I have fond memories of my first attempts at baking a cake. I had two younger brothers who would gather around, eagerly eyeing the mixing bowl. They wanted the creamy leftovers when I was done, of course, and since we raised our own eggs and I’d heard nothing about potential food-borne illnesses then, I always let them have the beaters and the bowl when I finished.
I remember using my mom’s old mixing bowls—we had both glass and ceramic, I think—and all I cared about then was finding something that would hold all the ingredients I needed for my recipe. Today, though, I know there’s more to a good mixing bowl than how much it can hold.
There are a variety of materials, for example. Should you choose glass, stainless steel, ceramic, copper, plastic, or something else entirely, like wood? Turns out it depends on what you’re looking for.
The nice thing about glass is it’s non-reactive—it won’t affect the taste, color, or texture of your food. It can also go easily from kitchen to table, doubling as a serving bowl. It can break, though, particularly if you chip it or drop it, and it’s not the best for beating up egg whites as they tend to slip around too much.
Metal mixing bowls—like those made of stainless steel—are more durable than glass, so they’re likely to last a long time while being generally inexpensive and lightweight. But the metal can get hot if you’re mixing hot ingredients, and it can sometimes impart a metal taste into your food, especially as it ages and undergoes a lot of scraping and whipping.
Ceramic bowls are often the prettiest, with a wide variety of patterns and colors decorating the outsides. They’re sturdy and won’t affect the taste or texture of your food, and can often be very versatile—perfect for mixing, but also for storing and reheating in the microwave. They can also chip and break, though, and can be pricey.
And so it goes. Copper is the best for mixing egg whites because of stabilizes the mixture, plastic is virtually unbreakable though vulnerable to heat and capable of absorbing odors, and wood is perfect for salads but not so great for mixing doughs or batters.
Then there are the shapes of the mixing bowls. Deeper ones work best for stirring batter and dough, while shallower types are easier to use for whisking vinaigrettes or whipping cream.
If you’re in the market for a set of mixing bowls, you may be wondering which would be best. We recently reviewed dozens of them, looking at factors like materials, size, shape, durability, weight, appearance, ease of use, handles, versatility, stackability, and cost. All of these top-rated mixing bowls can be purchased online at Amazon.
We’ve identified the Wildone Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls as our top pick. These five bowls are made of high-quality stainless steel with handy scale marks stamped on the inside for accurate measurements.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Mixing Bowls
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Mixing Bowls Bowls | Wildone Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls | 4.5 |
| Best Lightweight Mixing Bowls | OXO Good Grips Mixing Set | 4.9 |
| Best Budget Mixing Bowls | Cook Pro Mixing Bowl Set | 4.7 |
| Best Glass Mixing Bowls | Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set | 4.7 |
| Best Ceramic Mixing Bowls | Pioneer Woman Ceramic Mixing Bowls | 4.6 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change.
Best Mixing Bowls Overall: Wildone Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
For a long-lasting, durable set of mixing bowls, you can’t go wrong with stainless steel, and this brand does it right: Wildone Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls. Made of high-quality stainless steel, these bowls are rust-resistant and built to withstand lots of use. The brushed exterior gives them a quality look you’ll feel proud to feature on your table, while the mirrored finish inside provides a nice smooth surface for mixing in.
These bowls are deep-set, too, meaning they aren’t too wide and have a deepening basin shape that helps reduce splashing. The nonstick silicone bottoms prevent slippage while you’re mixing, and also help the bowls stay put when serving. BPA-free lids are thick and air-tight, so they’ll help keep your food fresh during storage.
This set includes:
- 5-quart bowl
- 2-quart bowl
- 3-quart bowl
- 5-quart bowl
- 8-quart bowl
Scale lines inside each one help you achieve accurate measurements so your food comes out just right, while the rolled rims make these bowls easy to handle. They’re compact and stackable and won’t take up a lot of room in your kitchen, and of course, they’re dishwasher and freezer safe.
Wildone Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls Key Features:
- High-quality stainless steel is rust-resistant and durable
- Brushed exterior for pleasant appearance; mirrored interior for best mixing results
- Matching airtight BPA-free lids
- Deep basin type reduces splashing
- Nonslip silicone bottoms
Best Lightweight Mixing Bowls: OXO Good Grips Mixing Set
Sometimes lugging around a heavy mixing bowl can be hard on your hands and wrists, particularly when it comes time to pour the mixture out. The OXO Good Grips Mixing Set gets rid of that problem by providing a lightweight mixing bowl with a convenient pouring spout and easy-to-grip non-slip handle.
