Mini Prep Bowl Sets

The cheapest of the bowl sets was also the best single-size set, nicely containing and emptying ingredients of different sizes and textures. Each 6-ounce bowl was wide, shallow, smooth, and substantial, as these were the heaviest of the glass bowls we tested. A small lip on the outside of the bowls made them comfortable to grip. Lids for the bowls can be purchased separately.

Our previous winner performed well once again; we liked the bowls’ thick, heavy glass and roomy interiors, which accommodated larger spatulas. This time, however, testers had mixed feelings about the bowls’ scalloped edges. The scallops were attractive and improved the grip of the bowl but also made it harder to remove ingredients in one clean sweep, with stickier substances like tomato paste getting stuck in the indentations. They also prevented the bowls from being stacked quite as smoothly.

Although one cook compared their appearance to “dog-food bowls,” we generally liked this stainless-steel set. There was virtually no static cling in their interiors, making it a breeze to get out fine or powdery ingredients. And a ½-inch-wide lip made these bowls the easiest to grip, especially while whisking. But these were the biggest and heaviest of the bowls tested; our testers generally preferred a slightly smaller and lighter size for prep work. The bowls also couldn’t be microwaved.

The lidded bowls in this set had ridges on the outside that made them easy to grip. They were also nicely weighted and didn’t stain or retain odors. But, despite the manufacturer’s claims, the bowls in this set held only about 5 1/3 ounces, not 6 1/2, making each bowl too small to hold a single chopped onion. Testers also found them tall and narrow; as a result, maneuvering a whisk or large spatula around the interior was difficult. 

Testers loved the look of these colorful, lightweight, eco-friendly prep bowls; the graceful pour spout was both pretty and helpful, allowing liquid ingredients to be added with ease. The bamboo-based material kept static cling low, preventing fine-textured ingredients from sticking to the interior. But the bowls were on the small side and couldn’t be microwaved. And while they didn’t retain off-odors, they stained slightly but permanently when yellow mustard was left in them for 2 hours.

These silicone bowls were too small, too lightweight, and too staticky, making them nearly impossible to empty of dry ingredients. Although they didn’t stain, they tenaciously retained odors, smelling of garlic and mustard even after 10 cycles through the dishwasher.

Coming in a variety of useful sizes that nest for compact storage, our winning set performed ably on almost every test. Its wide, shallow bowls were easy to hold, fill, empty, and clean. They can be used in the microwave and the oven. While the bowls in this set were the only ones to break when dropped, the heaviness of the glass with which they’re made makes it unlikely that they’ll easily fly off the counter.