The Best Metal Bowls

Buying Guide

Whether you’re beating eggs or making cake batter, a good mixing bowl is essential to the process. Glass seems to be the most popular and versatile, but plastic and metal have their benefits, too. Although stainless steel bowls can be prone to leaching chemicals when heated, that same material can be a great way to mix chilled and room temperature ingredients.

One of the best things about metal bowls is how well they handle wet ingredients. If you’re beating eggs or whipping foam, for instance, glass and plastic will be too slippery, making it tough to get a handle on the ingredients. With stainless steel, your mixture adheres to the side, allowing you to whip up exactly the froth you need.

Metal bowls are also great for creating a double boiler. You can put chocolate on top of a pan of boiling water, for instance, to lessen its contact with the heat and melt it more evenly. If you need to chill ingredients quickly, a metal bowl over some ice water will hasten the process.

But what really makes metal bowls stand out is their nesting capabilities. They easily stack inside each other to slide into your cabinets or onto shelves. For that reason, stainless steel bowls are often sold in five- to six-bowl sets that range in capacity from ¾ quarts to 8 quarts. This allows you to grab whichever bowl you need for your cooking session.

Metal bowls aren’t just useful for baked goods, though. They also come in handy for mixing salads and other items. Metal holds temperature well, allowing you to preserve your ingredients while you’re working with them. While glass has similar capabilities, stainless steel does have a greater temperature tolerance, allowing you to work with extreme cold and heat without worrying about damaging it.

• Although stainless steel can be great for beating and thickening wet ingredients, this lack of nonstick properties can count against you when it’s time to clean up.
• Metal heats and chills items well due to its easy temperature distribution. But that also means they can get uncomfortable to the touch. Keep a potholder nearby to help with this.
• Pay close attention to the sizes of the bowls you choose. The smallest one may not have the capacity you need, while the large one might not cover you. You could be better off buying each bowl separately.
• Stainless steel isn’t the only type of metal you’ll find for mixing bowls. However, another popular option, aluminum, can be prone to problems. If you work with ingredients that are heavy in acid, like certain citrus fruits, aluminum can react and change the taste. Stainless steel will remain neutral.
• One downside of metal bowls is that you can’t slide them into the microwave as you can with glass. Keep this in mind if you need a mixing bowl you can use in the microwave.
• Stainless steel is lighter weight than glass bowls, making it easier to work with while carrying from one area of the kitchen to the other and pouring ingredients.
• Glass and ceramic mixing bowls don’t fare well when dropped. Stainless steel bowls will hold up over many years, even if you drop them or they get jostled around during a move.
• Some mixing bowls come with a nonslip base, making them easier to keep in one place while you’re adding ingredients. But some find glass bowls better due to the exterior transparency. With a stainless-steel bowl, you can’t see, at a glance, the mixture of ingredients from top to bottom.
• You’ll notice a rolled lip at the rim of some stainless-steel bowls. This provides a little extra grip while you’re using them.