The Best Salad Serving Bowl

Salads are a great addition to just about any dinner creation you can come up with, so you’ll want to have a quality bowl on hand that can be used day after day. Of course, salad bowls have plenty of other uses around the home as well, including holding fresh fruit in the kitchen or displaying decorative balls as a centerpiece on your dining room table.

When you’re ready to begin your quest for the best salad serving bowl, look for the following features:

Decide what type of material you’d like the salad bowl to be made out of. You may wish to go with a high-quality acrylic that is clear, yet elegant. If you do, it is important that you make sure the material is listed as BPA-free. Otherwise, it may contain toxins that could leak into your food.

There are also stylish salad bowls made of tempered glass, like the Bormioli Rocco Salad Bowl, as well as bowls constructed from wood. Both are equally as desirable, and you may simply wish to choose a design that matches the other kitchen appliances and utensils that you already own. For example, if your items are more contemporary in design, you may want to go with the Lipper International Acacia Wave Serving Bowl, which is made of a high quality acacia wood and has a unique wave design along the rim.

Consider how sturdy you need the salad bowl to be. Some bases can be a little slippery, which means they might slide across your table. The Prodyne Acrylic Salad Bowl with Servers actually comes with six legs that keep it from tipping over or landing in your lap.

Decide how long you need the salad to remain available for guests. While you won’t have a problem leaving a bowl of salad out during a normal dinner, it isn’t a good idea for salad to be left in warm temperatures for an extended period of time. If you plan on having an afternoon barbecue or you’re going to a church pot luck, you may want a bowl that has the ability to keep the salad nice and cold. The Prodyne ICED Salad Bowl will do just that. It has a lower bowl that holds ice, an upper stainless steel bowl for the salad and a lid to keep the cooler temps from escaping.

• Not all salad bowls are created equal. While some are dishwasher safe (and shock resistant), others must be washed by hand. Models that require hand washing are also not safe for use in microwaves or refrigerators. When you’re ready to wash your salad bowl, use a little dish soap and cold water. Never soak the bowl and always towel dry after rinsing the bowl clean.
• Certain salad bowls are susceptible to cracking over time if they are exposed to extreme temperature changes.
• If your salad bowl is made from wood, considering using mineral oil on the inside every once in a while. This will help the bowl keep its attractive appearance.
• Wood salad bowls need refinishing over time. Remove the old finish using #00 steel wool. Afterward, wipe away the dust using a lint-free cloth. Add a new finish to the salad bowl using food-grade walnut oil. You’ll want to apply two coats, waiting a full 24 hours in between each coat.
• Depending on the type of salad you’re making, you may want to rub the bowl with an herb before you toss the salad in it. Many chefs use this trick to add flavor to their salads.
• There’s no need to throw away old salad bowls when you buy a new set. Consider using them in one of many different craft projects. You can make a birdbath with them, or flip the bowl over so it can be used as the top of an indoor acorn decoration. You can use an old sweater as the base of the acorn and then attach a 2-inch cut from a tree branch on top of the salad bowl as the acorn’s stem.
• Matching serving spoons may not be included, so make sure you budget for a set before you start shopping.
• As you start browsing salad bowl prices, you’ll notice that most models hover around the same price range. The Prodyne Acrylic Salad Bowl with Servers is only a few dollars more than the Lipper International Acacia Wave Serving Bowl and the Bormioli Rocco Salad Bowl, and that’s because the Prodyne comes with legs and a set of serving spoons. The Prodyne ICED Salad Bowl also commands a slightly higher price, thanks to its extra ice compartment and handy lid.