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3 Expert Tips For Choosing A Serving Bowl

Serving bowls are ubiquitous kitchen tools that can - and should! - double as attractive pieces of art to properly show off food. Whether you lean more minimal or are looking for a conversation piece, there's definitely a serving bowl for you! Let's talk about your options, as well as the best types of serving bowls for specific situations.

1. What is the best material for my serving bowl?

Serving bowls can be made from a wide array of materials. Each has specific properties that make it good for specific things - and not so great for others! Therefore, the best material for your serving bowl will depend on what you're using it for. We'll break it down below:

If you need to…

  • Serve hot things: When you're serving something hot, you'll need a bowl that is a good insulator so it won't be hot to the touch but will keep the food inside at good serving temperature. Ceramic, melamine or glass are both good choices here. You'll likely want to stay away from very thin plastic or metal, as they will warp or get extremely hot.
Colorful Melamine Serving Bowl
Glass Rectangular Serving Bowl
Melamine Serving Small Bowls in White
Ceramic Serving Bowl Set in Red
Ceramic Serving Bowl Set in White
Glass Low Serving Bowl
  • Use it for mixing: When you're mixing ingredients in a serving bowl, you want something that has a sturdy enough base to stay put. However, you'll also need it to be lightweight enough so you can pick it up if need be. Good materials might include durable plastic or lightweight stainless steel or copper. For mixing bowls, you should probably stay away from more porous materials like wood or ceramic, or heavier ones like glass.
Stainless Steel Serving Salad Bowl in Rose Gold
Stainless Steel Serving Bowl Set in Rose Gold
Stainless Steel Serving Bowl
Stainless Steel Serving Bowl in Black
Stainless Steel Serving Bowl in Silver
  • Use it mainly for decoration: Sometimes, a serving bowl is mostly decorative, for example, a fruit bowl. This is a good opportunity to use more porous materials, such as wood or ceramic. Thinner, more delicate serving bowls should be used for more decorate purposes as well, such as porcelain or bone china.
Porcelain 5 Piece Serving Bowl Set
Porcelain Serving Bowl in White
7 Piece Serving and Salad Bowl Set in Wood
Acacia Wave Serving Bowl
Ceramic Serving Bowl Pig Styled
Ceramic Decorative Serving Bowl
Big Serving Bowl in Green
Small and Medium Serving Bowl Set
Small to Medium 3 Piece Serving Bowl Set
Medium Rectangular Serving Bowl Set
Large Serving Bowl Set in White
Large Square Serving Bowl

Jessica started out as an interior photographer, but her love of pretty settings took her to the field of interior design, where she can combine two of her greatest passions, creating and then capturing the beauty of homes.