Bowls prove useful to whisk ingredients, toss salads, knead the dough, or beat the batter. Of all the different types of bowls available, heatproof bowls are highly desirable. So, what’s a heatproof bowl?
A heatproof bowl is a bowl that can withstand heat without melting, warping, or burning. You can use it for baking, double boiling, and other methods involving heat. Heatproof bowls can be of glass, stainless steel, or ceramic. Depending on the material, they can tolerate different levels of heat.
Let’s talk about this in more detail now.
How To Tell If A Bowl Is Heatproof?
Some factors that people look for when buying bowls are the size, capacity, look, and ease of cleaning and storing.
However, one factor that drastically improves their usability is whether they are heatproof.
Heatproof bowls serve various needs. They are suitable for tasks like whipping or mixing ingredients. You can also use them for cooking.
Wouldn’t it be convenient to use the same bowl to mix the ingredients, cook in the oven, and serve the food on the table?
It would save a lot of cleaning up and make the entire task easier and effortless.
You can also use heatproof bowls for double boiling. Double boiling is a process in which you cook using indirect and gentle heat.
Double boilers are available in the market. However, you can make your very own double boiler using a pot of water and a heatproof bowl.
For this, you will place the pot of water on the stove and gently simmer it.
The cooking ingredient goes into the heatproof bowl, which is placed on top of the pot with water.
The heat from the steam will slowly cook the ingredient in the smaller bowl. This method is commonly used to temper chocolate and to prepare egg-based sauces.
Although you will not expose the bowl you use for double boiling to direct heat, it will still have to be heatproof.
So, heatproof bowls are a powerhouse in the kitchen. They can withstand heating and will not melt like plastic or acrylic bowls.
Heatproof bowls come in all sizes and are constructed from different materials. Commonly used materials are stainless steel, ceramic, glass, and steel.
However, not all bowls made of these materials are heatproof. So it’s important to check if a bowl is heatproof before exposing it to heat.
If a bowl is heatproof, it will have a heat-safe symbol. Bowls that are safe for oven use are heatproof.
So, you can look for the ovenproof marking to confirm if a bowl is heatproof.
The packaging will also indicate if a bowl is heatproof or display the heat-safe symbol, which indicates that it’s safe to use the bowl for heating.
You can also look for the heat-safe symbol at the bottom of the bowl, represented by the image of an oven.
If you find the image of a box with wavy lines, it means that the bowl is suitable for low-temperature cooking below 300°F.
If neither this symbol nor the oven-safe symbol is present, the bowl may not be heatproof. Using it for cooking can be risky.
Recommended Further Reading:
- Are Stainless Steel Bowls Suitable for Use in an Oven?
- Should Cast Iron Skillets be Seasoned?
- Is Teflon Present on Anodized Pans?
Are Stainless Steel Bowls Heatproof?
Most stainless steel bowls are heatproof. However, not all of them can withstand heating. So it’s important to check for the heat-safe symbol on a stainless steel bowl before heating it.
Stainless steel quickly heats up. The metal surface will be hot to touch, and it can burn your skin if you handle it directly.
Unless a stainless steel bowl has a heatproof marking, it’s unsafe to use it in an oven or for high heat cooking.
It can get discolored or end up warping at high temperatures.
Most of the time, heavy bowls with thick walls can withstand heat. So, you can use them in an oven or microwave.
Solid stainless steel bowls can usually tolerate temperatures up to 500°F.
However, thin and light stainless steel bowls may be unsuitable for cooking and oven use.
Since stainless steel is a metal, it transmits heat when the bowl is hot. So, always be careful when handling it.
Wear an oven mitten or use a kitchen cloth to remove them from the stove or oven to avoid burns.
While you can use stainless steel bowls in traditional ovens, they are usually unsuitable for microwaves.
Unless the manufacturer specifies that a stainless steel bowl is heatproof and safe for microwave use, never microwave food in it. It can become a fire hazard.
Related Further Reading:
- Benefits of Cooking with a Wok Rather Than a Frying Pan
- What To Do With Souvenir Spoons? (Are They Worth Anything?)
- Can Stainless Steel Bowls Go In The Oven? (What Bowls Can?)
Is A Glass Bowl Heatproof?
Glass bowls are very popular in kitchens, and many home cooks and professional chefs like to use them for mixing ingredients.
They are heavier than metal and plastic bowls. So they are more stable.
They also look good and allow you to see the ingredients within them.
Whether a glass bowl is heatproof or not depends on the type of glass used to make it. Not all glasses are heatproof. The glass bowls in most kitchens are either Pyrex or Corningware. Both these materials are heatproof, and you can use them in the oven.
You can confirm by looking for the heat-safe or oven-safe symbol on the packaging or base of the bowl.
Pyrex glassware is suitable for use in an oven and microwave. You can also use it for double boiling.
However, you should never directly heat a Pyrex bowl. Placing it on a stove can damage it.
Rapid heating or cooling of Pyrex glass bowls can even make it explode.
So, never subject it to a temperature shock after taking it out of an oven or double boiler by putting it in a refrigerator or cold-water bath.
For other types of glass, check for the oven-safe symbol before exposing the bowl to heat.
It’s best to avoid using it in an oven or for cooking unless it has a heat-safe symbol on it.
There is a risk of the glass bowl shattering or exploding if it’s not marked heat-safe. So, be very careful about this factor to avoid accidents.
Similarly, you should only use glass bowls with the microwave-safe label in a microwave.
Glass that’s designed for oven and microwave use is usually tempered or made of borosilicate.
You should also avoid using glass bowls with metal rims or embellishments in ovens and microwaves.
The metallic detail can trigger sparks and lead to fires. It may also tarnish and lose its color. So, restrict the usage of such bowls to food preparation and service.
Is A Ceramic Bowl Heatproof?
Ceramic has a very high melting point. So it’s widely used to make oven-safe cookware.
Most ceramic bowls are heatproof, and you can use them in an oven, microwave oven, or double boiler. However, it’s safer to check for the oven-safe symbol before use.
Another factor to look out for is whether the bowl has any metallic details or embellishments.
Bowls with metal rims or design details are not suitable for high heat cooking. The metallic detail on them can spark and cause a fire.
Interesting Further Reading:
- Are Ceramic Pans Prone to Sticking?
- What Can You Use Instead Of A Double Boiler? [3 Substitutes]
- Is Discoloration of Stainless Steel Pans Normal?
Which Type Of Bowls Are Not Heatproof?
Bowls made of wood, plastic, thin glass, and metal are not heatproof. You shouldn’t use such bowls for heating. Exposing such bowls to heat, whether direct or indirect, can cause problems. You may damage the bowl or compromise the quality of food in them.
Wood bowls can warp or catch fire if you place them in an oven or the stove. Plastics that are not heat-resistant will melt when exposed to heat.
Thin glass bowls will crack, shatter, or explode and cause dangerous accidents.
Metal bowls that are not labeled heat-safe can warp or become too hot and lose their color and shape.
