29 Most Common Types Of Bowls And Their Characteristics

No matter what you're eating, there's always a bowl to go with it.  From cereal bowls to soup bowls, and everything in between, we've got you covered.

With so many options available, your only problem will be deciding which one is the right fit for your food of choice. Take some time to browse our list of 29 types of bowls below and find the perfect match for all your meals!

Types of Bowls

Plastic Bowls

Plastic bowls are great for eating on the go or at picnics. They are lightweight and easy to carry around, so they're perfect for kids. These bowls can also be used in place of utensils; just fill them up with your favourite foods and dig right in! 

Plastic bowls are available in a variety of sizes, colours and materials. They can usually be reused multiple times before they need to be thrown out. This makes them an eco-friendly option for people looking to minimize their waste footprint.

Bamboo Bowls

Made of natural bamboo material, this bowl is smooth to the touch and looks like it's straight from the garden. This type of bowl has been around since ancient times and can be used for both food and decorative purposes.  

If cared for properly, bamboo can last up to 60 years! It's also very strong and durable so it's great for cooking with as well. This bowl comes in a few different sizes and styles (such as deep, shallow, round, rectangular) making it ideal for any type of meal.

Ceramic Bowls

Ceramic bowls are perfect for serving up a cozy bowl of soup or warming stew. They can also be used as a decorative piece, making them the perfect gift idea for those who love to cook.

Some ceramic bowls are even painted with figures or designs, making them extra special pieces.

Glass Bowls

Glass bowls are a great alternative to plastic ones. They can be served warm or cold and come in many different styles and shapes to suit your taste. From unique glass serving dishes like a fish bowl to elegant glass bowls for desserts, there's something for everyone.

Glass bowls are also easy to clean, making them an ideal option for everyday use.

Crockery Bowls

Crockery bowls are made from a variety of materials like ceramic, metal and stone. Some crockery bowls have a porcelain enamel lining which makes for easy peeling of food after cooking.

They're perfect for serving up soups or stews at your next dinner party. If you want to keep them looking great after washing, try using a non-abrasive sponge.

Wooden Bowls

Wooden bowls are great for serving up delicious stews and soups that you've made yourself. They're also useful to have on hand for holding cut fruit, vegetables, and classic appetizers. Wooden bowls can serve many purposes, making them an attractive option for displaying your favourite foods. 

Wooden bowls are great for serving up delicious stews and soups that you've made yourself. They're also useful to have on hand for holding cut fruit, vegetables, and classic appetizers.

Silicone Bowls

Silicone bowls aren't just for eating wacky cartoon character cereal. The material from which these bowls are made is flexible, so they can be used for serving up desserts and snacks. They are also very easy to clean, making them a good choice for meal prep bowls.

Silicone bowls are also available in many different sizes and colours, so you can find the perfect fit for your needs.

Metal Bowls

Metal bowls are perfect serving pieces for hot food and come in a variety of different sizes. They can be used in the microwave, refrigerator, or freezer and are very durable. Plus they add extra appeal to any kitchen décor!  

Metal bowls are also very affordable and can be used in place of utensils. Metal bowls are perfect serving pieces for hot food and come in a variety of different sizes.

Stoneware Bowls

Stoneware bowls are made from specially fired clay and are very durable. They can be used to serve up soups or salads or even as a decorative piece in your home.

Peacock bowls are made of the same material as stoneware and come in an array of vibrant colours. They can also be used to serve food or for decorative purposes on a tabletop.

Fiberglass Bowls

Fiberglass bowls are made of coated fiberglass and provide a textured, weighted feel. They are available in a variety of colours that can be used to match the décor of any room. These bowls look great on a kitchen counter or dining table.

Fiberglass bowls can also be used as serving dishes or for snacks. The heavy material makes them feel substantial while being lightweight and easy to clean.

Spiral Bowls

Spiral bowls are made from stainless steel and come in an array of sizes that make them perfect for both soups and desserts! This type of  bowl is also great for serving up dips and sauces.

Spiral bowls come in a variety of colours such as black, red, and pink. They can be brought straight from the freezer to your table or kitchen counter where they will retain their cold temperature for longer periods of time.

Melamine Bowls

Melamine bowls are perfect for kids because they're very durable. They can also be used in the microwave without worry of cracking, which makes them a must-have for any family!  

Melamine bowls come in a variety of bright colours and make meal prep fun for the little ones. They can also be used to serve up snacks as they're easy to clean, especially if you have children prone to dropping their food on the floor!

Fine China Bowls

Fine China Bowls are made from fine porcelain. Fine China Bowls can be used for different special occasions or to serve meals. There are many types of Fine China Bowls and they vary according to size, shapes and color.

The colors of the Fine China Bowls are either plain white or colored with different patterns. Some of the bowls have lids and some do not have lids, depending on its sizes. They can be used for desserts like ice creams or any hot meals.

Colored Glass Bowls

They come in bright colors like red, pink, blue, green, yellow and white. They are used to hold your fruit or other desserts like cakes, ice creams, yogurts or any fruity meals. They are also good for serving salads and even soups.

Earthenware Bowls

They are not expensive and you can buy them in different colors. They are used during particular occasions like family dinners, birthdays or any other special gathering.  They can also be used as decorative items in your home to enhance its beauty.

Function

Strawberry Bowls 

Strawberry Bowls are mainly used for serving desserts, fruits or fruit salads. Each type of Strawberry Bowl is suited for a different purpose and can be purchased in different sizes, shapes and colors.

Savoury Bowls

Savoury Bowls are of different sizes, shapes and colors. They can be used to serve hot soups as well cold salads in a nutshell. There are some Savoury Bowls that have lids, which you can use to keep your food warm for a long time while serving it with others who haven't eaten yet.

