The best mixing bowls on test
An essential piece of kitchen kit, a mixing bowl is required for everything from baking to sauce-making. We've picked our five favourite models to help with a range of cooking tasks.
A mixing bowl is a kitchen must-have for sweet and savoury tasks, from baking cakes through to making mayonnaise. It's a useful holding vessel, too, for example, when you’re soaking beans or shelling peas. When buying a mixing bowl, think about the kind of tasks you use it for. And do you want a bowl that'll go in the dishwasher, oven, freezer and microwave?
If you're short on space, nesting bowls, with or without other utensils, are a great solution but don't be blinded by a 'more is better' approach. If you don't use American cup measures, ever, then why bother?
If you want fancy design, you'll have to pay a premium, but if practicality on a budget is more your thing, opt for a bowl that's durable and able to withstand heat. Sets that you can stack, and add to, make good sense as well.
Read on to discover which saucepan sets are best. For over 200 buyer's guides, visit our product review section and find reviews of food processors, stand mixers, cake tins and much more.
Joseph Joseph Nest 9 Plus
Most innovative mixing bowl
Key features: Nesting, two bowls, colander, sieve, American cup measures, tbsp measure, dishwasher-safe
Comments: If you're stocking your kitchen or looking for a house-warming present, this makes for an impressive all-in-one. The large mixing bowl is 4.5 litres, a good size for getting big bakes underway, then there's a little bowl for smaller jobs. Neatly stacked inside, the colander and sieve are large enough to tackle standard tasks. The handles are easy to grip but the sieve doesn't have a long handle or feet, so care will need to be taken when draining hot liquids. Plastic is probably the best choice if you're not a fan of kitchen clatter, and the whole set together, with cups and tablespoon measure, is ultra lightweight.
Swoosh & Böl colander and mixing bowl set
Mixing bowl with best compact design
Key features: 23cm mixing bowl, colander, internal measuring guide, non-slip base, dishwasher-safe
Comments: We liked the simplicity and practicality of this design. A plastic, two-tone, non-slip mixing bowl that's big enough for most standard mixing needs, this one comes with a colander that nestles inside perfectly so no problem finding room in the cupboard. A nifty design feature, the colander and bowl can work in tandem. If you like to keep the sink clear, you can drain then sit the colander at a 90 degree angle on the bowl, giving extra clearance for any remaining liquid to trickle into. For big families or keen cooks, this may not be the option but for lovers of less is more, it's ideal.
Buy from üutensil (£19.99)
Mason Cash 29cm Varsity mixing bowl
Best traditional stoneware mixing bowl
Key features: large capacity, oven, dishwasher, microwave and freezer-safe
Comments: For fans of an old-fashioned mixing bowl, this is a reliable and attractive choice. It's heavy but not compared to other stoneware brands and fits nicely in the crook of your arm for creaming and whisking, if that's your favoured stance. Stoneware does have a tendency to mark with metal utensils, so that's worth considering but the versatility of being able to transfer the bowl between oven, microwave and freezer is a definite plus.
Lakeland stainless steel Mega mixing bowl
Best mixing bowl for batch-baking and big cakes
Key features: 7-litre capacity, pouring lip, non-slip base, internal measurements, dishwasher-safe
Comments: This high-sided bowl is ideal for big batters. Its super non-skid silicone base means it doesn't travel when you're mixing, but equally it's very lightweight, so if you prefer to pick up and mix, that's no problem either. Stainless steel is exactly that, stainless, so you don't need to worry about marks when you're doing heavy-duty work. This is a durable product, ideal for withstanding hard knocks and tumbles.
Buy from Lakeland (£14.99)
Pyrex Prep & Store 2-litre glass mixing bowl
Best value mixing bowl
Key features: oven-, dishwasher-, microwave- and freezer-safe, lid
Comments: Pyrex bowls come in a variety of sizes, they stack comfortably within one other and you can add to your collection one at a time. We've had plenty of experience using this brand; it's a kitchen classic and for good reason. There probably isn't a better product out there for versatility; it's temperature and thermal shock-resistant, meaning it's a great companion through all stages of a recipe. The bowls can stand up to metal utensils, although they do scuff over time. We like the option of a lid, dispensing with cling film when resting, proving or chilling.
Buy from Trouva (£6.99)
Buyer's advice
What we looked for when testing mixing bowls
Versatility Was the bowl dishwasher-safe? Did it offer extra features, for example, pouring lip, handle and lid? Was it also safe for microwave, freezer and oven?
Sturdiness vs weight We had two criteria: either lightweight but non-slip or heavy-based.
Durability Did the bowl mark easily? Could it withstand kitchen knocks?
Capacity The bowl had to be big enough for standard kitchen tasks such as making a cake. High sides were a plus.
Ease of storage We opted for stackable bowls and ones without an excessive footprint.
How we tested mixing bowls
We road-tested the bowls with an electric beater to see how they fared with scuffing, noise and sturdiness. We tried common mixing bowl tasks by hand, too, using a balloon whisk and wooden spoon. Plus, we tested added features like pouring lips, colanders and handles.
What didn't make the cut?
The bowls had to be up to day-to-day wear and tear. For an everyday bit of equipment, being dishwasher-safe was deemed essential, too.
This review was last updated in August 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
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