10 of the best mixing bowls to buy

The humble mixing bowl might not be the most glamorous accessory in your kitchen, but it’s definitely one of the most useful. Imagine life without cake (and all the other delicious delights that start off in a mixing bowl). It just doesn’t bear thinking about!

Whether you’re looking for a new mixing bowl because your old one has broken, you want to update the look of your kitchenware with some ceramic or stainless steel additions, or you have a new-found passion for baking, our list has you covered.

Here are the best mixing bowls to buy in 2021.

1. Best overall mixing bowl: Mason Cash Chip Resistant Earthenware Mixing Bowl

"I've had my Mason Cash mixing bowl for decades.”

“Traditional Mason Cash for me, I think stainless steel would set my teeth on edge when using a mixer. My wedding present one from 38 years ago is still going strong!”

“Mason Cash mixing bowls are fabulous.”

Mason Cash mixing bowls get more mentions than any other brand on the Mumsnet forums, and with their traditional good looks and practical features, you can see why.

The stoneware bowl is chip resistant, and the pretty textured exterior makes it easy to grip onto when mixing. It’s dishwasher and microwave safe, and the range of colours could add an extra ray of sunshine to your kitchen.

Key specs

• Material: Earthenware

• Size: Diameter – 26 cm, capacity 2.7 litres

• Microwave safe: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: £20.99

2. Best budget mixing bowl: Wilko Mixing Bowl

“Every year I treat myself to a new one. I nearly always buy mine from Wilko – not because they're cheap there but because they are usually the nicest!”

So, if you break it right down, what is a mixing bowl? Er… well, it’s a bowl that you can mix things in! If that’s all you’re interested in, you really can’t go wrong with this bowl from Wilko for less than a quid.

It’s unsurprisingly no-frills, but the 25cm-diameter plastic bowl does have a curved base to make whisking easier. And it’s dishwasher and microwave safe too.

Key specs

• Material: Polypropylene

• Size: 25cm diameter

• Microwave safe: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: £0.75

3. Best mixing bowl with a handle: Le Creuset Stoneware Mixing Jug

“I’ve got the Le Creuset ceramic bowl that is also like a big jug. I have just one and use it for everything. Gorgeous colours as well!”

Plenty of people go weak at the knees for Le Creuset’s trademark retro looks, and this stoneware mixing jug is no exception. But it scores big in terms of practicality too. Not all mixing bowls are created equal and this one has a handle and spout too to make it easier to get your culinary delights in the oven or on the plate (you can even pop it in the oven directly, if you need to).

Key specs

• Material: Stoneware

• Size: Two litres

• Microwave safe: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: £39.99

4. Best lightweight mixing bowl: Dexam 17830427 Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl

“Funnily enough I just bought a new hand mixer and two of these high-sided stainless steel bowls. No more splats!”

Plenty of people prefer stainless steel mixing bowls. They’re so much lighter than their ceramic counterparts, and this mixing bowl from Dexam is one of the best out there.

The stainless steel is attractive and – importantly – durable, so it won’t get porous after years of use, like plastic can. With a five-litre capacity, it’s at the larger end of the scale so it’s a good buy for family baking.

Key specs

• Material: Stainless steel

• Size: 30cm wide, 13.5cm deep; five-litre capacity

• Microwave safe: No

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: £9.99

5. Best mixing bowl for cakes: Mary Berry’s Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set

“I recommend Mary Berry’s.”

Mary Berry is the undisputed queen of cakes! So, it makes perfect sense that many aspiring star bakers trust kitchen accessories with her name on them – and these mixing bowls are no exception.

They come in a set of three, with each bowl boasting an internal measuring scale to get your cake ingredients just right, and a handy lid in case you want to store your delicious creations inside. The non-slip base on each bowl is a nice touch too.

Key specs

• Material: Stainless steel

• Size: 2.2, 4.3 and 4.8 litre

• Microwave safe: No

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

6. Best compact mixing bowl set: Joseph Joseph Nest 9 Plus

“My Joseph Joseph mixing bowl is part of a very pretty nesting set.”

“The Joseph Joseph all in one stacking bowl is a space saver.”

This Joseph Joseph nest of bowls has a clever nesting design that somehow squeezes nine different bowls and utensils into a space that measures just 32cm in diameter. Ideal if you’re short of storage space.

As well as a 4.5-litre mixing bowl with a carry handle, you also get five measuring cups, a steel sieve and a colander, and the sets come in a range of eye catching colour combos. A note of caution: one Mumsnetter found the largest bowl a little too small, with some cake mix flying out when using an electric mixer.

