Buying guide
Salad bowls in wood, glass or ceramic: how to choose
A salad bowl comes out almost every day: for a garden salad, fruit, pasta or pancake batter. The material changes everything, from how you use it to how you clean it. Here is how to choose between wood, glass and ceramic, find the right size and complete it with bowls and small dishes.
Wood, glass or ceramic?
- Wood (acacia, olive, walnut): warm and light, the ultimate serving bowl, perfect for salads and fruit. It does not go in the dishwasher or oven and does not like soaking.
- Glass: it shows off the colours and layers of a mixed salad, keeps no smells and is dishwasher-safe. Thick glass is also ideal for preparing, mixing and storing.
- Ceramic and stoneware: sturdy, matte or glazed, fine for warm dishes and a natural match for stoneware tableware. A stone-effect bowl gives character to a simple table.
Many kitchens keep two: a glass bowl for preparing and a wooden or ceramic one for serving.
Which size for how many guests?
- 2 to 3 people: about Ø 20 cm, or 1 to 1.5 litres.
- 4 to 6 people: Ø 24 to 26 cm, or 2.5 to 3 litres.
- 6 people or more: Ø 28 cm and up, or 4 litres and more.
Allow extra room for leafy salads, which take up volume, and a little less for pasta or grain salads. Our thick glass salad bowl comes from 500 ml to 4.5 litres, and our acacia salad bowl in Ø 20, 22 and 24 cm.
Wide and shallow or tall and deep?
A wide, shallow bowl shows off a composed salad: you see the ingredients and serving is easy. A deep bowl is better for tossing and for bulky leaves. For fruit, a high-sided bowl or a carved wooden bowl doubles as a decorative piece.
Bowls and small dishes to complete the table
- Individual bowls (Ø 12 to 16 cm): a main-course salad, poke, cereal or cold soup.
- Small dishes (Ø 8 to 11 cm): sauces, olives, nuts, spices.
- Salad servers: wooden or bamboo-handled, they protect the inside of the bowl.
Care
- Wood: a quick hand wash, air-dry, and a thin coat of food-safe oil now and then. No dishwasher, no soaking.
- Glass: dishwasher-safe; avoid sudden temperature changes (not straight from cold to very hot).
- Ceramic and stoneware: hand washing is best for reactive glazes and matte finishes, to keep their look.
Frequently asked questions
Does a wooden salad bowl keep smells?
A well-oiled hardwood bowl keeps very little. Rinse it soon after a vinaigrette and oil it regularly.
Can I serve dressed salad in a wooden bowl?
Yes, that is what it is for. Just avoid leaving a dressed salad in it overnight.
Which salad bowl makes a good gift?
A solid wood bowl with matching servers, or a set of ceramic bowls: useful pieces that last.
