because the bottom is just a bit smaller than the lip of the bowl, so it is more of a round plate than anything. It’s just as good, as the Cuisinart bowls have taller sides as compared to other measuring bowls. If they didn’t have stable bases the bowls would only be good for making a mess.
Handling: The bowls are easy enough to handle, being lightweight and all. You won’t tire out your hands as you pour and toss as you might with heavy, glass bowls. The bowls don’t have handles, but that’s not a drawback because most mixing bowls do not have handles. However, the tall, almost-straight sides allow enough purchase for your hands. So you can grip the bowls comfortably.
Not microwave-safe: As you might have already guessed, these mixing bowls are not microwave- safe. They are made of stainless steel, after all. So be careful and don’t go around popping them in the microwave at any cost.
Number of pieces: The Cuisinart stainless steel bowls come in a set of three pieces. Six, if you count the lids as well. The three pieces are in the perfect variety of capacity, allowing you to be at liberty to choose whichever size suits your needs at any given time.
Lids: The bowls come with plastic lids as well. The lids don’t have a handle in the middle, though, just two opposing tabs of the plastic, so you might find it hard to remove them. The bowls have a raised indentation on the inside, so the lids sit comfortably on them instead of pressing down all the way. The lids allow you to use these bowls for storage as well. Just pop the cover on and put it in the fridge. It might not be a good idea to stack anything heavy on the covered bowls, though, as they might bend.
Dishwasher safe: The bowls are dishwasher safe, thank God for stainless steel. Every time you’re done using them, you can just put them in the dishwasher and that’s it. Some people do complain of rusting though, so you might want to make sure you keep your bowls perfectly dry.
Heatproof: The bowls, being stainless steel, are completely heat-proof. You can pour in your hot ingredients in them without fear. Not only that, they can also work as double-boilers for when you want to melt chocolate or something for your desserts.
Aesthetics: With their shiny, brushed steel, the bowls are quite pretty. They have ‘Cuisinart Stainless Steel’ stamped on the side as well. The opaque, white lids go well with the shine of the steel. You won’t find it hard to look at them!
Simply put, these are the best mixing bowls with lids.
Pros
- Stainless steel
- Heat-proof
- Lids
- Stable base
- Set of 3
- Dishwasher-safe
- Pretty
Cons
- Plastic lids
- Might rust/ discolor
2. OXO Good Grips 1169600
Highlighted Features
- Have handles
- Have pouring lips
- Nest for compact storage
- Non-skid bottoms
Material: The OXO bowls are made of strong, sturdy plastic. The plastic doesn’t have BPA (or Bisphenol A) so you have absolutely no worries of harmful toxins making their way into your food.
Capacity: This set of three mixing bowls has a capacity ranging from 1.5 quarts to 5 quarts. The biggest bowl of 5 quarts can serve you well to toss salads or popcorn on movie nights, while the smallest of 1.5 quarts is good for whisking eggs etc. The one measuring 3 quarts can be used ideally for whipping cream, etc.
Bottom: A special feature of these mixing bowls, which makes them feature on my best mixing bowls list, is their bottom. Yes, many models of bowls have stable bottoms. But these bowls have rubber ones. The bottom is wide, to begin with. But then, the wide bottom is furnished with a layer of rubber that surrounds the sides as well. So not only is the bottom provided with extra purchase on the counter, the rubber-covered sides allow you to use the bowls at a tilted angle as well, without them slipping and sliding. The wide, rubber-covered bottoms of these plastic mixing bowls make them stand out!
Handling: These OXO rubber-bottom bowls are really easy to handle. Being plastic, they are already lightweight so moving them around or tossing stuff in them won’t feel very cumbersome. On top of that, they also have handles on one side of the bowl. The handles are covered in rubber, which makes them non-slip. So you can go ahead and grip them fearlessly, even if your hands are wet or covered in oil. The rubber should give you enough purchase on the bowl.
As if that wasn’t enough, the bowls also have pouring lips. Pouring lips! On mixing bowls! Can these OXO bowls get any better? I don’t know about anyone else but I always end up with a little puddle of batter on the counter when I pour out of mixing bowls. These bowls will allow you to pour mess-free!
Not microwave safe: Okay, these bowls are great. But the one thing they’re not is microwave-safe. The bowls say ‘do not microwave’ at the bottom. It’s probably not good for all the rubber that makes these bowls so awesome. But that’s alright. I’d take the easy usability over microwave-safety any day.
Number of pieces: This is a set of 3 bowls, ranging from 1.5 quarts to 5 quarts. These three pieces will see you through all your needs pertaining to mixing bowls.
