Best mixing bowls for essential kitchen tasks

If you’re short on space, nesting bowls (with or without other utensils) are a great solution, but only if you will actually use them. Some of the bowls on our list were massive, so you might need to opt for a smaller one for practical reasons.

Read on to discover which bowls are best. For more than 400 buyer's guides, visit our product reviews section and find reviews of the best food processors, best stand mixers, best cake tins and much more.

Best mixing bowls at a glance

• Best mixing bowl design: Mason Cash innovative kitchen mixing bowl, £26.40
• Most stylish mixing bowl: Cornishware Cornish standard mixing bowl, £65
• Best traditional mixing bowl: Tala mixing bowl, £25
• Most innovative mixing bowl: Joseph Joseph Nest 9 Plus, £60
• Best mixing bowl for batch baking and big cakes: Rosle stainless steel mixing bowl, £65
• Best stainless steel set of mixing bowls: ProCook stainless steel mixing bowl set, £34
• Best all-rounder mixing bowl: ProCook glass mixing bowl with lid, £15

Best mixing bowls to buy in 2024

Mason Cash innovative kitchen mixing bowl

Best mixing bowl design

Pros:

• Dishwasher-proof
• Microwave-proof
• Tilts on side for mixing

Cons:

• Stoneware is heavy and more prone to chipping

Heavy, solid and sturdy, this 29cm bowl is perfect for large families, or anyone making big cakes on a regular basis.

What makes this one particularly clever is that you can tilt it on its side on the worktop to get extra air in it while mixing (note to self: don’t do this until the eggs are mixed in!). The tilting also really helps when scraping cake mixture out.

This one is microwave-proof – however, make sure to measure your microwave first as the bowl is so large it may not fit through the door.

It also goes in the dishwasher, but it washes easily by hand.

Cornishware Cornish standard mixing bowl

• Available from Cornishware (£65)

Most stylish mixing bowl

Pros:

• Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
• 3.5-litre capacity

Cons:

• Limited size options

Too good-looking to hide in a cupboard, this medium mixing bowl could easily double up as a fruit bowl or anything else.

There is a small but useful handle on either side (well, more of a thick edge). It's also available in yellow and red, and there’s a pudding basin available in three colours, too.

This is weightier than stainless steel bowls, but lighter than some of the other ceramic ones, so it’s a good compromise if you want something more solid but not too heavy. The shallow sides make it easy to scrape mixture down.

Available from:

• Cornishware (£60)

Tala mixing bowl

Best traditional mixing bowl

Pros:

• High-quality stoneware
• Pretty floral detail
• Generous 5-litre capacity
• Microwave-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe
• Oven safe to 220C

Cons:

• Heavy

This traditional stoneware bowl is a whopper. The sides are a perfect size: tall enough to stop ingredients like cocoa powder flying out of the bowl when mixing on a high speed while low enough to ensure your hand mixer can still drip over the sides.

The Tala bowl is everything-proof, including freezer and, unusually, the oven (up to 220C). It can also go in the microwave, which can be useful for tasks like softening butter, or reheating if you’ve used it as a storage bowl. However, measure your microwave first, as it might be too large to fit.

With an embossed design, it scores highly for looks, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anything sturdier – though this means it’s quite heavy to lift with one hand.

It’s the kind of bowl you can imagine being handed from parent to child with much reminiscing about what it’s been used to make.

Joseph Joseph Nest 9 Plus

Most innovative mixing bowl

Pros:

• Efficient space-saving design
• Comprehensive food-prep set
• Variety of sizes
• Measurements inside the bowls (metric and imperial)
• Pouring spout
• Dishwasher-safe and BPA-free

Cons:

• Not microwave-safe

This is several kitchen essentials in one, and is ideal for small kitchens or to give to a student leaving home for the first time, with several colourways to choose from. There are two bowls, a colander and sieve, as well as measuring cups and spoons. It all stacks neatly together, including the measuring spoons, so will take up minimal space, and it’s lightweight, too.

The bowls have handles to grip, and non-slip bottoms. The largest is a roomy 4.5 litres, and it’s well designed – it isn’t too tall, despite its size, so the beaters from our hand mixer can be left to drip into it while fetching the next ingredient.

