Types of dessert bowls

Chocolate mousse, jelly, ice cream - these and other sweets look especially appetizing in elegant vases - bowls . They are used for serving and sometimes for preparing sweet dishes. To choose beautiful and practical dishes for desserts, you need to know the main types and features of such accessories.

What is a creamer?

The tradition of serving sweets in small vases originated in France in the 18th century. For the first time, a semicircular vessel on a high leg was made by order of King Louis XVI for his wife Marie Antoinette. Legend claims that the bust of the queen became the prototype of the cup. The product was called a “milk drinking vase.” But soon it began to be used for a variety of drinks and sweet dishes, from champagne to jam.

Modern bowls can come in various shapes, including:

• cone;
• cylinder;
• tulip;
• hemisphere;
• pyramid;
• horn.

The product can be equipped with a leg or a flat bottom. The volume is designed for an average serving of dessert - 200-300 ml.

What is it for?

According to dining etiquette, cold desserts with a soft texture - ice cream, jelly, berries with cream - are served in bowls. Layered dishes are presented in clear glass vases to showcase the beautiful layers. For puddings, you can use ceramic dishes.

Thick jelly, jellies, and mousses are served in vessels with a low stem. Wide, large-capacity vases are suitable for fruit salads and ice cream with pieces of fruit. Ice cream with syrup and other toppings is placed in bowls with a narrow bowl.

For panna cotta, tiramisu, and thick compotes, utensils in the form of a goblet with a cylindrical bowl are suitable. Fondant is made in round or cubic vessels without stems, resembling wide glasses.

A bowl is convenient because you can cook a dish in it before serving. So, the liquid for jelly or panna cotta is immediately poured into vases and placed in the refrigerator to harden. The shape of the vessel allows you to use edible decor - fruit slices, berries, chocolate chips, sweet sprinkles.

Products with a tulip-shaped bowl are suitable for milk and fruit cocktails. Portioned salads with chicken, shrimp, and various vegetables look beautiful in transparent vases.

Kinds

The appearance of the bowls depends on the designer’s imagination. Stores offer thousands of options for this utensil - from laconic classic models made of transparent glass to elaborate products with gilding, carvings, and unusually shaped legs. Therefore, bowls are usually classified according to the material they are made of.

Disposable

Such dishes are used in fast food establishments, as well as at picnics and open-air buffets. The material is food cardboard or different types of plastic, from which semicircular vases or cylindrical glasses are made.

Disposable containers are used for serving ice cream, popcorn, cakes and fruit salads. Often sold in sets of 6-12 pieces. Sometimes products are supplied with dome lids and plastic spoons.

Wooden

Wood is rarely used to make bowls; such products are typical for folk crafts. Vases carved from cedar, ash, and linden wood are usually covered with edible varnish or artistic painting. Wooden utensils are used when serving cold desserts - fruit salads, berries with whipped cream, jam. It is not suitable for serving puff desserts or hot dishes. Wooden utensils are durable, easy to clean with liquid detergents, and go well with ethnic-style table decoration. But it cannot be put in the refrigerator, as the wood deteriorates from condensation.

Glass and crystal

Glass and crystal dishes are considered classic for serving sweet dishes. You can serve any types of puddings, mousses, and ice cream in it. Clear glass helps showcase the ingredients in fruit salads, beautiful layers of tiramisu and fruit panna cotta. Dishes made of colored glass are suitable for jam and curd desserts.

Crystal products look especially solemn thanks to sparkling patterns. In expensive restaurants, such utensils are used for serving exquisite portioned desserts - sorbet, granita, parfait.

Glass and crystal dishes do not absorb foreign odors and are easy to clean. But fragile materials require careful handling. Untempered glass and crystal are washed only by hand and stored without stacking items on top of each other.

Metal

Stainless steel dessert bowls are often found in establishmentscatering and home use. They retain low temperatures well, making them suitable for cold dishes including:

• ice cream;
• sambuca;
• sorbets;
• gelato;
• fruit salads;
• mousses.

The main advantage of metal utensils is durability. It is resistant to physical influences, does not react with acidic foods, and washes well. But the design of steel models is monotonous, and their use is limited to cold desserts.

Porcelain

Exquisite porcelain dishes are an excellent option for serving jam, different types of ice cream, and berries with whipped cream. You can serve sweets and nuts in low vases without stems. Small bowls made of heat-resistant porcelain are suitable for preparing hot sweet dishes - soufflé, creme brulee, chocolate fondue.

Porcelain cookware is lightweight and smooth, and it retains the temperature of food well. The material harmoniously combines with table settings in various styles - classic, shabby chic, glamor, Provence. But you need to take special care of porcelain - wash it by hand and store it in a separate container.

Plastic

In addition to disposable containers, cafes and pastry shops often use durable plastic bowls . They serve trifles, tiramisu, and ice cream. High quality plastic is durable, resistant to physical impact, and safe for health. Transparent containers allow you to evaluate the design and freshness of the dessert. Products with a lid are used to sell takeaway sweets.

Unbreakable plastic bowls are a convenient option for children's parties and outdoor trick-or-treating. Such dishes are not recommended for home use, as they do not fit well with tableware and are not suitable for serving hot desserts.

Model overview

Among the extensive range of bowls, we can note the most durable and functional products with a beautiful design. Among them:

• Ice Ville 41116/b is a glass vase from the Turkish company Pasabahce . A classic-shaped vessel with a round bowl is suitable for ice cream, puff pastries and whipped desserts. The low, massive leg ensures stability. The 310 ml volume allows you to serve not only various sweet dishes, but also salads;
• Metal vase Prohotel ICM140 is a model designed for use in catering establishments. The semicircular bowl is convenient for decorating ice cream balls, mousses, berries with whipped cream. The high leg helps to hold the dishes while eating and socializing. The product is made of stainless steel, resistant to corrosion and physical impact;
• Palmir 58010 is a glass bowl from the French company Arcoroc . The model is equipped with a bowl in the form of a wide cone. This shape emphasizes the beauty of puff and berry desserts and ice cream. The massive leg with figured decor protects the contents from being heated by the heat of the hand;
• Capello 922592 is an original dessert glass from the famous tableware manufacturer Libbey . The transparent glass model is made in the shape of a tall cylinder with a wide rim at the neck. Suitable for serving trifles, puff jelly, milkshakes. The set also includes a glass saucer.

The products of these manufacturers enjoy a high reputation in the world market.

How to choose?

The first factor to consider is the purpose of the bowls. If you are going to serve only ice cream in them, choose the classic version with a semicircular bowl on a high leg. For complex desserts, a square vessel without a leg is more suitable.

Here are four more characteristics to consider:

volume - a classic portion of a sweet dish is 150-200 g. But the dishes should be a little larger to leave room for edible decoration - with a capacity of 200-300 g;

material - when choosing utensils for your home or cafe, give preference to tempered glass or stainless steel. In an expensive restaurant, crystal, porcelain, and painted wood look more beautiful. The most practical option for delivery services is durable plastic;

style - the appearance of the dishes is very important when serving dessert. Choose a design that matches the theme of the establishment or home interior;

aboutCost of use - the more often the products are used, the easier the maintenance should be. For a cafe or pastry shop with a lot of visitors, dishwasher-safe stainless steel vases are better. Crystal and porcelain require careful handling, so they are appropriate for expensive restaurants or home use.

Stores often offer sets of bowls with additions - saucers, spoons, lids. Accessories made in the same style make the presentation even more sophisticated.