Lids: These bowls don’t come with lids, unfortunately. But that’s alright. Most mixing bowls don’t have lids anyway.
Dishwasher safe: These near-perfect bowls are, of course, dishwasher-safe, so cleaning is not an issue. Of course, if you want to preserve the overall look of the bowls, you can always skip the dishwasher.
Heatproof: The bowls are made of sturdy plastic so they’re quite heatproof. And since dishwashers use hot water, we can safely assume that the bowls are good for hot ingredients as well. So even if you can’t melt your butter directly in them, you can certainly pour hot/warm butter in. They are not to be used on direct heat though.
Aesthetics: The bowls have a very unique look which makes them appear less like mixing bowls and more like giant measuring cups. Well, sort of. As such, they have a certain appeal. I, for one, find them very pleasing to the eye. Chiefly because of their unique features.
Pros
- Set of 3
- Rubber handles
- Rubber base
- BPA-free
- Dishwasher-safe
- Pouring lip
- Multiple colors
Cons
- Not microwave-safe
- Can’t be used on direct heat
3. Pyrex Smart Essentials
Highlighted Features
- Tempered glass
- Can double as storage
- Have multi-colored lids
- Set of 4 bowls
Material: These bowls are made of glass. Not just any glass, no. They are made of tempered glass, what Pyrex is actually famous for. As such, the non-porous glass is odor-resistant and stain-proof. Glass can be a bit heavier than stainless steel and plastic, but it has its benefits as well. These clear bowls can also be used as serving bowls.
Capacity: These bowls range from 1 quart to 4 quarts. Therefore, it is easy to find any bowl that will suit your needs perfectly at any given time. You can mix salad dressings, whisk eggs, use hand mixers and toss salads in different bowls at the same time!
Bottom: The bottoms of these bowls are raised glass rims. As such, they may not find much purchase on countertops, especially wet ones. If you’re one to have a lot of problems with slipping and sliding bowls, you might want to put a damp paper towel or a kitchen cloth under your bowl to stop it from skidding on the countertop.
Handling: These bowls are easy enough to handle. They might not have ‘handles’ per se, but most bowls don’t and so, that is not a drawback. The glass curves outward to form a lip, which will give you enough purchase on the bowl so that it doesn’t slip. The biggest bowl might be a bit too heavy for comfortable usage and a bit too big for storage, though. Although the material is glass, it is quite strong so you don’t have to use these bowls as though they’re made of, well, glass.
Microwave safe: The good thing about Pyrex is that it can stand pretty much whatever extremes you throw at it. So it is quite safe to be put in the microwave. You can go ahead and melt your butter or make your ganache directly in these babies.
Number of pieces: This 8-piece set consists of four bowls and four lids. With the capacity of the bowls going up from 1 quart to 1.5, to 2.5 quarts to 4, these four pieces will take care of all that you require a mixing bowl for.
Lids: The clear glass bowls are all supplied with plastic lids. The lids are all brightly colored and will certainly add a spark of life to your kitchen. The fact that they are made of plastic is nothing to be worried about, as the lids are BPA-free. The lids make these bowls dual-purpose: you can use them for mixing, or you can store food in them as well. You can also take food on the go! Not only does each lid have a different color, it also has its corresponding capacity mentioned on it in quarts and liters. Neat!
Dishwasher safe: The glass bowls are most definitely dishwasher-safe since they’re Pyrex and all. You can put them in there and they will absolutely not warp or break since the temperature in a dishwasher is nowhere near as high as that of an oven. The lids, however, are another story. They are certainly dishwasher safe but only in the top rack. Be sure to not wash them anywhere else. Or you could just wash the lids by hand.
Heatproof: Of course, of course, these bowls are heat-proof! Pyrex can go in an oven, for crying out loud. Pyrex is borosilicate glass, which is known to withstand temperatures up to 329 ℉ without fracturing. Since it is preheated oven-proof as well, you can really relax on the issue of heat-resistance. Just be sure, according to Pyrex’s use and care instructions, to not shock the bowls. For example, don’t put your hot bowl onto a cool, wet surface. It might explode.
Aesthetics: The bowls, being clear glass, are of course pleasing to the eye. The addition of those brightly-colored lids just makes them better!
