America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo
Expert advice for every cook
Log InJoin Now

Reviews You Can Trust.
See Why.

Disposable Bowls

Disposable bowls may seem like an afterthought, but we found one that’s both durable and comfortable to use—ideal for your next picnic or outdoor gathering.

Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
By Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm ･ Published Sept. 1, 2020.
Save
Saved

Top Picks

BEST LARGE BOWLS (FOR SOUPS, STEWS, AND LEAFY SALADS)Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty 20oz Disposable Paper Bowls

  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
Full Ratings & Specs

BEST SMALL BOWLS (FOR SIDES AND DESSERTS)Dixie Everyday 10oz Disposable Paper Bowls, 36 Count

  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
Full Ratings & Specs

Best Compostable OptionStack Man 100% Compostable 12 oz. Paper Bowls

  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
Full Ratings & Specs
See Everything We Tested

What You Need to Know

What do macaroni salad, baked beans, and ice cream all have in common? You’ve probably, at one point or another, eaten them out of a disposable bowl.

Disposable bowls are ubiquitous at picnics, family gatherings, and birthday parties for their convenience and ease of cleanup. But when you think about it, your disposable bowl experience may well be unfavorable: bowls that crush too easily in your hands, fly away with a whisper of the wind, or develop soggy bottoms within minutes of being filled with food. 

We set out to find the best disposable bowl—one that was durable and comfortable to hold and eat from—and tested 12 models, priced from about $0.05 to about $0.80 per bowl. First, we ate fruit salad from each and evaluated their abilities to withstand repeated slices and pokes of a disposable fork and knife, and then we ate hot baked beans from them with a disposable spoon. Next, we let hot soup and ice cream cake sit in separate sets of each bowl for 30 minutes before checking them for any signs of sogginess or damage.

Which Disposable Bowls Were The Most Comfortable To Hold And Eat From? 

Since we often hold a disposable bowl while eating from it, such as when at a party or picnic, we knew that a good disposable bowl needed to feel comfortable in our hands, especially when filled with hot food. We were looking for a few key attributes: a wide rim, a wide base, and short walls. A wide, sturdy rim would allow us to easily pick up the bowls, especially when they were full of hot baked beans or when we were removing them from a microwave. A bowl with a wide base would be more secure to hold and easier to grip.

Bowls with shorter walls (above center) were easier to eat from than bowls with taller walls (above left and right). The taller walls made it more difficult to maneuver disposable utensils in and out of the bowls, so it was challenging to extract food, especially while standing.

Bowls with smaller bases were typically more tapered in shape and therefore had taller walls than those with wider bases. The higher the walls, the tougher it was to eat from the bowls, as the angles made it harder to see food and use utensils. Bowls with shorter walls allowed us to more easily access our food, whether we were scooping beans with a spoon or piercing and cutting pieces of fruit with a fork and knife.

Which Disposable Bowls Were The Most Durable? 

Durability depended on the materials the bowls were made from (foam, compostable materials, or coated paper) and whether or not they were coated with a waterproof seal. The two foam bowls in our lineup were too flimsy and too easily punctured with a disposable fork and knife. They were also the only two models that weren’t microwave-safe.

We microwaved chicken noodle soup in each of the bowls and let the soups sit in the bowls for 30 minutes. Compostable bowls (above left) developed soggy bottoms and sides, while coated paper bowls (above right) emerged unscathed, thanks to their waterproof coatings.

While the seven compostable models held up to repeated cuts and pokes and contained the ice cream cake without becoming soggy, they struggled with hot foods. When we added hot baked beans and chicken noodle soup separately to two sets of each model, their bottoms (and often their sides) became soft and the outsides of the bowls felt sweaty. Even though these bowls were supposedly microwave-safe, we found that a stint in the microwave to heat up chicken noodle soup made the sides precariously soft and malleable.

The most durable disposable bowls were made from paper and had waterproof coatings. While the company would not divulge more specifics about what their coatings are made from, they are most likely an acrylic-based coating, according to Clean Production Action. No matter the temperature of the foods they contained, these bowls didn’t become soggy, sustained no damage when we tried cutting and poking them, and withstood being microwaved without any issues. 

