Mixing bowls are an essential component in any kitchen. However, before you buy them, it is important to consider what you’re looking to get out of your bowls. With this informative buying guide, you can feel confident because you’ll know what to look for as you shop.
What To Consider When Shopping For Glass Mixing Bowls
Before finalizing your glass mixing bowl purchase, consider the following details that we’re talking about below.
Materials
Tempered glass is commonly used to make glass mixing bowls. This is because you can microwave this type of material and also use it as a serving bowl. Some glass mixing bowls are made of strengthened glass instead. This type of bowl can be heated up to a specified high temperature in the oven. However, since glass mixing bowls are heavier than bowls made out of other materials — like stainless steel — the size range of glass mixing bowls is more restrictive.
Set
Mixing bowl sets typically come with anywhere from three to six bowls. However, if you’re lucky, you’ll definitely find sets with even more bowls. While it might sound neat to have more bowls to work with, make sure you think about whether or not you actually need that many bowls before committing to a large set. That way, you won’t feel overwhelmed or add clutter to your home.
For most home chefs, a glass mixing bowl set of three to five bowls is sufficient enough. When preparing many dishes at once, experienced chefs would likely appreciate a greater variety of bowls so that they have multiple sizes on hand. At the end of the day, it’s all dependent on your preferences.
Size
The volume of mixing bowls is often measured in quarts, and the most popular mixing bowl sizes range from one quart to eight quarts. Most home chefs like to opt for a set that includes a prep bowl with a capacity of at least one — if not two — quarts. This makes it easy to combine ingredients or mix small recipes together.
Other than that, you’ll want to purchase glass mixing bowls with capacities ranging from 3 quarts to 5 quarts. Bowls like this are more suitable for larger tasks, like tossing salads, stirring batter, and baking bread.
Body
Most glass mixing bowls are labeled as dishwasher- and freezer-safe. While this is the norm, you should still check the manufacturers' labels before purchasing the glass mixing bowl if this is important to you.
What Are the Different Types of Glass Mixing Bowls?
There are three different types of mixing bowl styles. Make sure the one you pick meets your requirements and has the means to withstand your expected usage frequency.
Standard glass mixing bowls
Standard glass mixing bowls are commonly available in an array of sizes. Most people use these bowls for large tasks, like making cake batter or tossing a salad. Not only are standard glass bowls functional but they are also attractive, and you can serve food in them without worrying about the visual aspect.
Since these bowls are available in different sizes, you can also store kneaded dough in them. Plus, they come with lids, so they double as storage containers. In most cases, the lids of this type of glass mixing bowl are made out of flexible plastic, making them easy to put on and take off.
Jug-shaped glass mixing bowls
If you are a pancake, crepe, or other batter-based dessert enthusiast, then a jug-shaped glass mixing bowl will likely appeal to you. This is because jug-shaped glass mixing bowls come with measurements printed on them, making it a breeze to measure liquids when preparing batter.
This type of mixing bowl comes in a plethora of glass thicknesses. Just make sure the one you end up buying is suitable for the intensity of mixing you plan to do. These mixing bowls are also very deep, which lowers the chances that you’ll spill ingredients while baking.
Shallow glass mixing bowls
Sometimes, large or deep glass mixing bowls can be inconvenient and incompatible with certain recipes. A shallow glass mixing bowl is perfect when you’re making an omelet, dipping bread for French toast, or coating chicken in panko pieces. For instances like this, a shallow glass mixing bowl is the key.
Just note that you can pair this type of glass mixing bowl with a hand whisk, but avoid using an electric beater. Otherwise, you can expect a big mess to ensue because your ingredients will be whisked out of the shallow glass mixing bowl.
What Are the Different Sizes of Glass Mixing Bowls?
Let’s take a look at the various sizes that glass mixing bowls come in so that you can figure out which glass mixing bowls suit your needs the most.
<2 quarts
Glass mixing bowls with less than a two-quart capacity are tiny. They don’t leave much room to work with outside of beating a couple of eggs. On the bright side, small mixing bowls are easy to store.
2 to 4 quarts
The two- to four-quart capacity of these glass mixing bowls is the standard. They are best suited for situations when you need to mix dry ingredients while baking. Glass mixing bowls of this size tend to come with lids as well.
5 to 7 quarts
If you need a spacious glass mixing bowl, look for models with a five- to seven-quart capacity. Glass mixing bowls of this size are perfect when tossing salads or marinating meats and other items before grilling them.
8 to 10 quarts
Planning to prepare dough, mix cookie ingredients, or put together a brownie recipe? Then a glass mixing bowl of anywhere from eight to ten quarts is the one! This type of glass mixing bowl is large, making it ideal when you need a bowl that can hold numerous ingredients without question.
11 to 20 quarts
If you are considering a mixing bowl of this size, you probably do a lot of baking or cooking. Maybe you have a large family or you’d like to throw parties with home-cooked meals. No matter your reason, these glass mixing bowls are incredibly big.
>20 quarts
Glass mixing bowls with a capacity of 20 quarts or more are typically only used in professional settings, like restaurants or factories. These bowls are hard to store in household kitchens because they are massive. That doesn’t mean you can’t purchase one! Just make sure you understand how large these glass mixing bowls are before buying them.
What Are the Perks of Using Glass Mixing Bowls?
Glass mixing bowls offer countless benefits. Let’s take a look at five of them!
Microwave-safe design
If you want to quickly melt a small amount of chocolate or reheat a serving of last night’s leftovers, glass mixing bowls are for you. They are safe for use in microwaves because of their insulated body.
Not only can you reheat the contents of your bowl but you can trust that the glass mixing bowl won’t overheat or get deformed in the process. Also, since they are non-reactive, toxins won’t seep into your food.
Durable construction
Whether you use your glass mixing bowls to reheat food or mix ingredients with a stand mixer, these bowls are a durable option. They won’t crack or break easily, making them a trustworthy investment. Plus, they also come with a thick, heat-resistant body, meaning these bowls will last for years as long as you properly maintain them over time.
Easy to clean
Cleaning glass mixing bowls is much easier than plastic bowls because the former are dishwasher-safe, meaning you won’t have to wash them by hand. Additionally, a glass bowl won’t stain over time.
That way, it’s easier to maintain the quality of the bowls over time instead of having to frequently replace them. However, glass cracks and chips more easily than other materials, which can completely demolish the integrity of your glass bowls.
Transparent or see-through build
When mixing batters and marinades, it is essential that you thoroughly combine all of the ingredients. Glass mixing bowls are transparent, which allows you to see things better. This transparency allows better incorporation of ingredients and ensures you get the recipe right.
Aesthetically pleasing
Unlike plastic and silicone bowls, glass mixing bowls are gentle on the eyes. You can even use them to serve food!
