Mixing Bowls Review

Whether it is muffins or meringue you are making, choosing the proper mixing bowl is more important than you may think.

Bowl material: What a bowl is made of will determine its usefulness in the kitchen. Most materials is dishwasher safe, but stainless steel isn't microwavable. Both stainless and ceramic bowls are durable, however ceramic tends to be heavy to lift.

Bowl size and shape: Do have a set of bowls in in graduating sizes. Shape is also important. A deep bowl with straight sides and narrow opening is best for beating liquids. The higher sides keep them from splashing out of the bowl. But when folding a beaten mixture into something, do so in a bowl with a wider opening. This allows to tuck the spatula underneath the mixture.

Stainless steel bowls work best when using a hand mixer to beat egg whites or cream. The beats don't bounce off of the bottom of the bowl, making it easier to control the hand mixer.

Glass nesting bowls store easily, and are durable, see-through, and microwavable.

Ceramic bowls - heavy stoneware bowls stay put on the counter, and are great for mixing dough that require some elbow grease.

Melamine - a hard, durable plastic, is quite light, but it is not microwavable or stain-or crack-resistant. Bowls with a rubber gripper bottom are handy. The rubber keeps the bowl from moving on the countertop during mixing.