I live in an absolutely tiny two-bedroom NYC apartment. We don’t own a microwave, have to stand on top of our counters to reach our pots and pans, and our canned goods storage is nonexistent. I’ve had to put the majority of my appliances into storage until I can finally move into an apartment with a real kitchen, but the one thing that’s non-negotiable for me is a massive mixing bowl. This bowl, to be exact.
Imagine the biggest bowl you can think of, and then think bigger. Not just the biggest mixing bowl in the set you got from Bed Bath & Beyond in college — think of a bowl big enough two movie-theater-sized buckets of popcorn, and you might be getting close. Yep, that’s this bowl. She’s a beautiful 14 inch, stainless steel serving bowl that I use at least once every single day.
But why, might you ask, have I chosen to take up a substantial portion of my coveted kitchen storage space with an elephantine bowl? Let me enlighten you.
This bowl serves every purpose imaginable, and its versatility makes it an essential kitchen tool for me. If I’m coating vegetables with spices, (attempting to) make bread, or tossing together a particularly robust batch of panzanella, I’m reaching for my giant bowl every single time. I make daily lunchtime salads, and I go HARD on the portion size. My trusty bowl can accommodate a mountain of kale and a melange of assorted vegetables and toppings with plenty of room to toss it all together without dumping half of my lunch all over the countertop.
It’s an absolute godsend for entertaining — whether I’m making spaghetti for twelve people on my roof or need a massive bowl to serve my legendary homemade chex mix in for movie night, this bowl can handle anything. Not to mention, I’ve used it as a punch bowl or a champagne bucket while hosting parties more times than I can count. I’ve even managed to turn it into a superbowl chip and dip platter by placing a plate in the bowl to create a shelf, then adding the dips and veggies right on top of it. That, my friend, is called innovation.
When it comes to cleaning, where do I turn to but my favorite piece of kitchen equipment? Since I live in a small apartment, if I have a lot of dishes I’ll actually turn the bowl into a makeshift sink, filling it with soapy water to soak smaller dishes like cups and silverware, leaving the sink to tackle larger pots and pans. If it’s not clear by now, I have nothing but positive things to say about my favorite 14 inch stainless steel bowl. It’s a multi-tasker, life-saver, and just generally the best piece of kitchen equipment I own. Oh, and it’s insanely affordable. I could ramble on, but for your sake, I’ll cut this short.
If you haven’t added it to your cart by now, this is your sign.