The Best Disposable Bowls: Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty 20oz Disposable Paper Bowls

Our favorite disposable bowls are the Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty 20oz Disposable Paper Bowls, which cost about $3.50 for 26 bowls (about $0.13 per bowl). Both functional and durable, these bowls showed barely any scratches after the fork and knife test and, thanks to their waterproof coating, no signs of wear and tear after the ice cream cake, hot baked beans, and soup tests. We liked their big rims, which were helpful when picking the bowls up and when grabbing them from the microwave. Their wide base and low sides also made the bowls easy to hold and eat from. With a 20-ounce capacity, they were a bit large for side dishes or desserts, but we found them to be the perfect size for main courses and large salads.

We also liked the Dixie Everyday 10oz Disposable Paper Bowls, 36 Count, which cost about $3.00 for 36 bowls (about $0.08 per bowl). These bowls had smaller rims, which meant that they were tougher to grab and pick up, but their smaller size made them ideal for side dishes and desserts, and they were just as durable as our favorite bowls. Made with the same material and coating as our favorites, these paper bowls held up well to both hot and cold food tests and didn’t become damaged by the microwave or the disposable utensils. We also appreciated their wide base and low sides, which made them easy to hold and eat from. 

Our favorite compostable model was the Stack Man 100% Compostable 12 oz. Paper Bowls [125-Pack], which cost about $13.00 for 125 bowls (about $0.10 per bowl). While they didn’t hold up well to hot foods, they were easy to use and had wide rims and bases and short walls. We also liked their thicker sides, which prevented them from getting as soggy as other compostable bowls when filled with baked beans and soup. We think these are a great compostable option for many different kinds of picnic fare (potato salad, fruit salad, and desserts)—just avoid putting superhot food in them.

  • Wide base and short walls that make them secure to hold and eat from
  • Wide rim to facilitate lifting
  • Withstands punctures and cuts from utensils
  • Microwave-safe
  • Does not become soggy when containing hot or cold foods

  • Test 12 disposable bowls in a range of sizes (from 10 to 20 ounces), priced from about $0.05 to about $0.80 per bowl, including three made from coated paper, two made from foam, and seven made from compostable materials
  • Eat fruit salad from each bowl, using a disposable knife to cut any large pieces of fruit and a disposable fork to spear fruit
  • Eat hot baked beans from each bowl, using a disposable spoon and holding the bowl with one hand
  • For the microwave-safe models, heat chicken noodle soup in each bowl until it’s nearly boiling, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then check the bowl for damage
  • For the non-microwave-safe bowls, add near-boiling chicken soup to each bowl, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then check the bowl for damage
  • Add a slice of ice cream cake to each bowl, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then check the bowl for damage

Everything We Tested

Good 3 Stars out of 3.
Fair 2 Stars out of 3.
Poor 1 Star out of 3.

Highly Recommended

  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

BEST LARGE BOWLS (FOR SOUPS, STEWS, AND LEAFY SALADS)Dixie Ultra Heavy Duty 20oz Disposable Paper Bowls

Our favorite disposable bowls had a wide base, generous rim, and short walls that made them comfortable and easy to lift, hold, and eat from. They were also durable: Their waterproof coating kept them from becoming soggy after containing hot or cold foods for prolonged periods of time. They also showed little damage after we used disposable forks and knives to cut food in them and poke them. These bowls are large, which makes them ideal for main courses or large salads but a bit too big for just a slice of ice cream cake or a side of potato salad. However, these are an excellent overall option.
Model Number: 042000154123Material: Coated paper Disposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $3.39 for 26 bowls ($0.13 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
Our favorite disposable bowls had a wide base, generous rim, and short walls that made them comfortable and easy to lift, hold, and eat from. They were also durable: Their waterproof coating kept them from becoming soggy after containing hot or cold foods for prolonged periods of time. They also showed little damage after we used disposable forks and knives to cut food in them and poke them. These bowls are large, which makes them ideal for main courses or large salads but a bit too big for just a slice of ice cream cake or a side of potato salad. However, these are an excellent overall option.
Model Number: 042000154123Material: Coated paper Disposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $3.39 for 26 bowls ($0.13 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