We also like the flat bottoms on the measuring cups that mean they can sit unaided on the worktop, leaving an extra hand free. The smallest measuring spoon has markings for both teaspoons and tablespoons.

The smaller bowl is 0.5 litres, and is good for tasks like making a sauce. It has interior measurements, too. The colander and sieve are good quality, with handles at the side.

Rosle stainless steel mixing bowl

• Available from Borough Kitchen (£65)

Best mixing bowl for batch baking and big cakes

Pros:

• Durable
• Easy to clean
• Generous capacity
• Pouring rim
• 2-year warranty

Cons:

• Not the most attractive

This Rosle stainless steel mixing bowl is crafted from stainless steel, ensuring durability, a lifetime of use and easy cleaning, even after tough mixing or cooking jobs. It's also dishwasher-safe, adding to its convenience. Plus, there are six sizes to choose from, from 8cm to 28cm.

The bowl is highly resistant to heat, allowing you to use it for various cooking techniques without worry. Thanks to its stainless steel composition, it is also highly rust-resistant, ensuring it maintains its pristine appearance over time.

We tested the largest size, with a 28cm diameter. With an 8-litre capacity, this bowl can handle large quantities of ingredients, making it suitable for preparing meals for a crowd or large cakes for celebrations.

The bowl is equipped with a pouring rim, helping the easy and mess-free transfer of liquids.

You can purchase a stay-fresh silicone and glass lid separately, further enhancing the bowl's versatility for storage and transport.

Available from:

• Borough Kitchen (£65)

ProCook stainless steel mixing bowl set

Best stainless steel set of mixing bowls

Pros:

• Variety of sizes
• Space-saving design
• Durable
• Internal measurements
• Non-slip base
• Individual purchase option
• 1-year warranty

Cons:

• Smallest bowl isn't very small

This set offers three capacities (2, 3 and 6 litres), catering to various cooking and baking tasks, from mixing cake ingredients to marinating meat.

The bowls nest neatly together for convenient storage, helping you save space in your kitchen.

Crafted from durable stainless steel, these bowls are built to last, ensuring they can handle the rigours of everyday cooking. Each lightweight bowl has handy internal measurements, making it easier to follow recipes accurately.

The non-slip silicone base ensures that the bowl stays securely in place during mixing, providing stability and safety.

If you need additional bowls or want to replace one, these stainless steel mixing bowls are also available for individual purchase, providing flexibility.

ProCook glass mixing bowl with lid

• Available from ProCook (£15)

Best all-rounder mixing bowl

Pros:

• Versatile
• Convenient lid
• Microwave-, freezer- and oven-safe
• Dishwasher-safe
• 10-year guarantee

Cons:

• Lid not oven-safe

This glass mixing bowl with a lid serves a dual purpose, making it perfect for food preparation and storage, reducing the need for additional containers.

They are made from high-quality borosilicate glass, known for its exceptional resistance against heat, stains and scratches, ensuring long-lasting durability and maintaining its pristine appearance.

The lid makes it easy to keep food fresh when stored in the fridge or freezer and allows hassle-free microwave reheating. These glass mixing bowls are microwave- and freezer-safe, providing flexibility in preparing and storing food. They are also oven-safe up to 300C, adding versatility to your cooking options.

The high-quality materials and construction ensure that these bowls will look as good as new for many years, providing excellent value for your investment; confidence in this promise is shown through ProCook’s 10-year guarantee.

What to consider when buying a mixing bowl

Versatility: Is the bowl dishwasher-safe? Does it offer extra features, for example, a pouring lip, handle and lid? Is it also safe for the microwave, freezer and oven?

Sturdiness vs weight: We have two criteria: lightweight but non-slip or heavy-based.

Durability: Does the bowl mark easily? Can it withstand kitchen knocks?

Capacity: The bowl has to be big enough for standard kitchen tasks, such as making a cake. High sides are a plus.

Ease of storage: We opt for stackable bowls and ones without an excessive footprint.

Easy washing: Mixing bowls are inevitably messy, so it needs to wash up well and go in the dishwasher.

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