Why Handmade Mixing Bowls Are Better
Store-bought mixing bowls are thin, light, and slide around the counter when you stir vigorously. A handmade pottery mixing bowl is heavy enough to anchor itself. The thick walls absorb cold when you chill dough or hold room temperature when you proof bread. The interior curve follows your whisk naturally. And when the mixing is done, the bowl goes straight to the table because it looks too good to hide in a cupboard.
Stephen Jepson used handmade mixing bowls in his kitchen every day. He valued the weight, the stability, and the way clay bowls feel in your hands. His video lessons teach you how to throw the large, strong forms that kitchen bowls demand.
A Set of Three: Standard Sizes
Small (1-2 Quart)
About seven inches across and four inches deep. Use about two pounds of clay. This bowl handles whisking eggs, mixing dressings, tossing small salads, and holding prepped ingredients. It is the most-used size in any kitchen. Throw it with slightly thicker walls than a serving bowl — a quarter inch — because it needs to withstand the mechanical stress of mixing.
Medium (3-4 Quart)
About nine inches across and five inches deep. Use about three to four pounds of clay. This is the bread-making bowl — large enough for dough to double, deep enough for mixing cookie batter, wide enough for tossing a big salad. The walls should be thick enough to absorb and hold cold when chilling pastry dough.
Large (5-6 Quart)
About eleven inches across and six inches deep. Use five to seven pounds of clay. This is the big project bowl — double batches of cookies, large bread doughs, full-size salads for a dinner party. Throwing a bowl this large requires confident centering, strong pulls, and patience. The weight of the finished bowl keeps it firmly in place on any counter.
Making Mixing Bowls
Throwing Large Forms
Mixing bowls are larger than typical wheel-thrown pottery. Wedge thoroughly — air bubbles in large forms cause problems. Center using your whole body, not just your hands. Open wide and pull with steady, even pressure. The walls should be uniformly thick — variations cause uneven shrinkage and warping. Work quickly to avoid over-saturating the clay with water.
Designing for Function
A good mixing bowl has a wide base for stability, walls that curve inward slightly at the rim to contain splashes, and a rim thick enough to grip comfortably. A pouring spout on one side is optional but useful. The interior should be smooth and uninterrupted — no ridges or texture that would trap food.
Making a Matched Set
Throwing a matched set is one of the great challenges and satisfactions of pottery. Weigh your clay precisely for each size. Throw at the same speed and with the same moisture level. Measure as you go — keep a ruler and calipers nearby. Fire all pieces together so they shrink identically. Glaze all pieces the same way. A perfectly matched set of three nesting mixing bowls is a portfolio piece that demonstrates mastery.
Glazing Kitchen Bowls
Food-safe glaze on all interior surfaces. Smooth, easy-to-clean finishes are essential. Light-colored interiors make it easy to see ingredients. The exterior can be any color or texture. A contrasting exterior and interior — dark outside, light inside — is classic and practical.
Care and Use
Handmade stoneware mixing bowls are dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and oven safe to moderate temperatures. They can go from refrigerator to room temperature without thermal shock. Avoid extreme temperature changes — do not put a refrigerator-cold bowl directly into a hot oven. The weight means you should store them on a stable shelf or nested inside each other on the counter.
Learn from Stephen Jepson
Stephen's video lessons cover large-form throwing, set-making, trimming, and food-safe glazing. His fifty-plus years of teaching experience help you throw confidently at any size. One-time purchase, lifetime access to all lessons.