Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

A PROS AND CONS REVIEW BRIEF DESCRIPTION: I recently purchases a couple brands of mixing bowls with different features and was really impressed with the Bellemain brand mixing set. Both sets of the non-skid I tried out were outstanding, but I will give you a few things to consider when buying this type of kitchen tool, and some pros and cons I found. The Cons I will mention are more about choosing the right tool than any serious flaw in the bowls. I got these for about $20 after a $5 shipping credit holiday special. The interiors have measuring lines on the inside, even on the smaller bowls. All bowls have lids that are neither too cheap, nor that substantial. The bottoms have a flat surface as you might expect, are thick and substantial like a component rather than just a cheap latex coating. Plus, they are somewhat soft/tacky so they do have a certain amount of no-skid property. They have a slightly rubbery feel to be specific. Be aware there is a just slightly wider lip on these bowls than many sets I have seen. On the smallest bowl its a little over 1/4" and on the largest it's 1/2" wide (see photo). The lids are softly air tight (more on this below) and have a body or depression about 1/3 inch deep that presses down into the bowl rather than just snapping on top. PROS: This is a sharp looking set, classy with nice graphics and the metal was plenty substantial. In fact, they were just perceptibly thicker than the other set I purchased. The non-skid bottom surface is a nice touch and quiets the bowls just a little. It's not the "be-all, end-all" of features. Just a nice touch and it did attract me to the set. I like the measuring lines on the inside though I will rarely measure from the bowl. It's just something to have in case you need it. As I said, the rubberish component on the bottom is substantial and not just a coating. I also rarely store stuff in my mixing bowls. But the lids are handy if you get caught mid project or you just need to toss it into the refrigerator with no more fuss. The lids will create a basic seal. But don't expect them to hold liquid if they are tilted on their sides (more below). POSSIBLE CONS: I say these are not necessarily cons because you simply choose another kitchen tool for the right job. These bowls do what they were designed to do. The first thing to consider is if you need temperature affected mixing. The bottom rubbery surface insulates and makes these less suitable for cold or hot water vats (ie... top pan in a double boiler). That is a rare instance, but worth thinking about. There is no pour spout on these bowls and the wider lip can actually affect some kinds of liquids during pouring. I got 1 less bowl than the other set I purchased on sale, but then I paid slightly less for this set and you get the lids too. The etching inside the bowls marking the measuring lines are somewhat light and similar to the metal color, so in less than perfect light you won't see them well (turn them the right way in normal light and they are plenty visible). However, those measuring lines were still more visible than the other set I purchased (Chef's Brand). ---- ***REGARDING THE LIDS: I did a simple water test and held them upside down. The seal is air tight when sitting properly. But if you drop the bowl or shake it to mix for whatever reason, that seal begins to fail very easily. You cannot use it as a shaker and the lid does not SNAP on. Even if just held on it's side for more than a second or two, that seal can fail. It just has a thick gauge that pushes down into the bowl and creates the seal. To be fair, I see this same style lid with very many brands listed on Amazon. I have one last observation and it is a minor one where you need to choose the right bowl. This set has a flat bottom on the inside as well as out. If you are a person who still does any whisking with a wire whisk by hand, it is not as convenient as a completely round surface bowl. NOTE: I have included a couple photos with examples of only what I need to demonstrate from my comments. I have tried to be sparing as there are quite a few other videos and photos up for your benefit. FINAL THOUGHTS: Setting aside what I might do differently, I simply use other bowls for those needs. This is still a five star set that serves the inexpensive need I purchased them for. The cons are not gripes, just observations. I would still take this set even over other nearly perfect sets I have seen. I highly recommend these bowls. However, the non-skid bottoms ironically are also the reason these maybe shouldn't be your first/only set of mixing bowls waiting in the pantry. The type of jobs they cannot handle are rare depending on what you make in your own home. But it's probably best to have a more conventional alternative to go along with them. I also preferred the black here to the color I had in the other brand.