BEST SMALL BOWLS (FOR SIDES AND DESSERTS)Dixie Everyday 10oz Disposable Paper Bowls, 36 Count

These disposable bowls were durable and easy to use, but their rims were small, so they were tougher to grab and lift than our winner. Outside of that, we found these bowls to be easy to hold and eat from, thanks to their wide bases and short walls. They were also durable and weren’t damaged by disposable utensils or hot or cold foods because of their waterproof coating. The size of these smaller bowls makes them excellent for side dishes or desserts.
Model Number: 15134Material: Coated paperDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $2.99 for 36 bowls ($0.08 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
These disposable bowls were durable and easy to use, but their rims were small, so they were tougher to grab and lift than our winner. Outside of that, we found these bowls to be easy to hold and eat from, thanks to their wide bases and short walls. They were also durable and weren’t damaged by disposable utensils or hot or cold foods because of their waterproof coating. The size of these smaller bowls makes them excellent for side dishes or desserts.
Model Number: 15134Material: Coated paperDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $2.99 for 36 bowls ($0.08 per bowl)

Recommended

  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Solo Bowls to Go, 12 Ounce, 10 Bowls & Lids

These cylindrical bowls resembled to-go soup containers. Their high sides kept food contained, but they obscured our view of it as well as our access to it, making it more difficult to cut, spear, and retrieve food. We liked their wide bases, which were comfortable to hold, but they lacked a rim, so they were a challenge to pick up or retrieve from the microwave. They were very durable, standing up to disposable utensils and hot or cold foods well. We also liked that these bowls came with lids, which would make them great for packing snacks for a road trip or preportioning food for lunch on the go.
Model Number: COMINHKPR99656Material: Coated paperDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $7.99 for 10 bowls ($0.80 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
These cylindrical bowls resembled to-go soup containers. Their high sides kept food contained, but they obscured our view of it as well as our access to it, making it more difficult to cut, spear, and retrieve food. We liked their wide bases, which were comfortable to hold, but they lacked a rim, so they were a challenge to pick up or retrieve from the microwave. They were very durable, standing up to disposable utensils and hot or cold foods well. We also liked that these bowls came with lids, which would make them great for packing snacks for a road trip or preportioning food for lunch on the go.
Model Number: COMINHKPR99656Material: Coated paperDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $7.99 for 10 bowls ($0.80 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Best Compostable OptionStack Man 100% Compostable 12 oz. Paper Bowls

These bowls were the most durable of all the commercially compostable models we evaluated. Their thicker sides helped compensate for their thinner bottoms: While their bottoms softened when holding hot foods, their walls didn't soften or become sweaty. We also liked their wide rims and bases and short sides, which made them easy to grasp and lift, comfortable to hold, and a pleasure to eat from. These bowls are fine as long as you’re not eating hot foods out of them and would fare well with most picnic foods, such as potato or pasta salad.
Model Number: Material: Molded sugarcane fibersDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $12.69 for 125 bowls ($0.10 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
These bowls were the most durable of all the commercially compostable models we evaluated. Their thicker sides helped compensate for their thinner bottoms: While their bottoms softened when holding hot foods, their walls didn't soften or become sweaty. We also liked their wide rims and bases and short sides, which made them easy to grasp and lift, comfortable to hold, and a pleasure to eat from. These bowls are fine as long as you’re not eating hot foods out of them and would fare well with most picnic foods, such as potato or pasta salad.
Model Number: Material: Molded sugarcane fibersDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $12.69 for 125 bowls ($0.10 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Earth's Natural Alternative 11.5oz Compostable Bowls

