Bulk Soup Bowls

Soup Bowls: What You Need to Know

An essential piece of dinnerware, soup bowls come in a variety of styles. They can be shallow or deep and feature a thick rim or no rim at all. Depending on the type of material the bowl is made of, it can be washed in dishwashers and used in microwaves. Certain types of soup bowls are also safe for ovens. In addition to different styles, soup bowls can come in a plethora of colors, although white and ivory are typically the standard. Small and large soup bowls are also available, as well as bowls with varying depths. Soup bowls are not restricted to soups; salads and pastas can also be served in soup bowls, especially large ones. Below we'll answer some questions you may have about this dinnerware.

Common Questions About Soup Bowls

What materials are soup bowls made of?

Soup bowls can be made of various types of materials, ranging from melamine to porcelain. A mixture of plastic resin and plant cellulose, melamine is lightweight and very durable, making it ideal for casual restaurants. Ceramic soup bowls include porcelain and stoneware soup bowls, with porcelain being especially common. It is heavier than melamine; however, it is break resistant and can be used in a microwave and washed in a dish washer. Porcelain has an elegant appearance that fits into most restaurant aesthetics, and while it is usually white, it can be glazed with color. Stoneware soup bowls are resistant to chipping and more resilient than porcelain. They also have a more rustic appearance than porcelain bowls and hold heat better.

What are the benefits of a rolled rim?

A rolled rim on a soup bowl provides additional strength to prevent chipping. The additional durability is especially beneficial in commercial settings where the bowl may be handled roughly by servers or cooks. A rolled rim enables servers to get a better grip on the bowl, limiting the number of spills and accidents that may occur during transport.

What does "fully vitrified" mean?

The majority of traditional ceramic soup bowls, including porcelain soup bowls and stoneware soup bowls, begin as clay. Clay – which is comprised of water, aluminum oxide, and silicon dioxide – is the base for ceramic. A durable but slightly brittle substance, ceramic is made when clay is fired in a series and exposed to temperatures higher than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This process makes the clay very durable and rigid. When ceramic is brought to its boiling melting point, the process is referred to as vitrification. Vitrification causes the clay to fuse together, creating a crystalline structure. Vitrification makes ceramics impervious to water and further strengthens them, meaning fully vitrified bowls don't typically require a glaze as a finish.