Mixing Bowls
At Williams Sonoma, we know the correct bowl is as important as the correct pans when it comes to a recipe's success. Glass, stainless steel, and ceramic mixing bowls are the preferred all-purpose bowls for food prep tasks. Reactive materials are sometimes used in the manufacture of mixing bowls. These materials are fine to use with most nonacidic foods, but the materials may change colors and impart a strange taste when acidic foods come in contact with the bowl. Reactive metals include aluminum, cast iron, and copper. If you mix foods with a high acid content in a reactive bowl, the food could end up tasting a bit like metal.
Which Bowls to Use
Most stainless-steel alloys are safe for use with acidic ingredients, but check the manufacturer’s recommendations. Glass and ceramic mixing bowls are also safe choices because these materials are nonreactive. If you whip up heavy cream for desserts or cake decorating, use a stainless-steel, ceramic or glass bowl to avoid any unsavory tastes in your sweets. Some metal and plastic mixing bowls pick up flavors and stains from foods that were previously in the bowls. Risky ingredients include garlic, chili, berries and spicy marinades. Our stainless-steel and melamine bowls resist transferring tastes or stains, as do our glass and ceramic mixing bowls.
When to Use Copper
Some reactions are a good thing. Copper mixing bowls are the best thing to happen to whipped egg whites. The copper ions react with the egg whites to make those coveted stiff peaks you want for meringues and other treats. Create light and airy soufflés, angel food cake and acookie pan full of melt-in-your-mouth mocha meringues when you have a copper mixing bowl. Hint: Only use the copper bowl for whipping egg whites or cream, and always chill the bottom of the bowl in a basin of ice water before whisking heavy cream.
Bowls decorated with seasonal themes are fun pieces to use when making cookies and candies for holidays. Beloved bowls become part of family tradition, whether they’re ceramic mixing bowls or a brightly colored stack of graduated melamine bowls. Loved ones remember cutting out cookies and savoring the warm, baked goodness of banana bread fresh from the oven. Use our mixing bowls with spouts to make it easier to fill muffin and cupcake pans. Choose bowls with lids for storing foods. Browse our entire collection of mixing bowls to find quality pieces that coordinate with your decor, storage space, and cooking methods.