Pros
- Pyrex
- High heat-resistance
- Set of 4
- Multi-colored lids
- Dishwasher-safe
- Microwave-safe
- Can double as storage
Cons
- Possibility of breaking
- Biggest bowl can be too heavy for some
4. OXO Good Grips
Highlighted Features
- Stainless steel and plastic
- Insulated construction
- Heat-proof
- Stable bottoms
Material: These OXO mixing bowls are made of two materials: plastic and stainless steel. The stainless steel withing the bowl allows you to work with hot substances without worrying too much and the plastic allows you to handle the bowl while mixing the aforementioned hot stuff without burning yourself. The double-layer also provides insulation which is good if you are raising dough for, say, bread.
Capacity: This set of three, like most sets of three bowls, has a capacity range from 1.5 quarts to 5 quarts. The smallest, 3-quart one will take care of your eggs and dressings and the largest will handle your popcorn and salads. The middle, 3-quart one will be there for you for your whipping cream.
Bottom: The bottoms of these bowls, like those of the OXO bowls mentioned earlier, are covered by a layer of rubber. The rubber makes a world of difference in stabilizing mixing bowls. Your bowl won’t slip and slide across the countertop as you whisk expertly at your eggs because the rubber will provide excellent purchase.
Handling: The bowls are easy enough to handle, not being very heavy. The double layers of material i.e. the plastic and the steel facilitate in easier use as compared to other bowls of plastic or steel only. While the steel allows you to mix hot ingredients, the plastic allows you to handle the bowl comfortably without burning yourself or constantly having to lift your hands away from the bowl.
Not microwave safe: The bowls have an exterior of plastic, yes, but the metallic interior makes them unsafe to be used in the microwave. So while you can pour hot milk or water in them, you can’t actually heat them in these bowls.
Number of pieces: The set contains 3 pieces of 1.5 quarts, 3 quarts, and 5 quarts respectively. They are quite sufficient for all our mixing needs.
Lids: The bowls don’t come with lids. I see no issue with that since most mixing bowls don’t come with lids anyway. And these bows have insulation and rubber bottoms too! One can’t complain about no lids.
Dishwasher safe: These bowls are dishwasher safe, so cleanup is not a problem. Although, if you want to wash by hand, the bowls have round edges that allow for easy washing.
Heatproof: The interior of stainless steel allows you to use the bowls with hot ingredients safely. The bowl’s plastic exterior, however, restricts you from using it directly on a heat source. So be careful.
Aesthetics: The combination of plastic and steel goes very well together. The choice of color (grey/blue or white) gives you the freedom to choose whichever goes best with your kitchen.
Pros
- Double-layered
- Protection against heat
- Set of 3
- Dishwasher-safe
- Rubber bottom
- Multiple colors
Cons
- Not microwave-safe
5. Gourmet Home Products
Highlighted Features
- Polypropylene plastic
- Easy storage
- Microwave-safe
- Multiple colors
Material: The material is heavyweight, non-toxic plastic. It’s no ordinary plastic though; it’s polypropylene, a thermoplastic with a high melting point which is widely used in food packaging. But even with this heavyweight plastic, they are the best lightweight mixing bowls.
Capacity: The bowls range from 0.32 quarts to 5.80 quarts. In between are the 0.74 quarts, 1.37 quarts, 2.22 quarts, and the 3.69 quarts. These six bowls will take care of everything that you will throw at them because of the sheer variety in their capacity.
Bottom: The bottoms have nothing special in them. They are just regular, small bottoms. They might slip on the surface of the countertop, so you can try putting a wet paper napkin or dish towel underneath.
Handling: The bowls are quite lightweight and therefore easy enough to handle. Also, the plastic is not the soft kind, but the hard, sturdy kind. It won’t bend out of shape as you go about your business.
Microwave safe: The bowls, being BPA-free plastic, are microwave safe. So you can go ahead and heat whatever you want in them without worrying.
Number of pieces: The set contains a giant number of 6 pieces. Six pieces means you have a lot of variety when it comes to capacity, so you can use whichever bowl that suits you at any given time. This also means that you can use more bowls simultaneously without feeling cramped.
Lids: The best lightweight mixing bowls, unsurprisingly, don’t come with lids. As I’ve mentioned before, lids are not that much of a problem because most bowls don’t come with them. Also, the purpose of a mixing bowl is to mix ingredients in, and any bowl that comes with the added ‘storage point’ because of the lids gets a bonus.
Dishwasher safe: The bowls are dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning all six of them once you’re done working miracles in the kitchen. Just toss them in the dishwasher. Although, over time, the harsh soaps of the dishwasher might dull the plastic so you might want to wash by hand.
