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Our top picks include sets with no-slip bottoms and pour spouts, air-tight lids, and eco-friendly materials. stainless steel sink with drainer
I have lots of nice serving pieces, from platters to bowls, but I use nothing more than my mixing bowls. Whether it is a big desk salad with a bunch of chopped goodies or serving pasta with kitchen tongs to my family, a mixing bowl is one of my kitchen's workhorses. Maybe it's a holdover from my days in culinary school or professional kitchens, but I feel a stainless steel bowl is the best possible vessel for so many things.
So, it's no surprise that my favorite bowls normally look industrial and are made from stainless steel. That's not to say that glass and ceramic bowls don't have their merits. I tested ten mixing bowl sets to find the best of the best. I used them interchangeably as true mixing bowls for prep and baking, dinnerware, and serveware, and even for big bowls of homemade popcorn. Clear favorites immediately emerged while some assumed show-ins proved oddly useless. After side-by-side testing, here are the best mixing bowls for any home cook.
These bowls are incredibly sturdy and come with airtight lids to keep food fresh.
While these are stackable, you have to remove each lid and then stack them for storage.
The Viking set includes five stainless steel mixing bowls, each with a polished finish and interior fill lines that make measuring ingredients a breeze. They are thoughtfully designed with rubberized bases to prevent slipping so the bowls are stable during mixing, even with a hand mixer. These bowls do come with lids, but they are more industrial-looking, so I wouldn’t use them to serve meals.
My favorite aspect of this set is the variety of sizes, making it versatile for different kitchen tasks. They stack within each other, but their tall design might make them challenging to store in some drawers. Despite this, they stack evenly and fit comfortably in most cabinets. This set is sturdy, stylish, and highly functional, making it an excellent replacement for my older stainless steel prep bowls.
Material: Stainless steel | Sizes: 20-ounce and 1.5, 3, and 8 quart | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
It comes with a set of lids and has a more decorative pattern for serving.
The glass is thinner than other glass sets we tested.
This Pyrex set includes three decorative glass mixing bowls with lids, making it functional and stylish. The bowls are designed to nest, saving storage space, but they need handles or pour spouts, which could limit their effectiveness during specific tasks. The included lids are a standout feature, providing secure storage for leftovers or prepped ingredients. I often prepare dinner ahead of time, and they’re super helpful. I also use them to store leftovers after dinner is done.
I also appreciate that these bowls are practical for mixing and elegant enough to serve as dishes for casual gatherings. I've noticed that the glass feels thinner compared to other Pyrex pieces I own, which are more heavy-duty. Despite this, the set is durable enough for everyday use and maintains the trusted quality associated with Pyrex.
Material: Glass and plastic I Size: 1.3, 2.3, and 4.5 quart | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
It is a gorgeous ceramic bowl that looks like an instant heirloom.
It could scratch if not cared for properly.
This classic Le Creuset ceramic mixing bowl is a timeless addition to any kitchen, featuring the brand's iconic design with its name and signature ridged lines encircling the bowl. My favorite aspect of this bowl is its elegant French-inspired aesthetic, which adds a sophisticated touch to my kitchen. Made of durable ceramic, it is scratch- and stain-resistant, promising long-lasting beauty and functionality.
It does not include a non-slip base or lids and is a single bowl, not a set like others on my list. It's easy to store due to its manageable size, but be careful with metal utensils to avoid scratches over time. Its durability and ease of cleaning are significant advantages. While it may lack practical features like pour spots or a more stable base, it is still a high-quality, stylish choice for mixing or serving. And you can’t beat that embodies the charm and quality expected from Le Creuset.
Material: Ceramic I Size: 2 or 3 quart | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
This is a durable and fair-priced set that it good for the home or restaurants.
They are lighter than glass or ceramic, but easy to clean.
This is a set of five stainless steel bowls with mirrored finish bowls. They look very restaurant or commercial style and stack nicely within one another. I prefer how these are simple with little texture, making them more versatile. I often use these to eat a desk salad or serve dinner items with fancier tongs. They clean up easily in the dishwasher and haven't become damaged yet.
I tested the set of five bowls, but the set of three is just as good for most kitchens. Even though they are industrial, they are much lighter than the set I have at home from Williams-Sonoma, which is heftier. Still, these are an incredibly useful and versatile set of mixing bowls and expensive to boot.
