There is nothing quite as harmonious and reassuring as a bowl of warm soup. Whether you’re simmering a pot of broccoli and cheese, tomato, or leak and potato, you are guaranteed an exquisitely tasteful meal. Add a little bread for companionship and it will be all the more gorgeously pleasant.
But, will it?
Don’t squander a delightful pot of soup with an inferior soup bowl. Soup is more than just a meal, it is an event, it is a festivity, and it is a style of living. Let all its healthy flavors shine out from a stunningly exceptional piece of dinnerware.
Get the best soup bowl possible. Here’s how.
Find Your Favorites Fast
If you’re wondering how to find the best soup bowl possible, then you need to know what to look for in a soup bowl. In this article, we will discuss the features you should consider as you look for soup bowls. As we talk more and more about the vessels designed to hold hearty and healthy food, you also need to ask yourself some really good questions, and then, answer them as best you can. Ready? If so, let’s dig in.
Amenities
This refers to any extras that a soup bowl may have. It could be handles, lids, or the ability to be used in an oven, microwave, or on a stovetop. To help you figure out what amenities you might like, consider how you would answer the following questions:
- Will you use a soup bowl to hold French Onion Soup? If you will, you may need to get a soup bowl set that is designed to hold this type of soup.
- Will you need to put your soup bowl in an oven? If you will, you need to look for soup bowls that are oven-safe.
- Will you want to regularly wash your soup bowl in a dishwasher? If you will, then make sure the bowls you select are dishwasher safe.
- Do you prefer handles on your soup bowl in order to prevent burns and messes? If you do, then this will narrow down your search parameters.
Color
As you make your soup bowl selection, consider what color you would prefer. You can be as picky as you want; after all, these are the bowls that you are going to use for your soup in your kitchen. To help you figure out what color you might like, consider how you would answer the following questions:
- Will your soup bowls be displayed anywhere in your kitchen? If so, you may want to get a color that will complement the style of your kitchen.
- Will your soup bowls be used on special occasions or holidays? If so, you may want to get a color that will match the occasion or holiday.
- Will your soup bowls be used with specific tableware or other dinnerware? If so, you may want to get a color that goes along with those sets.
Material
The best soup bowl for you may not be the best soup bowl for me, and that’s okay. This is probably true about everyone because we all have our preferences about which material a bowl is made from. To help you figure out what material you might prefer, consider how you would answer the following questions:
Do you have small children in your home, or do you tend to break a lot of dishes? If you said yes to either of these questions, you may need a bowl made from something that is difficult to break. Fortunately, your options are many:
Corelle Ware – this material is made from tempered glass and is designed to resist scratching and breaking. While not indestructible, it is close enough.
Melamine – this is a type of plastic that is very popular for turning into dishes. It is virtually unbreakable and safe for use in dishwashers. The downside of this material is that it can melt and can leak toxins if put in a microwave.
Metal – this material might get a few dings if dropped but it is naturally built to resist breaking. While these may not be as popular of an item as the others on this list, it is certainly worth considering.
- Do you want your soup bowls to be aesthetically pleasing but completely unique? If so, you may want to consider wood, ceramic, or glass bowls. These materials come in many different colors, designs, and styles so you will never run out of great options.
- Do you prefer a soup bowl that retains and distributes heat well? If this is important to you, then once again, you need to look for a ceramic bowl.
Price
Soup bowls are lovely but they are not a reason to go into debt. Ask yourself how much you can afford to spend on a soup bowl set, and then stick with that. There are so many options on the market, that no matter what you set the price at, you will find something that you love.
Size
This is a factor built on personal preference, diet, and possibly, the type of soup you most frequently eat. To help you figure out what size of bowl you need, consider how you would answer the following questions:
- Are you counting calories, or do you typically serve soup as a side dish or appetizer alongside the main course? If you do either of these, then you may want a small soup bowl so that you can control the amount of soup offered at the table.
- Do you eat soup as an entire meal or serve Ramen-style soups on a regular basis? If you either of these, then you should opt for soup bowls that are large and can hold plenty.
Style
Don’t forget to let your personal style shine through your dinnerware, especially your soup bowls. If you live an eco-friendly life, then get some bowls that express your thoughts toward loving the earth. If you have a penchant toward modern art, find something that expresses the clean, crisp lines of this style. If the modern farmhouse look is cat’s meow according to you, then get soup bowls that showcase your affinity for it.
Whatever you do, be you and enjoy every moment of the search because you want to find the best bowl ever so you can enjoy every sip of your soup.
Suggested Merchandise
Hopefully, you have taken the time to answer the above questions and are now more aware of how you want your soup bowls to look and behave. Now that you know what to look for, let’s discuss some merchandise that you might just fancy.
The Best Ceramic Soup Bowl: Lucto Pottery Ceramic Bowls
Why choose this bowl?
This handmade ceramic bowl is unique and no two will look exactly alike. If you like this style and want something that is not mass-produced, then this is the best soup bowl for you.
What colors are offered?
There are 24 different colors offered, which means you could get one of every color and have a novel set.
Pros
- Handmade
- Unique design every time
- Plenty of colors to choose from
- Safe for use in microwaves, ovens, and dishwashers
- Multiple items can be shipped together when the seller is contacted directly
Cons
- Expensive
The Best Melamine Soup Bowl: KingM Melamine Bowl Set
Why choose this bowl?
This is an amazing set of soup bowls that is stylish and designed for easy storage. Since they are made from Melamine they are also durable and cannot be easily broken.
What colors are offered?
This set comes with six colors: green, red, orange, yellow, dark blue, and light blue
Pros
- Includes storage lids
- Comes in six colors
- Stylish set
- Safe for use in dishwasher
- BPA free
Cons
- Not microwave safe
The Best Metal Soup Bowl: IMEE Stainless Steel Soup Bowls
Why choose this bowl?
These bowls are designed for use with both hot and cold items. Can you just imagine sipping your favorite chicken and noodle soup from them one day and then the next sipping a gazpacho from them?
What colors are offered?
These are stainless steel so they only come in silver
Pros
- BPA free
- Eco-friendly
- Insulated for both hot and cold items
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Expensive
The Best Wooden Soup Bowl: Japanese Style Wood Rice Soup Bowl
Why choose this bowl?
These are beautifully constructed and handmade wooden bowls that are perfect for large bowls of noodles.
What colors are offered?
These are wooden bowls that only come in natural brown.
Pros
- Handmade
- Available in 3 different styles
- Lightweight
- Resists heat
- Unbreakable
Cons
- Expensive
- Hand wash only
- No returns or exchanges accepted
In Conclusion
Soup bowls are a fabulous way to express your style, your culinary tastes, and your love of soup. Now that you know what goes into selecting the best soup bowl, you are prepared to take the next step and purchase some bowls of your own. Be daring, be decisive, and most of all, enjoy the process.
If you have other dinnerware that you are looking to purchase, check out our wonderful guides and articles. Whisk and Mix has guides and articles about all your kitchen appliance needs.