Stainless Steel Bowls

For many uses in the kitchen, for pet food and water, and in sterile environments like hospitals, stainless steel bowls are a commonly utilized item.  The qualities of stainless steel make them an excellent material for sanitary and durability needs. Plastic has been around for decades providing us with multiple uses for convenient storage, eating and food preparation, all in a sturdy, practically unbreakable form.  However, the widespread information regarding the negative health and environmental effects of plastic causes us to look at alternatives that are better for the earth and us.

All stainless steel is made with a certain amount of chromium, the minimum being 12%, to ensure the stainless and corrosion resistant qualities are maintained.  Having a long lifespan and being 100% recyclable make stainless steel a great choice for many products.  The passive film, which is a thin invisible layer formed on the outside of stainless steel when the chromium combines with the oxygen in the air, acts as a protective layer by self repairing in appropriately oxygenated air.  If a product containing stainless steel is cut or scratched or the passive film disrupted in some way, more oxide will quickly form and cover the exposed surface, which is an overall protection from oxidative corrosion.

There are different types of stainless steel that can be used in kitchenware or pet bowls.  Some are lighter and flimsier and tend to warp over time, but they are cheaper and can still be useful depending on your needs.  The stronger, heavy-duty stainless steel is referred to as 316 stainless steel (also referred to as 18/10; 18% chromium and 10% nickel). A close second best is 304 stainless steel (also referred to as 18/8; 18% chromium and 8% nickel), which has slightly less corrosion resistance with the less amount of nickel and also less expensive.  You still have to look at the thickness of the steel and the quality of the manufacturing processes to really determine the highest durability.

If you’re looking for some safe alternatives for children’s bowls, you can get some with a tough and decorative polypropylene plastic exterior with food grade 304 stainless steel.  The bowls are not microwave safe, as it is with any stainless steel, or dishwasher safe due to the plastic exterior but have the non-leaching and sanitizing benefits of stainless steel, which is most important.  The set of 4 come in different colours; pink rabbit, blue dolphin, green frog and yellow tiger.  Great as a cereal bowl these bowls have a 12 cm (4.75”) diameter and come packaged in an eco-friendly designer box.  You can also get the same size of bowls without the plastic exterior, just stainless steel, which means they are dishwasher safe.

If you need a mixing bowl you can find various selections in the stainless steel variety, some with a rubberized bottom, some with hand grips, some with extra deep and high sides, and some with a wide lip, all features that assist you in your food preparation or food serving needs.

With the increasing evidence of health risks associated with leaching chemicals from plastics, which are greatly amplified in children, stainless steel bowls should be a common kitchen item in every home.  Eating, mixing foods or serving food in alternate materials than plastic is the recommended way to go.