Bowls: purpose, varieties and recommendations for choosing

It is customary to call a bowl a deep and wide dish that looks like a small basin. This type of kitchen utensil most often has a hemispherical shape without a lid and handles. A distinctive feature of this dish is a thin bottom and thin walls. Today, bowls of various shapes and volumes are widely available for sale. The material from which they are made is also very diverse.

This type of cookware is mainly intended for mixing ingredients and churning food. But, besides this, bowls are often used for serving soup and other liquid dishes, for preparing cereals and salads. They knead the dough, wash fruits and vegetables, defrost food, pickle food, and use it to store food in the refrigerator.

Exists special bowls with a gel warmer for quick raising of the dough when kneading... This type of tableware, made of stainless steel, is indispensable during a picnic or on a camping trip.

Bowls can be sold individually or in sets. Such kits include from 2 to 6 (or more) elements, which is very convenient, since bowls of different sizes can be used for a wide variety of purposes. In small containers, it is convenient to heat first courses and marinate food; small portions of food can be stored in them in the refrigerator.

Today bowls are made from a variety of bases, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. Most often, this type of tableware is made from the following materials.

• Stainless steel. It is a very strong and durable material that can withstand high temperatures. In stainless steel bowls, you can quickly boil water, reheat food, cook food over a fire. But stainless steel dishes are difficult to clean from dirt, since any abrasive products for kitchen utensils leave scratches on its surface.

• Aluminum... It has good thermal conductivity, is lightweight and durable. But aluminum dishes are destroyed by contact with an acidic environment and with alkaline detergents. Aluminum bowls are recommended for boiling water, but not for cooking food.

• Metals. Metal bowls are not stained with food colors, do not absorb food odors, are easy to clean and retain their attractive appearance for a long time. But, for example, it is undesirable to pour water into iron containers in order not to contribute to the corrosion process. They are well suited for frying and baking food. They should be thoroughly wiped and dried after use.

• Enamel. The enamelled steel bowl is easy to clean, aesthetic and hygienic. It is resistant to acids and salts. But enameled dishes require a very careful attitude. Such products do not tolerate impacts and sudden temperature changes. In no case should you use cookware with a damaged enamel layer, it poses a threat to your health.

• Wood. Wooden dishes are environmentally friendly, strong enough and have their own unique smell. Wooden bowls are ideal for vinaigrette, salads, berries, pies, pickled mushrooms and vegetables. This wooden serving container looks very impressive on the festive table. However, it should be remembered that such dishes darken over time and can accumulate odors.

• Clay. It is a wonderful natural material. Fish, meat or mushrooms cooked in such dishes have a special aroma and unique taste. You can keep food in clay bowls for a long time. This dish, without glaze, is absolutely safe for health. Clay products should not be placed in a high-temperature environment and should not be rubbed with metal brushes.

• Ceramics. Ceramic dishes are fragile and cannot withstand sudden changes in temperature. These kitchen utensils may contain lead unhealthy. Ceramic bowls are best used for serving ready meals and for microwave ovens.

• Glass... It has an attractive appearance. Glass bowls are easy to clean, but sensitive to any mechanical damage and require careful handling. They can be effectively used for serving salads to the festive table. Heat-resistant glass bowls can be cleaned with chemicals and can be used in microwave ovens and ovens.

• Plastic. Plastic dishes are lightweight and require little maintenance. Polypropylene plastic bowls with PP marking are made of material safe for human health. They can be used for both cold and hot food, but must not be heated. Most often, salads and vegetables are placed in such containers. For a mixer and whipping products with it, use a plastic bowl with a handle, high walls and a stable bottom.

• Silicone. Silicone dishes are usually brightly colored, resistant to high temperatures, and do not absorb foreign odors. Food grade silicone is a safe material. Such dishes can be washed both by hand and in the dishwasher. But remember that silicone bowls are very easy to scratch with sharp objects.

• Coconut... These containers are completely natural, reusable and have a unique design. Coconut is characterized by lightness and high strength. Coconut bowls must be hand washed and not exposed to sudden changes in temperature.

In order to choose the right reliable and practical bowls, you should carefully read the recommendations of experienced chefs.

• Ideally, you should purchase several versions of these dishes with different volumes, for example, 1.5, 2.5 and 5 liters.
• For a set of bowls, you need to immediately buy a sieve for sifting flour and cereals, as well as a colander.
• Choose visually attractive and sustainable options for serving ready-to-eat meals. For mixing salads and minced meat, wide models of these dishes are suitable.
• If you choose bowls for storing food, then go for tall items with a lid to protect the food from oxidation.
• Graduated bowls allow you to accurately measure the amount of liquid for preparing dough or porridge.
• Be sure to ask the seller to show the certificate for the selected samples to be sure that the cookware is safe.

Bowls are essential and multifunctional utensils for the kitchen.

Nowadays, there is a huge assortment of bowls of all kinds of shapes, sizes, made from a variety of materials. Well-chosen quality bowls with proper care will last a long time.

How to make wooden bowls, see below.