Choosing the best soup bowl involves considering the type of soup, bowl material, serving size, and design. It’s important to choose a bowl that is functional, healthy, and dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe. Handles and serving size should also be considered.
Choosing the best soup bowl is a six-step process that looks at the type of soup, labeling standards, bowl material, presence or absence of handles, serving size, and peripheral elements such as finish, color and design. A person needs to think not only about the functionality of the bowl, but also about their health and how portion sizes will work. In general, it’s a good idea to lean on a smaller bowl that’s dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe.
The first thing a person has to do in choosing the best bowl is to decide what kind of soup the bowl will hold. Type refers to the thickness or creaminess of the soup, not necessarily the ingredients. For very thick, hearty soups, use a wider, shallower bowl, as they allow the heat to disperse more easily. Viscous soups need a taller bowl, as this reduces the surface area and therefore keeps the soup hot longer. For a clear soup like broth, a cup is best because a cup retains heat well.
A person can also choose the best bowl based on bowl categorization and accepted etiquette. Soup plates are large flat bowls that are used only for formal meals, while the smaller saucer-shaped coupe soup bowl is used only for casual meals. The soup or oatmeal bowl is smaller than the soup or coupe and is also a casual dish. Covered soup bowls have a lid that makes it easier to transfer soup from kitchen to table without loss of temperature, and winged soup bowls are oven-safe bowls used with broilers for French onion or similar soups. A bowl of cream is only used with cream soups in “light” meals, while bowls of bouillon or bouillon more closely resemble cups.
Next, check the material from which the bowl is made. Some soup bowls are very fragile, such as glass bowls. They may look great but it’s not the best choice for kids. Other materials retain or distribute heat better, such as ceramic. Manufacturers also produce bowls that are oven, microwave and dishwasher safe, which is ideal for getting or keeping food at the right serving temperature and for cleaning it quickly.
Handles are another item to look into when hunting for a soup bowl. On a wider plate, the handles might be a simple extension of the lip of the bowl. Other bowls have true circular rods on one or more sides. While not necessarily a must, a handle makes it easier to pass a full soup bowl without burning your hands by accident. Some people don’t prefer handles because they change the overall shape and aesthetic appeal of the soup bowl and sometimes make storage a bit cumbersome. If a person intends to tilt the bowl to get the last portion, a horizontal handle is appropriate, while vertical handles are used for soups that are thin enough to sip.
Moving forward, look at the serving size the bowl provides. A proper serving of a soup is usually just a ladleful, which means that many bowls of soup are grossly oversized. The smaller bowls are ideal for people who want to keep their calorie intake in check for a healthier life. It’s important to remember that a soup is usually meant to be just one part of a meal, not the whole thing.
Finally, look at the finish, color and design. Of these items, the finish is most important. It is designed to offer some protection to the main material of the bowl and make it easier to wash the bowl. Simply painted finishes are not as durable; choose one that has been chemically applied, if possible. The color and design of the bowl should complement the overall style of the server and kitchen as well as the hue of the soups most often served.
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