Kitchen gear · Updated October 2026
The Best Mixing Bowls Are the Cheap Stainless Ones Restaurants Buy
America's Test Kitchen has kept Vollrath Economy stainless bowls in its own kitchen for over a decade, and it picked them again as its top mixing bowl. The 3-quart version lists around $5 at restaurant-supply sites. A $70 designer set lost to it.
What wins is shape, not material. Wide, shallow bowls with an outward-flared rim let you swing a spatula in a full arc and pour without dribbling down the side. Tall, steep walls look sturdy and make folding batter a chore.
Prices below are ballpark listings from this month and they move. Bowl sizes are quarts as the makers label them, so judge by ATK's three-bowl standard of 1.5, 3 and 5 quarts.
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Vollrath Economy Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowls ~$5-17 depending on size and seller (3-qt lists at $5.23 at Wasserstrom; ATK cited $17 at Amazon)
ATK's winner again, and the lightest bowls in its lineup. That matters when you're holding one on a hip while you whisk. The shape is wide enough to scrape clean in two swipes, and the curled rim pours exactly where you aim. They're sold individually, so buy the 1.5, 3 and 5 quart and skip the matched-set markup. No microwave, obviously.
Why it wins
- Lightest bowls ATK tested, with a wide, stable base for vigorous whisking
- Flared rim gives a secure grip and clean pouring
- Dishwasher safe, and cheap enough to own a spare
Know before you buy
- Not microwave safe, so melting butter needs a separate dish
- Thin metal dents if you drop it on tile
- No lids and no non-slip base; set it on a damp towel for heavy whisking
Pyrex Smart Essentials 8-Piece Glass Mixing Bowl Set with Lids ~$30 (Navy Exchange lists $29.99)
ATK's favorite glass set, and the only one whose rims were wide enough to grip. Glass goes in the microwave, so melting chocolate or butter happens in the same bowl you mix in. You also see the batter from the side. It weighs a lot more than steel. A full 4-quart bowl of dough is a two-hand job.
Why it wins
- Four bowls (1, 1.5, 2.5 and 4 qt) plus four lids, so leftovers go straight in the fridge
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
- Broad rims and gently sloped sides make scraping easy
Know before you buy
- Heavy, and ATK flagged how hard that makes one-handed holding
- Glass chips and shatters; it will not survive a drop
- Plastic lids are the part that wears out first
OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowl Set ~$68-70 (ATK cited $68 at Amazon; Kohl's lists $69.99)
The rubber-coated base keeps the bowl planted on the counter, which is the one thing the Vollrath can't claim. ATK rated it only "Recommended" because the thick rim makes pouring messy and the steep walls make scraping harder. Pay for it if you whisk one-handed a lot. The plastic exterior also means no sitting it over simmering water.
Why it wins
- Non-slip base stays put during hard whisking
- Tall walls contain splatter, and the wide rims are easy to carry
- Nests as a 1.5, 3 and 5 quart set
Know before you buy
- Costs roughly four times the Vollrath set ATK preferred
- Thick rim pours messily and steep sides make folding awkward
- ATK recommends hand washing despite the dishwasher-safe label
Frequently askedFAQ
What size mixing bowls do I actually need?
A 1.5, 3 and 5 quart trio covers nearly everything. ATK tests sets at those sizes, and the small bowl handles vinaigrette and eggs, the middle one batters, and the large one dough or tossing salad. Add a 1-quart glass bowl only if you melt things in the microwave often.
Are stainless steel or glass mixing bowls better?
Stainless steel is better for most cooks, because it is lighter, harder to break, and ATK's top-ranked material. Glass wins for microwave use and for seeing what's happening in the bowl. ATK's best glass set, the Pyrex, was held back mainly by its weight.
Can you put stainless steel mixing bowls in the dishwasher?
Yes, Vollrath's stainless bowls are dishwasher safe. ATK recommends hand washing the OXO and All-Clad sets despite their dishwasher-safe labels, since the OXO has a plastic coating and the All-Clad has thin hooked handles. Plain stainless with no coating is the simplest to keep clean.