- The best mixing bowls are light enough for easy use, clean up effortlessly, and are designed to last.
- The Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls are our top pick because they're perfect for mixing and can even double as food storage containers, thanks to the tight-fitting lids.
The only way to truly appreciate the magnificence of a good mixing bowl is to try to perform a simple task - like making cookies, tossing a salad, or mixing up some pancake batter - without one. You might be able to get the job done, but it won't be pretty. Perhaps, you just experienced such a situation and that's what brought you here. Welcome. We're here to help.
One of the key considerations when buying mixing bowls is what they are made out of. The most popular options are stainless steel, glass, and plastic. I use stainless steel bowls in my kitchen because they are versatile, lightweight, incredibly durable (I've had the same set for more than a decade), and cost-effective. I recently used mine to create a double boiler for making béarnaise sauce.
Glass is popular because it does not affect the texture, color, or taste of the food. And, depending on the brand, glass bowls are oven and microwave safe. The downside to glass is that it is much more susceptible to breaking and weighs much more than metal or plastic.
Plastic is great because it's virtually unbreakable, lightweight, and cheap. But, plastic has a tendency to absorb strong odors and stain. Plus, you generally don't want plastic to come in contact with hot surfaces or ingredients because it could melt or possibly leach chemicals.
Finally, there are also ceramic (prone to chipping), copper (expensive), wooden (too porous), and silicone (retains odors) mixing bowls that all have their plusses and minuses. However, we did not find any mixing bowls made from these materials that fit our buying guide's quality standards. That may change as we update this guide in the future. If you'd like to learn more about these materials, The Spruce has an excellent rundown of their pros and cons.
In our search for the best mixing bowls, we looked at dozens of different alternatives. Based on what buyers and experts had to say, we narrowed our list to five excellent products that exhibit a track record of strong performance, ease of use, and durability.
Here are our top picks for the best mixing bowls:
- Best mixing bowls overall: Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Best plastic mixing bowls: OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set
- Best budget mixing bowl: Vollrath Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Best glass mixing bowls: Pyrex 8-Piece Smart Essentials Bowl Set
- Best mixing bowls for grating: Wildone Stainless Steel Nesting Bowls
Updated on 11/4/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added the Wildone Stainless Steel Nesting Bowls as our top pick for "best mixing bowls for grating." Added related guides.
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