Pasta Bowls

Pasta Bowls are also available in different colors and sizes. They can be used to serve pasta, salads, soups or any other foods that you prefer. You can choose the size of your Pasta Bowl depending on how much food you need to serve.

Salad Bowls

Salad Bowls are the most versatile type of bowls .You can use them to serve soups, pasta salads, and meals. They come in different colors and sizes for your convenience and these come very cheap.

Dip Bowls

Dip Bowls are usually used for serving dips, sauces and spreads. They can be placed in the middle of your tables or brought out when you have some special occasions. Dip bowls will help keep your foods warm during gatherings.

Storage Bowls

Storage bowls, as they name, are used to store things. Common storage bowl is large enough to hold a lot of stuff. It can be made from many materials such as plastic and stainless steel. Storage bowls help in storing items you don't need immediately but may need them later on like first-aid kit, travel toiletries or simple dry food.

These bowls are either stand alone storage or you can find the combination of storage and prep bowl.   You can use the prep bowl for the ingredients and transfer it to a storage bowl for refrigeration when you're ready to cook.

Buffet Bowls

Buffet bowls are designed for serving food in buffet style. They hold the hot or cold food and make it easy to serve it to many people at one time. Buffet bowls come in various shapes so you can match the theme of your party with them easily.

Soup Bowls

Soup bowls are bowls made to hold hot and cold soups, usually with handles so you can easily eat it with two hands. The soup bowl is a great choice for any warm and hearty broth based meals such as chicken noodle soup, clam chowder or tomato bisque.

The size of the soup bowl can range from small serving, medium serving and large serving.

Ice Cream Bowls

Ice cream bowls are the perfect style to serve your ice cream or pudding. The size of these bowls can vary from small cone bowls to large family size bowls.

You can use the cone shaped ice cream bowl for serving soft and creamy frozen desserts like gelato, sorbetto and frozen yogurt.

The classic ice cream sundae is made with a tall, wide ice cream bowl. This is also known as a Rock Glass which is more elegant and practical for serving soft serve desserts in your restaurant.

Dessert Bowls

Dessert Bowls can be used for serving various types of desserts like ice creams, cakes, pudding and fruits. They are usually made from colorful materials that make them more attractive to your guests. These types of bowls do not have lids but feature ribbed rims for easy handling and elegance.

They come in different sizes and shapes like the name implies. The Glass Bowls with the milk glass finish are the most and they are usually used to serve cereal, popcorn etc..

Cereal Bowls

Cereal bowls are available in both small and large sizes. The typical cereal bowl is used for serving breakfast cereal, especially warm or hot cereals such as oatmeal or hot chocolate.

They come in different shapes like oval, round, square etc.. Some of them have handles while others do not. 

Mixing Bowls

Mixing bowls are common in any kitchen, it can be used to mix batter, batter for cakes or cookies. It's good to keep your mixing bowl close by so you don't have to get up that much during the recipe preparation time.

Glass Mixing Bowls are heavy but easy to clean which makes them a great choice if you have a large amount of batter to mix.

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls are easy to hold which makes them a good choice for anyone who often uses a mixing bowl to mix anything. They're also dishwasher safe which make the clean up process easier than glass bowls. Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls come in sets so you can get all different sizes at one time.

Rice Bowls

Rice Bowls are used to serve rice. Rice Bowls come in lots of different sizes, the most common is a small bowl with a long handle which can help to keep the hand away from the hot food while serving it.

While some rice bowls have a thimble shape and wide opening for easy scooping, others have flat bottoms so you can add them to your table set.

Potato Masher Bowls

Potato Masher Bowls are small in size, they have cute little handles and sometimes have the masher built right into the bowl.

The most common potato masher is a two-piece combo that includes a bowl for mashing potatoes and a separate lid to cover it completely.

FAQs

1.  How to Choose the Best Bowls for your Kitchen?

You should choose your bowls based on how you'll use them. If you need a glass mixing bowl, consider how often you will be using it, whether it needs to go in the microwave or dishwasher and if it's easy to clean.

For casual dining, deep soup and cereal bowls are a good choice. If you often entertain, opt for decorative bowls that are fun to look at as well as practical.

2.  Which Materials Make the Best Bowls?

The type of bowl you choose will be determined by your lifestyle and how you plan to use it. Ceramic bowls are best suited for casual dining because they are attractive and easy to clean.

If you entertain frequently, consider serving your guest in decorative glass bowls with a contrasting rim or accent color. Stainless steel mixing bowls are best for baking because of the material's durability, strength and ease of cleanup.

3.   Where to Buy the Best Bowls?

You can buy bowls in cookware shops as well as online stores. For a large bowl, you should consider something that is crafted out of a heavy material like glass or stoneware; these materials are sturdy and difficult to tip over.

4.  How to Care for Bowls?

If you think you'll be transporting your bowls, to avoid breakage, place them in a casserole dish or box and pack them with lots of cushioning. Bowls are fairly easy to care for; after each use, wash in warm soapy water with a brush. If something is stuck on the bowl, soak it in hot sudsy water before scrubbing.

Glass bowls can be placed in the dishwasher but avoid stacking them with other items to ensure they don't get damaged. Bowls made from stoneware should only be washed by hand and dried thoroughly. 

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed 29 types of bowls and their characteristics. Bowls take on a variety of shapes and sizes depending what they’re designed to do, whether that be holding edible items or serving as a decorative container for other objects.

Understanding the different types of bowls can help with choosing which one is best suited to your needs; some may need more surface area while others might require you to hold them easily in your hands. We hope that after reading this article, you will know exactly what type of bowl would work best for you!

 

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