Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
I’ve tested hundreds of products during my time writing for Serious Eats, including simple gear like bread knives and complex appliances like induction cooktops. I’ve often been surprised by how an added feature here or a comfortable handle there can set the best tools apart from the mediocre ones, but I had never encountered an item that blew me away by just how beautiful it was—that is, until I saw the Mason Cash mixing bowls. Their lovely aesthetic, combined with their impressive performance, makes them one of my favorite gifts to give to the bakers in my life.
Why The Set Won Our Review
The Set is Stunning
Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
These mixing bowls wowed me from the moment I unboxed them. Try as I might with my camera, I just couldn’t capture just how pretty they were in person. Each bowl in the meadow-themed set is decorated with its own flower motif: butter yellow daffodils, lavender tulips, maroon daisies, and cream roses. Not only did the intricate floral patterns create visual interest, but their raised texture also helped add grip to the outside of the bowl, which came in handy while tipping cake batter into baking pans. The bowls’ interiors are white, which makes it easy to see whatever I’m whipping up inside.
The Bowls Are Made of Durable Ceramic
Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Mason Cash has been crafting its signature ceramic mixing bowls for over a century. Given its long history, it should come as no surprise that its dishes outshone similar competitors. Other ceramic mixing bowls that I tested came out with scratches and marks after I whisked vinaigrette and used a hand mixer to whip cream inside them, but not the Mason Cash mixing bowls. Their high-gloss glaze helped protect them from unsightly smudges, plus it's formulated to be chip-resistant. I even dropped the largest bowl in my sink several times to emulate a soapy slip and found no signs of damage.
They’re Easy to Clean
The cherry on top of this charming mixing bowl set is that, while they wash easily with a swipe of a sponge, they’re also dishwasher-safe. They’re microwave-friendly, too, so you can melt butter and chocolate straight in the bowl, and they can even go into a warm oven (up to 320°F).
Why They're a Great Gift
Bakers deserve to have tools as delightful as the treats they make. This Mason Cash mixing bowl set makes baking feel special and was designed to last a lifetime. While they’re a tad heavy to be used as everyday mixing bowls, they’re ideal for special occasions and can double as serving dishes.
Credit: Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Credit: Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Credit: Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Credit: Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Credit: Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Credit: Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Key Specs
- Bowl capacities: 1.25, 2.15, 2.85, and 4.25 quarts
- Material: Chip-resistant earthenware ceramic
- Total set weight: 10.6 pounds
- Care: Dishwasher-, microwave-, freezer-, and oven-safe up to 320°F
More Gift Ideas for Bakers
- With this handy piping tip set, your giftee can decorate cakes and cookies as stunning as the Mason Cash bowls they mixed them in.
- Pair the piping tips and bowls with this classic covered cake stand to allow them to showcase their creations.
- Give a baker a bowl, and what will they ask for? A silicone spatula! This one from GIR comes pre-decorated with sprinkles for an extra cute aesthetic.
- Treat them with the best kitchen scale from OXO. It has a pull-out display and long standby mode that sets it apart from nearly all other scales on the market. Trust me—they'll love it.
- One can never have too many cookbooks. The Baking Bible and Sift are two we recommend to beginners and advanced bakers alike.
- Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast is a must-have for bread enthusiasts, while Beyond Baking is guaranteed to please plant-based folks and those who like to experiment with modern techniques.
Why We’re the Experts
- Ashlee Redger is an avid baker who loves making layered cakes, enriched breads, and cookies of all kinds.
- She has written dozens of reviews for Serious Eats, including ones on kitchen scales and Keurig coffee makers.
- Ashlee recently tested a dozen mixing bowls and named the Mason Cash set as one of her winners. Afterward, she gifted some to her baker best friend, who loves them and uses them regularly.