Now that you have gone through our list of the top-rated soup bowls, it would be a good idea to go through our buying guide so you have ample information to select a suitable soup bowl for your dinnerware collection! Choosing suitable soup bowls is seemingly an easy task, but it can be a complicated one as various factors have to be considered; the set size, ergonomic aspects, material, temperature resistance, etc.
Are Soup Bowls Essential?
It is easy to question the utility of soup bowls when the generic bowls are just as good for serving soups. However, a generic bowl will never offer the same level of exclusive gastronomic experience as a soup bowl. Just as serving soup with a fork demolishes the purpose of serving, similarly serving soup on inappropriate tableware fails to set the mood. Choosing the right tableware can significantly enhance the overall dining experience. Using the right dinnerware at parties and formal dinners is imperative as poorly selected tableware leaves an unpleasant impression. Similarly, serving soup in anything other than a soup bowl will fail to leave a good impression on your guests. Most culinary experts stress that using the right tableware for presentation is just as important as the taste of the food if not more. Thus, serving soup in soup bowls will help greatly complement the visual aspect of food and thus enhance the presentation aspect. It is an effortless way to win the hearts of your guests even before they taste the soup! Last but not least is the functional importance of soup bowls. From an operational aspect, soup bowls are integral components of dinnerware as they help serve soup in adequate portions and keep it warm for longer. Thus, soup bowls are essential components for both casual and formal dining.
What Are the Different Types of Soup Bowls?
Soup bowls are essential components of dinnerware and have a few different types based on their functionality. A quick walkthrough of the other kind of soup bowls will make it easier for you to decide which one fits your needs better.
Rimmed soup bowl
The rimmed soup bowl has an extended lip or rim to place crackers. It is common to serve certain soups with loaves of bread, croutons, or crackers. The rimmed soup bowls are perfect for such types of soups! The rimmed soup bowls are often shallow and closely resemble soup plates. These are medium-to-large in size.
Coupe soup bowl
The coupe soup bowl is a bowl devoid of a rim or lip. These bowls are available in various sizes, from small to large, and are the most commonly used soup bowls, mostly served with an underplate. The depth of the coup bowl varies based on size, where large coupe bowls have a shallower depth, and smaller ones are deeper.
Soup plate
The soup plate is a misnomer since it is essentially a cross between bowl and plate. It is essentially a shallower version of a rimmed soup bowl with a relatively larger rim.
Factors Affecting Your Choice of Soup Bowl
The perfect soup bowl is a relative term; the one that suits your needs is perfect for you. However, there are a few general factors to consider before selecting your soup bowl.
Material
The material of the soup bowl is one of the primary factors to be considered. The soup bowls are most commonly made of porcelain, ceramic, melamine, glass, and plastic. While all materials are equally good, glass is not suitable for minors. Ceramic is the preferred material for soup bowls in most cases as it can handle heat better. Regardless of whatever material one goes for, it is crucial to ensure that your bowls are BPA-free, lead-free, and non-toxic.
Type of soup
The type of soup one plans to serve is one of the primary considerations while purchasing soup bowls. The kind of soup refers to the viscosity of the soup. The broth-like, clear, and light soups ought to be served in smaller bowls with greater depth. The rich, hearty, thick soups are more suited to serve in broader and shallower soup bowls. The choice of soup bowl influences heat dissipation. Thus, serving light and clear soups in broader and shallower soup bowls will cause them to cool down quickly and vice versa. Therefore, the choice of soup bowl should be made according to the type of soup that will be served in them!
Design
The design includes the color scheme and patterns of the soup bowl. The choice of design depends on the style and personal preference of the host, the theme of the room, the furniture, and the rest of the dinnerware, etc. Another factor to consider when it comes to design is to ensure that the creation of the soup bowl complements the hue of the soups intended to be served and does not clash with it.
Handles
Soup bowls with handles are either loved or hated; there is no in-between. While some people believe that handles ruin the overall aesthetic of the soup bowls, it cannot be denied that handles add a great deal of ease. Soup bowls with handles are easier to pass without burning the hand and can be tilted to extract that last drop of soup.
Lids
The decision of picking a soup bowl with or without a lid is entirely dependent on circumstances and choice. Soup bowls with lids are more suitable for situations where the soup must be transported from the kitchen. The cover on the soup bowl prevents quick heat dissipation ensuring the soup is piping hot when it gets on the table. A lid also adds to the overall dining delicacy etiquette.
A Few More Things To Consider When Buying Soup Bowls
- Regular use of tableware is more prone to chipping and breakage. It is recommended to purchase soup bowls from well-known brands like Corelle, so it is easier to replace an individual item rather than buying a new set.
- For homes with little children, it is better to invest in a few good-quality plastic soup bowls to eliminate the hazards arising from breakage.
- It is ideal to invest in a few trendy colorful soup bowl sets as well as generic ones, so it gives a good variety of soup bowls to go with different moods and settings.
- Stoneware soup bowls can be a great addition to your tableware. However, the material may stain and hold food odors due to its porous nature.
- A dishwasher and microwave-friendly soup bowl are more convenient to use.
- If you plan to use soup bowls for the less dense and clear soups, it is ideal to invest in spill-proof ones.