Made of BPA-free plastic, these bowls come in three fun colors to help brighten up any kitchen, though you can also get them in white if you prefer. They are designed with tall sidewalls to help prevent splatter, even when you’re using an electric mixer, and the soft handle helps you easily maneuver them as needed. Non-slip bottoms stabilize the bowls during mixing, and wide lips and spouts make it easier to pour out the ingredients.
When you’re done with the bowls, just place them in the dishwasher to clean, then nest them together to store. This set includes:
- 5-quart bowl
- 3-quart bowl
- 5-quart bowl
Reviewers love how light these bowls are, and note that even when you grip them in the crook of your arm, they won’t collapse, but will keep their shape. The consensus? Cooking is just easier with these!
OXO Good Grips Mixing Set Key Features:
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Tall sides help reduce splatter, even when using an electric mixer
- Non-slip bottom stabilizes the bowl during mixing
- Wide lips and spouts make pouring easy
- Dishwasher safe and stackable
Best Budget Mixing Bowls: Cook Pro Mixing Bowl Set
If you’re looking for a fun, inexpensive gift, or you seriously need some mixing bowls but have little money to spend, choose the Cook Pro Mixing Bowl Set. This cute set of four bowls is bound to brighten your mood whenever you use it, as the bowls come in bright green, yellow, and white colors.
Made of microwave-safe plastic, they’re lightweight and easy to use. A nice wide comfortable rim handle on one side helps you get a good grip, and then you get a convenient pouring spout on the other side, making these perfect for mixing and pouring.
This set includes:
- Small 27-oz. bowl (holds 3 cups)
- Medium 51-oz. bowl (holds 5 cups)
- Large 81-oz. bowl (holds 7 cups)
- Extra-large 115-oz. bowl (holds 10 cups)
To clean, either handwash the bowls or place them in the top rack of the dishwasher. The bowls nest together for easy storage. Reviewers note that they’re great for mixing and serving, that they’re sturdy and long-lasting, and they clean up easily when washing by hand.
Cook Pro Mixing Bowl Set Key Features:
- Set of four bowls for a reasonable price
- Fun colors lend some cheer to your kitchen
- Made of microwave-safe plastic
- Wide rim handle helps you get a good grip
- Convenient pouring spout
Best Glass Mixing Bowls: Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set
As noted above, glass won’t impart any flavors to your food, so if you’re mixing up tomato sauce or another acidic ingredient, glass is always best. To fill that empty spot in your kitchen, try the Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set. These bowls are dishwasher, microwave, and pre-heated oven safe, and won’t absorb odors or stains.
This particular set comes with a ribbed design that many find attractive, and it’s nice to know that the glass is made in the USA. The matching BPA-free plastic lids come in four fun colors. Sizes include:
- 3-cup bowl
- 6-cup bowl
- 10-cup bowl
- 5-quart bowl
When you’re not mixing, you can easily use these bowls for serving, as well, then store the food in the refrigerator. Reviewers comment that the ribbed glass is pretty, but is not meant to be see-through.
Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set Key Features:
- Microwave- and dishwasher-safe glass won’t absorb stains or odors
- Pretty ribbed design
- Perfect for mixing, serving, storing, and even baking
- Comes with matching lids in four fun colors
- Glass made in the USA
Best Ceramic Mixing Bowls: The Pioneer Woman Ceramic Mixing Bowls
Sometimes only ceramic will do, especially if the in-laws are coming and you want to make a good impression. The Pioneer Woman Ceramic Mixing Bowls also look great on the table. Each colorful bowl has a ribbed piping and classic round shape, and is the ideal pick for a charming kitchen. This set comes in three cute colors: orange, red, and turquoise.
Like glass, ceramic won’t absorb stains or odors, so it will keep your food fresh and won’t react with acidic ingredients. Feel free to use them for mixing, but also for storing food in the refrigerator, or cooking in the microwave. Do make sure you don’t expose them to sudden temperature changes, though—like glass, porcelain can break if the changes are too extreme.
The simple and elegant style will make you eager to mix and serve, plus you may want to get a second set as a great gift for a housewarming, wedding, Mother’s day, or Christmas. They stack easily inside each other, though if you want to ensure against scratches, simply place a tissue between them.
Sizes include:
- 7” bowl
- 75” bowl
- 10” bowl
Reviewers mention that these bowls make great gifts, are nice and deep for easy mixing, and that the bright colors liven up the kitchen.
Pioneer Woman Ceramic Mixing Bowls Key Features:
- Great for missing and serving
- Three fun colors liven up the kitchen
- Ceramic finish won’t react with acidic ingredients
- Deep shape for splash-free mixing
- Makes the perfect gift
Now that you’re ready to mix your ingredients, it’s time to get cooking. Meanwhile, make sure your cupboards are stocked with all the tools you need by checking out our Best Cast Iron Skillets and Best Meat Thermometers.