Material: Stainless steel | Sizes: 4, 5, and 8 quart | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
The Viking Mixing Bowl set was my favorite out of the ten I tested. I liked its durability, skid-proof bottom, lids, and helper handles. They were sturdy no matter what I used them for. I also love the Pyrex set that also has lids. I used them often for prep, but mostly for bread because they are great for proofing.
I used these mixing bowls for everything when testing, from snacking to serving salads to proofing dough and even freezing ingredients for a later date. I wanted to evaluate how easy they were to use, handle, and clean. I also looked for durability: Which materials would hold up over the years? Plastic, for instance, is more likely to stain and scratch no matter what trend. Other materials like ceramic can scratch but perform very well; however, they usually don’t have much variety. Finding out which set was the most useful for everyday cooking and baking tasks was also paramount in what I recommend you spend your money on.
One of the most important considerations when investing in mixing bowls is their material. If you're a frequent baker, you might choose a workhorse set made of stainless steel. If you prefer to mix up batters and then refrigerate them for a few hours, consider glass, which works as well in the fridge as on the countertop. You can find individual mixing bowls at nearly every price point, so invest in a huge stainless steel bowl for your cake-baking sessions and keep a few smaller bowls around for cookie recipes that need to be frozen or refrigerated. We don't normally recommend plastic because it stains and can scratch when you use a metal tool like a hand mixer or balloon whisk.
What's your intended use for your mixing bowls? They aren't limited to a single use. Some mixing bowls have an aesthetically pleasing design that makes them transition seamlessly from the kitchen to the table. Bulky recipes require a deep bowl, so you can get in there and blend your ingredients by hand. It's also important to consider storage because many of these sets have numerous bowls and lids. Some drawers and cabinets might not accommodate. Whatever you plan on whipping up in the kitchen, there's a set of mixing bowls for you.
Some mixing bowls have helpful features like lids, pour spouts, handles, measurement markings, and non-slip bases. If you love making pancakes or recipes that require transferring ingredients, opt for a set with pour spouts for easy pouring. Lids are great for storing cookie batter or salad in the refrigerator for later, and non-slip bases ensure your bowls stay in place while mixing. None of these features are must-haves, but they certainly help make your life easier.
We think stainless steel is the best material for mixing bowls because of its durability. However, glass is also a solid option because it allows you to see if the batter is evenly mixed from outside the bowl. Stainless steel will last the longest, and you can treat it a little more roughly. We just don't recommend plastic because it can stain, and we prefer reducing our use of plastics overall.
It depends. It's always a good idea to read the safety instructions with any new purchase, especially when potentially using electricity. You can likely use a hand mixer with generously sized, deep mixing bowls, but probably not when using a stand mixer, which works best with its own bowl. If you do use a hand mixer, just put a damp cloth underneath the bowl so it doesn't budge.
If the mixing bowl is made of glass or ceramic material, it might be oven-safe, but it's important to read the manufacturer's instructions before placing the bowl at such high temperatures.
Made In Mise en Place Set ($99 at Amazon)
I wanted to love this set of four mixing bowls, but they broke on the way to me. Beyond that, they are just too small. These are more of a prep bowl, which is strange since they are billed as a mixing bowl.
OXO Good Grips Mixing Bowl Set ($28 at Amazon)
This is one of the better plastic bowls on the market, but they are still plastic. They will likely stain and scratch with use since many utensils are metal.
KitchenAid Universal Nesting Plastic Mixing Bowls ($13 at Amazon)
I don't generally like plastic bowls, but these feel even cheaper. I would not recommend them for any kitchen.
FineDine Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls ($21 at Amazon)
I didn't like the dull texture of the exterior of these bowls. I prefer those types that have a mirrored finish inside and out because they are easier to mix in.
Duralex Le Gigogne Stackable Bowl Set ($80 at Amazon)
While I like this set of ten glass mixing bowls and the prep bowls attached to the set, I found the Pyrex more versatile since it came with lids. Still, this is a great set, especially if you like to lay everything out in prep bowls.
Cuisinart Mixing Bowl Set ($40 at Amazon)
24 inch stainless steel sink It was hard to choose these because another stainless steel set with lids offered more variety. Still, I like this stainless steel set if you need something more commercial.