We really liked the wide, slightly upward-slanted rims of these bowls, which made them easy to grab and lift. However, the hot baked beans and chicken noodle soup made them soft and sweaty and turned their bottoms soggy. The bowls did, however, fare well in the disposable utensil and ice cream cake tests.
Model Number: ECOL003pk50Material: Bamboo and sugarcane fibersDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $6.75 for 50 bowls ($0.14 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
We really liked the wide, slightly upward-slanted rims of these bowls, which made them easy to grab and lift. However, the hot baked beans and chicken noodle soup made them soft and sweaty and turned their bottoms soggy. The bowls did, however, fare well in the disposable utensil and ice cream cake tests.
Model Number: ECOL003pk50Material: Bamboo and sugarcane fibersDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $6.75 for 50 bowls ($0.14 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Chinet Classic White Classic White Bowl, 16 Oz.

We liked the overall construction of these bowls—with their wide bases and large, flat rims—but they did not hold up well to hot foods. The bottoms of these bowls became soft when we used them to hold baked beans and chicken noodle soup. However, they performed well in our other durability tests and did not become damaged by the disposable utensils or ice cream cake.
Model Number: SYNCHKG079669Material: Recycled materialDisposal Method: Commercially compostable Price at Time of Testing: $19.99 for 30 bowls ($0.67 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
We liked the overall construction of these bowls—with their wide bases and large, flat rims—but they did not hold up well to hot foods. The bottoms of these bowls became soft when we used them to hold baked beans and chicken noodle soup. However, they performed well in our other durability tests and did not become damaged by the disposable utensils or ice cream cake.
Model Number: SYNCHKG079669Material: Recycled materialDisposal Method: Commercially compostable Price at Time of Testing: $19.99 for 30 bowls ($0.67 per bowl)

Recommended with reservations

  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Repurpose Heavy Duty Compostable Bowls

These tall, commercially compostable bowls did not hold up well to hot foods and had some usability issues. While their taller sides helped contain food, they also made it harder to retrieve foods and use utensils in them. These bowls also had smaller rims, which were not as easy to grasp. They did stand up to being poked with a disposable fork and cut in with a disposable knife and held cold foods without issue. If you’re looking for large, compostable bowls, these are a fine option, as long as you avoid serving hot foods in them.
Model Number: RPR.BB1620Material: Wood and sugarcane scrap Disposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $8.52 for 20 bowls ($0.43 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
These tall, commercially compostable bowls did not hold up well to hot foods and had some usability issues. While their taller sides helped contain food, they also made it harder to retrieve foods and use utensils in them. These bowls also had smaller rims, which were not as easy to grasp. They did stand up to being poked with a disposable fork and cut in with a disposable knife and held cold foods without issue. If you’re looking for large, compostable bowls, these are a fine option, as long as you avoid serving hot foods in them.
Model Number: RPR.BB1620Material: Wood and sugarcane scrap Disposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $8.52 for 20 bowls ($0.43 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Solo Bare Eco-Forward Sugarcane Standard Bowls, 12 oz., Ivory, 125/Pack

As with the other commercially compostable bowls, these did not handle heat well. The bottoms turned soggy and sweaty from the heat of the beans and soup. We also didn’t like the shape of these bowls; they were more square than round, which made them less comfortable to hold. However, their short sides made it easy to retrieve food. They also weren’t damaged by the disposable cutlery or the cold ice cream cake.
Model Number: 12BSC-2050Material: Sugarcane fiberDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $19.51 for 125 bowls ($0.16 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
As with the other commercially compostable bowls, these did not handle heat well. The bottoms turned soggy and sweaty from the heat of the beans and soup. We also didn’t like the shape of these bowls; they were more square than round, which made them less comfortable to hold. However, their short sides made it easy to retrieve food. They also weren’t damaged by the disposable cutlery or the cold ice cream cake.
Model Number: 12BSC-2050Material: Sugarcane fiberDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $19.51 for 125 bowls ($0.16 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Eco-Products Compostable Sugarcane Bowls, 16 oz., White

