If you’re choosing new kitchenware, understanding the durability and longevity of the items you’re considering buying is key. This will make it easier to decide which pieces are right for you, and which might be better to avoid. A lot of people are interested in the differences between ceramic bowls and glass bowls.
There is a lot of overlap between how glass
and ceramic bowls are made, and it can therefore be difficult to do a straight-up comparison, because it depends to an extent on how the cookware has been made. However, glass is often stronger than ceramic because it is less porous.
In this article, we’re going to learn more about glass bowls vs ceramic bowls, so you can get a good sense of which is the better material for kitchenware.
Do Glass Bowls Last Longer Than Ceramic Bowls?
Before we do anything else, it’s important to note that glass is a kind of ceramic, which makes this comparison challenging. The two are made in different ways, however, and are usually seen as different materials.
Glass is made by melting sand at high temperatures and cooling it, while ceramics are typically made by firing kaolin clay. The two therefore incorporate very different materials, but they are closely related. You can watch glass bowls being made here if you are curious about how the process works.
Glass and ceramics both come in many different styles, and that means that some ceramics will be tougher than glass, but on the whole, glass does tend to be the more durable material. High-quality glass will often last better than high-quality ceramic, although it’s important to note that because it’s heavier, you are more likely to drop a glass bowl than a ceramic bowl.
You might be wondering why glass is often more durable than ceramic. The answer is that ceramics are usually porous, because they contain pockets of air that were trapped inside the clay when the clay was fired. That means that they are more fragile, but lighter.
Of course, both glass and ceramic will break if they are dropped or hit with force, but glass can prove a more durable option in some cases because it isn’t porous. This may mean that glass bowls will last better in your kitchen, although you should bear the weight issue in mind.
How Do I Feel About Using Two Types Of Bowls At Home?
A lot of people like both glass and ceramic bowls, because they offer a lot of advantages, including being inert and easy to wash. No flavors should linger on them after washing, and they trap heat well. They perform well both in the oven and in the fridge, and they are good at trapping heat, helping meals to stay hot for longer.
However, there are pros and cons to each. A glass bowl is transparent and will quickly show any small speck of dirt or baked-on food, while a ceramic bowl can be any color, and may not look used as quickly.
The ability to choose your color with ceramics is also considered a big advantage in color-coordinated kitchens. If you’ve gone for a red theme or a green theme, ceramic bowls will be a better option, as you can match them to the theme.
Glass bowls won’t exactly clash with any color scheme, being transparent, but they don’t help to create a theme either. For this reason, some people prefer ceramics. On the other hand, if you want to later change your color scheme, glass will easily match with something new, while colorful ceramics may look out of place.
Glass is also often associated with elegance and finery – think of cut wine glasses. However, it’s rarely used as a material for dishes to eat from, even though there’s no obvious reason to avoid it.
Which One Do I Prefer And Why?
The biggest thing to think about in most cases is the practicality of your cookware, and how you are going to use it. This is one of the biggest reasons to choose ceramics over glass, even if you do lose a little bit of durability.
Ceramic bowls are often considerably lighter than a corresponding glass bowl. This makes them easier to handle, and reduces the risk of them being dropped (which will almost always lead to a breakage for either material). For this reason, many people opt for ceramics.
However, ceramics can be more expensive than glass, which is important to remember. If you’re likely to drop things frequently, you may be better off buying glass and replacing it more often than buying ceramics.
Ceramic dishes have a little bit of an edge when it comes to heating them, too. Ceramic dishes tend to increase in heat more quickly than glass dishes. That means that if you’re microwaving food for dinner or something similar, you’ll have less time to wait and you’ll use less energy with a ceramic dish than if you microwave it in a glass bowl.
On the other hand, ceramics do tend to cool more quickly than glass dishes, which can be a drawback if you want your food to stay hot. The difference is unlikely to be very significant, but it’s worth bearing in mind. Glass is a better option if you want to minimize heat loss.
You might find that both of these popular materials have their place in your kitchen. Glass bowls will last better but are heavier and often seen as less attractive, while ceramic bowls are usually slightly less durable, but are lighter and can be very aesthetically pleasing.
You’ll have to determine which of these traits are the most important before you decide which material best suits your needs.
Is There A Better Way To Use Dishes?
If you want to help your dishes last for as long as possible, you should make an effort to handle them with care. That may mean not putting them in your dishwasher, and being gentle when you put them in the cupboard.
You may even want to put a piece of kitchen towel in between each dish when it is stored in the cupboard to reduce the risk of chips.
You should also avoid using metal utensils on your ceramic dishes, as there is a risk that they will scratch the coating if the dish has one. This can leave unsightly marks and may reduce the durability of the dish. Don’t scrub ceramics with wire brushes, either, as this may also damage the finish.
Glass shouldn’t scratch, but wooden and silicone utensils are often still preferable. It is also best not to use tough wire on your glass dishes, as there is a risk of damaging the surface. Use a sponge as your preferred cleaning tool, and soak stubborn marks off the dishes, rather than scrubbing them.
This will help your dishes to last for as long as possible.
Conclusion
Glass bowls may last longer than ceramic bowls, as they are made from more durable materials and do not chip or break as easily. However, bear in mind that there are different kinds of ceramics and glass, so this isn’t a definite rule. Glass is also heavier and may increase your risk of dropping it.
