Mixing Bowls: A Short How-To Guide

Today's home kitchen market includes mixing bowls of virtually every shape, size and style. Colors run the gamut, and special features do, too. And that's not even taking into account weight and size. One of the easiest ways to select a mixing bowl for your home is to consider your personal style, and what you like most, and start from there. We'll review some popular styles and offer some tips for easy, painless selection.

If durability and style are what you're after, consider a simple choice like plastic or melamine. Most of these bowls have features like a pour spout and a non-slip base to make mixing and pouring easy. Most are also dishwasher safe and come in sets or singles in an array of colors.

Silicone is another choice. They are pliable, and can be squeezed to form a spout and manipulated in other ways, too. They're usually sold in sets of three, and are flexible but also sturdy. The bottom is usually more rigid, to create a steady base. The bowls can withstand temperatures up to 490 degrees so melting isn't usually an issue, and they're also oven, freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe.

What about vintage bowls?

Shopping for vintage dishware is a whole new ballgame, though there are a few easy tips to make things more straightforward. The first consideration: make sure your piece is authentic. This takes some legwork, but its worth it if you want the real deal. Consider researching the glaze of the piece, the attributes that make up the look and feel of the piece and any special markings that designate authenticity.

The next step is to look over the condition of the piece. Are there nicks, chips or cracks? If so, don't buy the piece, at least if you plan to use it in your kitchen. If you are really attached to a certain piece, you can sometimes do improvements on your own to improve the condition of the piece, but it will affect the piece if you plan to use it, so consider this before buying. If the piece is damaged, make sure the price reflects a damage deduction.