These bowls were comfortable to hold and eat from, but like other commercially compostable models, they did not withstand hot foods well. Their bottoms became soggy and sweaty with the baked beans and soup, and the rims became even flimsier and softer after a stint in the microwave. However, the bowls didn’t become soft or damaged from the ice cream cake, and they didn’t tear or develop holes from the disposable cutlery.
Model Number: EP-BL16Material: Sugarcane fiberDisposal Method: Commercially compostable Price at Time of Testing: $9.68 for 50 bowls ($0.19 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
These bowls were comfortable to hold and eat from, but like other commercially compostable models, they did not withstand hot foods well. Their bottoms became soggy and sweaty with the baked beans and soup, and the rims became even flimsier and softer after a stint in the microwave. However, the bowls didn’t become soft or damaged from the ice cream cake, and they didn’t tear or develop holes from the disposable cutlery.
Model Number: EP-BL16Material: Sugarcane fiberDisposal Method: Commercially compostable Price at Time of Testing: $9.68 for 50 bowls ($0.19 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Eco-Products Compostable Sugarcane Bowl, 12 oz., White

Like their larger siblings, these commercially compostable bowls were not durable when it came to hot foods. The bottoms and sides of these bowls turned soft and sweaty with the baked beans and soup, and the rim turned flimsy after a stint in the microwave. These bowls were easy to eat out of, thanks to their short sides and wide bases. They also held up fine to the disposable cutlery and the ice cream cake.
Model Number: EP-BL12Material: Sugarcane fiberDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $8.32 for 50 bowls ($0.17 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
Like their larger siblings, these commercially compostable bowls were not durable when it came to hot foods. The bottoms and sides of these bowls turned soft and sweaty with the baked beans and soup, and the rim turned flimsy after a stint in the microwave. These bowls were easy to eat out of, thanks to their short sides and wide bases. They also held up fine to the disposable cutlery and the ice cream cake.
Model Number: EP-BL12Material: Sugarcane fiberDisposal Method: Commercially compostablePrice at Time of Testing: $8.32 for 50 bowls ($0.17 per bowl)

Not Recommended

  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Hefty Everyday Soak-Proof Foam Bowls, 12 oz, 50 Count

These foam bowls were not durable, and we couldn’t use disposable cutlery in them without cutting through them or poking holes in their bottoms. These bowls weren’t microwave-safe, but they didn’t become flimsy when holding hot soup or beans or cold ice cream cake. However, their rigidness meant that they cracked easily when they were held too hard.
Model Number: PCTD25012Material: FoamDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $3.99 for 50 bowls ($0.08 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
These foam bowls were not durable, and we couldn’t use disposable cutlery in them without cutting through them or poking holes in their bottoms. These bowls weren’t microwave-safe, but they didn’t become flimsy when holding hot soup or beans or cold ice cream cake. However, their rigidness meant that they cracked easily when they were held too hard.
Model Number: PCTD25012Material: FoamDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $3.99 for 50 bowls ($0.08 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use

Hefty Style Cut Resistant 18 oz. Red Foam Bowls

Like the other foam model, these larger, square-shaped bowls were among the least durable we tried. They were easily damaged by the disposable fork and knife and were not microwave-safe. While they did hold up fine to hot soup and baked beans and cold ice cream cake, we disliked their square shape, which wasn’t comfortable to hold.
Model Number: D4-4920Material: FoamDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $3.96 for 20 bowls ($0.20 per bowl)
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
Like the other foam model, these larger, square-shaped bowls were among the least durable we tried. They were easily damaged by the disposable fork and knife and were not microwave-safe. While they did hold up fine to hot soup and baked beans and cold ice cream cake, we disliked their square shape, which wasn’t comfortable to hold.
Model Number: D4-4920Material: FoamDisposal Method: TrashPrice at Time of Testing: $3.96 for 20 bowls ($0.20 per bowl)

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

America's Test Kitchen Accolades Badge

Reviews You Can Trust

The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!

Related Reviews and Recipes

More in Kitchen Basics

Reviews You Can Trust.
See Why.

This is a members' feature.

America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo