Mixing bowls are absolute kitchen essentials. We can’t even cook an omelette without the help of these. But, if we count the most ignored utensil in the kitchen, mixing bowls will be in the first place. Let us give them the attention they need and score at least some of their uses:

• Sieve in the dry ingredients for a luscious cake

• Prepare whipping cream

• Stir in salads with dressing

• And if you happen to lay a hand on a microwave-safe mixing bowl, you can make a meal in it.

If you are one of those adjusting with a small and large steel mixing bowl, it’s high time you toss them and invest in a fresh mixing bowl collection. Though the only purpose of using a pot is to stir or blend in ingredients, it should be noted that there is a possibility of shredding, so it is wise to use non-toxic products and care for your health.

Here are the must-have mixing bowls for your kitchen:

• Up to 2 litres- This is the smallest unit that holds one egg or a few ingredients to mix with another batch.
• 2 to 4 litres- A bit bigger and comes handy in every household to mix dry and wet ingredients separately. In Indian home where kneading dough is an everyday activity, this bowl can be of great help.
• 4 to 7 litres- It can contain a considerable amount of food and is apt for large families or where baking takes place frequently.
• 7 and more litres- These are huge bowls used in restaurants or at homes when hoisting a party.

Now that we are armed with all the types of mixing bowls, it is time to know how to use it correctly.

Choose the right material

You can choose anything between wood, metal, ceramic, copper or glass for your mixing bowls. But it is wise to stock with all of these materials. Food can react differently with each material hence recognize the food that you can put in a particular mixing bowl. Ellementry has a huge collection of all types of materials to suit your varied needs. Here is a tiny guide for the same.

• Marinating food- Fried fish or vegetables is a staple in Indian cuisine. It requires adding many spices into the products and keeping them aside for at least half an hour. The process may also take many hours as the goal is to seep in all the flavours into the fish, meat, veggies, or whatever we choose to fry. This should be done in ceramic, wood or glass mixing bowls as other ones may prove reactive. Terracotta mixing bowls can render a rustic aroma and taste to the marination, so even that is advisable. Cover with a glass cloche to accomplish the desired flavour.

• Beating egg whites- The result of this process is to stiff egg white with multiple peaks. Conduct this in a copper mixing bowl because the ions will assist you in achieving the desired result at the earliest. You can also use ceramic but avoid glass as it tends to be slippery and will be a hindrance in creating stiff peaks.

• Acidic foods- Tomato, vinegar, lemon and many other citrus foods may be reactive with most of the mixing bowls. Invest in ceramic, glass or wood mixing bowls because no food reacts with these and you can safely have food without toxins.

• Fruits- They seem to be the most uncomplicated food. Wash, peel, cut, mix and serve your fruit salad and get appreciation too. But, that not easy because fruits tend to absorb the smell and taste or other food easily. So if your bowl is not thoroughly clean, apples may taste like meat. To avoid this use ceramic or glass because it is easy to clean them and remove the entire previous aroma.

• Batters- It is fine to use any mixing bowl for batters and dough provided there is no acidic content in it.

Choosing the right mixing bowl can not only keep you and your family safe from any toxins created through reactive processes but also let you enjoy the meal in its definitive aroma and taste.

Clean them proper

Your mixing bowls go through a lot. Every food that goes through it leaves a residue that must be washed off properly. A rinse with plain water will never be enough. Throw them in the dishwasher or wash them yourself with soap and water to maintain cleanliness and sustainability of the bowls.

Dry and wipe clean

You cannot leave the mixing bowls to dry by themselves. Shake away excess water and wipe them clean with a soft cloth. This ensures that there is no residue of any kind and you work with a germ-free utensil.

Take your precautions well

Sometimes only a jiggle is needed to stir in the ingredients. But mixing bowls also go through rigorous shaking and kneading to attain the desired consistency of the food product. Whatever be your procedure to complete the task, keep a soft cloth on the counter and place the bowl over it. This way, your bowl stays firm and doesn’t shake while working. The chances of it toppling down and ruining all your efforts become negligible.