When you're searching for a good set of mixing bowls, it's important to keep in mind that not all bowl sets are made alike. Different materials offer different benefits, so to determine the best mixing bowl sets for your needs, you first need to decide which material is the best fit.
Materials to consider for a mixing bowl set
In searching for the best options, I focused on four of the most common materials, all of which have their pros and cons.
- Glass: Non-reactive and easy to wash, you don't have to worry about tastes or smells getting left behind with glass bowls. They can also be combined with a saucepan to use as a double-boiler. And many are oven- and microwave-safe, too. On the downside, they're quite heavy and will chip or break if dropped.
- Stainless Steel: Like glass, stainless steel is also non-reactive, but it's much more lightweight and durable. Stainless steel bowls can also be used to make a DIY double-boiler, though the downside is they get extremely hot to touch and aren't microwave-safe.
- Plastic: Although extreme heat or heavy impact can crack them, plastic bowls are typically sturdy and strong. They're also inexpensive. But they do absorb taste and odor, which means they probably won't last as long as other materials.
- Silicone: Lightweight, compact, and often even collapsible, silicone mixing bowls are great space-savers. Some are even oven-safe, so you can prep and cook in the same dish. The drawback is they're not sturdy, so they can't handle vigorous mixing.
Below, I've put together a list of the best mixing bowl sets in each of these materials, so you can find the perfect one for your needs.