Heatproof: The bowls are freezer safe, but not heat-safe enough for you to use directly on a heat source. They are, after all, plastic, and will most certainly melt. But since polypropylene has a high melting point, you can put in hot liquids and microwave stuff in them without worrying that the plastic might leach toxins into it.
Aesthetics: These bowls come in so many pretty colors you will have a hard time choosing which set to get. They will certainly add a spot of color to your kitchen.
Pros
- Polypropylene plastic
- Set of 6
- BPA-free
- Microwave-safe
- Dishwasher-safe
- Multiple colors
Cons
- Can’t be used as a double-boiler
Things To Look For Before Buying!
Mixing bowls are just bowls, right? Wrong! Round, large and extremely useful, they are one of the staples of any well-equipped kitchen. Or any kitchen, for that matter. You will find it hard to work in a kitchen if you do not have the best mixing bowls. And you can’t just get any old mixing bowls.
So, when looking for the best mixing bowls, focus on:
- The number of bowls in the set
- If you need bowls with lids
- The material that you need
- How easy to store are they?
Buying Guide
Is Finding The Best Mixing Bowls Really Important?
Simply put, yes. It’s extremely important that you find yourself good mixing bowls. Mixing bowls are an absolute, undisputed kitchen essential and not having any or having some that are just not right is not the best way to go about your business. The best mixing bowl will ensure your culinary journey goes without a hitch.
How To Look For Good Mixing Bowls?
It can be a bit tough to choose mixing bowls, simply because there is a huge variety out there. What’s important is that you understand exactly what you need. Do you need just one bowl or a set? Does your definition of good mixing bowls include them being able to be microwaved? Do you plan on using them as double-boilers?
Once you are in a clear frame of mind, you’ll be able to sort through the hundreds of models available and land on some great pieces.
What Can A Mixing Bowl Be Used For?
Well, mixing for one. But apart from that, a mixing bowl has a variety of uses. You can mix your cake batter and cookie dough in them, but you can also toss salads in them and serve popcorn if the bowls are big enough. Small ones can be used to whip cream and whisk eggs etc. The bowls can also be used to marinate stuff in them. If they come with lids, they can also double as storage. Your mixing bowls are great for a lot of stuff!
What Materials Are Mixing Bowls Made Of?
Mixing bowls are made of a wide variety of materials. The most commonly found are those of plastic, glass and stainless steel. But they’re also made of copper and ceramic. You will also find some models of silicone and wood.
What Is The Best Material For Mixing Bowls?
Ceramic is fragile. One might argue that glass is also fragile but ceramic is prone to chipping, while the glass is usually tempered so it isn’t that fragile. So while there are a lot of instances of tempered glass falling and not breaking, ceramic will most likely shatter on the first impact. Copper bowls are, well, copper, and therefore expensive and silicone bowls can retain odors. Whereas wood bowls are just too porous. With wood, it’s hard work to protect your bowls from mildew, etc. because you constantly need to dry your bowls as quickly as possible. This is doable enough for cutting boards, but not so much for mixing bowls.
Your best bet is to go with steel, plastic or glass. Plastic is extremely unlikely to break (but be sure to choose a BPA-free product), steel is extremely long-lasting and glass is great for high-temperature handling. These materials are easy to clean and store as well.
So the best material for mixing bowls is steel, plastic, or glass.
How To Take Care Of Your Mixing Bowls?
Like everything in the kitchen, you need to take good care of your best mixing bowls so they can remain your best mixing bowls. Plastic bowls should not come in direct contact with heat sources as they will melt easily.
Stainless steel bowls can sometimes react with acidic ingredients so it’s probably better that you don’t leave lemon juice, tomatoes, etc. in them for very long.
Glass bowls should not be subjected to extreme temperature changes very quickly as that might make them shatter. Or weaken them, at any rate.
How To Clean Mixing Bowls?
Most mixing bowls are dishwasher-safe, so you don’t really have a lot to worry about. However, your mixing bowls might lose their shine and luster to the dishwasher’s harsh soaps. So if you want to preserve their aesthetics, you might want to wash them by hand.
Are Mixing Bowls Microwave-Safe?
Plastic and glass bowls are generally microwave-safe, so it makes your work easier when you can just pop the ingredients directly in the microwave to melt or boil them. But some plastic bowls are not microwave-safe chiefly because of some extra material on them. So take care.
Steel bowls are, of course, not microwave safe. Never put them in there because if you do, risking damage to your best mixing bowls will be the least of your concerns!
Conclusion
So, these were my picks. All of these sets are great for any kitchen, so you can go ahead and choose whichever you like. Find your best set of mixing bowls and take your culinary experiences up a notch.
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