Every kitchen must have a decent set of mixing bowls. Bowls are required in various cooking and food preparation processes. They are a staple utensil across any kitchen. There is a wide variety of mixing bowls available nowadays. How do you know which one is the right fit for your kitchen?
Getting a good quality set of mixing bowls is a good idea. You will find yourself grabbing different-sized bowls for different purposes each time.
This article will guide you through mixing bowls made from various materials. Each material has its own pros and cons. This roundup will help you decide which set of mixing bowls is best for your kitchen needs.
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Types Of Mixing Bowls
Picking a mixing bowl of a certain material depends on how you plan to use it. Different materials are suited for different cooking and baking purposes. Let’s find out which type of bowl fits your needs.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel mixing bowls are a long-term investment. They are affordable and pretty much indestructible.
These sets of mixing bowls are gaining popularity in the kitchen. They are multipurpose. Besides using them as a mixing bowl, you can convert them into a double boiler and a food storage utensil.
They are lightweight, easy to clean, and dishwasher-safe.
You can pop these bowls into the fridge for a short period and use them to make pastry. Everything should be cool when making pastry, or the pastry can turn out a little tough.
However, there are certain disadvantages to it. They are good conductors of heat, so you have to be careful when using them around a heat source. You should also be cautious if using a stainless steel bowl for hot ingredients. These bowls are also not safe for microwave use.
Plastic
Plastic mixing bowls are the least expensive mixing bowls you will find out there. They are pretty indestructible and quite handy if you are travelling with food.
They come in many different patterns and colours, adding creativity to your bakeware. Besides being multipurpose, they are lightweight and easy to clean. You can pop them into the dishwasher if you want. Some plastic bowls are also microwave-safe.
However, they can discolour and absorb certain flavours or odours. If you are not careful, any contact with a heated surface can melt the bowl.
Some plastic bowl sets come with a non-slip surface on the bottom to keep the bowl firm.
Ceramic
Like plastic bowls, ceramic mixing bowls add colour to your kitchenware. They come in various colours and patterns. They are multipurpose. You can also use them as decorative bowls or serving bowls.
They have a solid weight, so they will not move around when you are vigorously mixing something on the counter. They are safe for use in a microwave and an oven. They are also dishwasher safe.
You must be careful with ceramic mixing bowls because they are heavy and breakable. It is quite easy to chip or crack them.
Glass
Glass mixing bowls are a great addition to your kitchenware. As they are nonreactive, they have zero chemical impact on the flavours of your food.
If you opt for tempered glass mixing bowls, you can use them with hot ingredients without worrying about cracking the glass. While they are multipurpose and microwave-safe, they are quite breakable. If you do not handle them carefully, the slightest drop can shatter them.
It is difficult to beat egg whites into a mousse in such bowls because the glass sides get slippery.
Silicone
Silicone is new on the kitchen scene. Silicone mixing bowls offer many benefits. They are non-stick, collapsible, and pretty much indestructible.
They are temperature-proof, meaning you can pop them into the microwave or the oven. However, they can absorb certain odours of food.
Copper
Copper mixing bowls are a classic. The copper ions in the bowls help egg whites stabilise, making these bowls great for beating egg whites into firm peaks.
The downside is that they are extremely expensive. They are also not microwave-safe.
If you are a baker who beats egg whites by hand, get a copper bowl to make your process easier.
Aluminium
You may find a few mixing bowls crafted with aluminium. However, this is not a commonly chosen material. Aluminium is a reactant and soft metal capable of altering your food’s taste. Therefore, we don’t recommend using Aluminium bowls.
It is more popularly seen as pans, pots, and bakeware because of its excellent heat conductivity.
If you opt for an aluminium set of mixing bowls, you should know it will get scratched up. It will also alter the flavour of your food since it is a reactive material. While lightweight and unbreakable like stainless steel, it is not microwave-safe either.
Set Of Mixing Bowls: The Bottom Line
The kitchenware market is flooded with many more varieties of mixing bowls. The bowls we’ve covered are commonly found in kitchens across the country. They each have their own benefits and disadvantages.
Now that you know the different types of mixing bowl materials, are you ready to make the right purchase?