Key specs

• Material: Plastic

• Size: 32cm diameter, 4.5-litre to 0.5-litre

• Microwave safe: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes (except the sieve)

Price: £34.99

7. Best extra large mixing bowl: Lakeland Stainless Steel Mega Mixing Bowl

If you are a batch baker and fed up with having to use more bowls than you need because you can’t find one big enough, Lakeland has come to the rescue with this massive 7-litre capacity stainless steel mixing bowl. It’s got a pouring lip, a non-slip base, internal measuring lines and it’s dishwasher-safe.

Key specs

• Material: Stainless steel

• Size: Seven litres

• Microwave safe: No

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: From £14.99

8. Most durable mixing bowl: Pyrex 3-Piece Jug & Bowl Set

“My Pyrex mixing bowl and jug were bought in 1983 and they’re still going strong.”

There’s a reason why Pyrex is seen in so many kitchens (and laboratories). The borosilicate glass they are made from is incredibly tough, so you may well end up passing this three-piece mixing bowl and jug set down the generations!

You get a 1-litre and 2-litre bowl, as well as a 0.5-litre mixing jug with a measuring scale. The design isn’t as pretty as some other mixing bowls, but there’s no denying that these products will get the job done.

Key specs

• Material: Pyrex

• Size: 21.5cm x 21.5 cm

• Microwave safe: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: £22.93

9. Best mixing bowls with lids: 3 Lakeland Plastic Nesting Mixing Bowls 1L 2L and 4L Set With Lids

“I coveted some Lakeland mixing bowls with lids and bought them as a present for a friend!.”

This set is made up of three mixing bowls. Each has a non-slip base and is dishwasher and microwave safe. Made from a colourful polypropylene material, they can go in the freezer too which makes the snap-close lids even handier if you’re looking to store leftovers.

Key specs

• Material: Plastic

• Size: 29.5 – 21cm diameter. 1 litre, 2 litre and 4 litre.

• Microwave safe: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: £14.99

10. Most stylish mixing bowl: Tala Ceramic Mixing bowl

“I love the look of the Tala ceramic one.”

The Mason Cash mixing bowl may be our top pick but this Tala ceramic bowl gives it a run for its money in the attractiveness stakes. With an extra wide diameter of 31cm, it’s perfect for whipping up a storm in the kitchen and the embossed design makes it easy to handle. One last nice touch is the lipped rim which can be simply covered with cling film to protect your delicious creations.

Key specs

• Material: Stoneware

• Size: 5 litre

• Microwave safe: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

Price: £19.99

How to choose the best mixing bowl

When choosing the best mixing bowl to buy, the first thing to think of is how you’ll use it – and how often you’ll access it. Do you prefer to hold the bowl? Will it need to go in the microwave, the oven or the dishwasher? If storage space is an issue, it’s worth considering nesting bowls that stack inside each other.

The main difference between mixing bowls is the type of material they’re made from (more on this below). Whichever material you choose will determine the weight, durability and price of your mixing bowls so get this right and you should be on to a winner.

What's the best material for mixing bowls?

Stainless steel bowls are a common choice in professional kitchens because they are lightweight, durable and easy to clean. On the downside, some people find their looks a bit too clinical and they can ‘clang’ when they come into contact with a hand mixer. They’re obviously a no-no for the microwave too.

Ceramic stoneware or enamel bowls tend to be microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, and they are usually very strong and durable. And if you like a homely country kitchen style look, these are just the ticket. One of the biggest plus points is that the enamelled surface doesn’t absorb or transfer food flavours or odours. Bear in mind that they are very heavy so you’ll need to think about where you can store and use them.

Plastic bowls are lightweight and usually cheaper than bowls made from other materials. They’re dishwasher and microwave safe too so are very convenient. They can show wear and tear over time though so you might find you need to replace them more often.

How many mixing bowls do I need?

You might get by with one good big mixing bowl but if you’re constantly whipping up new things in the kitchen and need a few different options, it’s probably a good idea to look at a set or some nesting bowls.

Are mixing bowls microwave- and dishwasher-safe?

This depends on the type of material they are made from. Most are dishwasher safe, but you should avoid putting stainless steel mixing bowls in the microwave.

What is the best mixing bowl to buy?

We think the Mason Cash Chip Resistant Earthenware 26cm Mixing Bowl is the best bowl you can buy right now. It’s attractive and durable and plenty of Mumsnetters vouch for the important role their Mason Cash bowls have played in helping them create delicious cakes and other culinary delights.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out what mixing bowls were being recommended. We then did some research across the wider web, looking at what mixing bowls had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best mixing bowls online at the moment.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one. Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here).