How Big Should A Serving Bowl Be?

Black and brown bowl placed on wooden table, How Big Should A Serving Bowl Be?Serving bowls add a personal touch of class to your dining table while serving delicious food to your family or guests. If you are in search of the perfect serving bowl to add to your kitchen, you might wonder just how big a serving bowl should be. We’ve researched numerous types of serving bowls and their uses to find the answer for you.

The size of the serving bowl you use depends on the food being served:

  • Smaller bowls range from 3” to 6” in diameter and commonly serve light appetizers or single-serving foods.
  • Medium bowls range from 7” to 10” in diameter and commonly serve light snacks, heavy appetizers, or dipping sauces.
  • Large bowls range from 12” (2-4 servings) to 15” (6-8 servings) in diameter and commonly serve a side dish or entree.

Keep reading and we’ll discuss the types of foods you can serve from various sized serving bowls. We’ll also discuss the decorative aspect of serving bowls and how this versatile piece of tableware can enhance your dining table’s appearance during a meal or otherwise.

What Is A Serving Bowl Used For?

A serving bowl is an essential item to keep in your kitchen. Conventionally used to serve food, serving bowls also coordinate with your tableware to dress the table. Serving bowls are made from a variety of materials such as wood, porcelain, melamine, or glass.

Serve Food from a Serving Bowl

The primary use for serving bowls is exactly that: to serve food. We'll break down serving bowls into different sizes and discuss the ideal uses for each.

Small Bowls

Small-sized serving bowls (3”-6”) are incredibly versatile. Hosts typically use small serving bowls to serve light appetizers such as nuts, olives, pickles, cheese cubes, and candies. Of course, when you are not entertaining, a small-sized serving bowl is an ideal choice for a single serving of soup, cereal, or ice cream.

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Medium Bowls

Medium-sized serving bowls (7”-10”) are a great choice when you want to serve fruit, rolls, toppings, chips, or popcorn. Bring out the medium-sized serving bowl for boisterous gatherings when you might also serve heavy appetizers such as buffalo wings, hot dips, or salsas to larger groups of people.

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Large Bowls

Large-sized serving bowls (12”-15”) are ideal for hosting brunch, lunch, or dinner parties. Hosts typically use large-sized serving bowls to serve a hearty side-dish or the main course such as:

  • Tossed green salad
  • Antipasto
  • Fruit salad
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Pasta
  • Risotto
  • Soup

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Segmented Bowls

If you are frequently entertaining, segmented serving bowl sets that have accompanying or attached dip bowls are a great choice for serving a variety of appetizers. Using a serving bowl set enables you to serve raw vegetables and hummus, chips and salsa, or an array of finger-foods by simply setting out one piece of tableware.

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Decorate Your Dining Table With A Serving Bowl

When not serving food from your medium or large-sized serving bowl, you might consider using the bowl as a decorative centerpiece on your dining table.

Empty Bowl Centerpieces

An empty yet stylish bowl placed onto the center of the table often does the trick to liven up a vacant table.

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Filled Bowl Centerpieces

For a bit of added flair, decorate for any season or occasion by arranging objects inside the bowl such as:

  • Fresh, whole fruits
  • Floated flowers/petals
  • Floated candles
  • Sea glass
  • Pebbles
  • Seasonal decor
  • Potpourri

For a quarterly change of scene on your dining table, arrange a serving bowl centerpiece with seasonal objects like pinecones, gourds, or cranberries.

 

For a special occasion, arrange floating flowers and candles in a serving bowl to bring elegance to your dining table.

 

Add natural elements to your table by arranging a serving bowl with warm accents of twine and moss encircling vibrant, succulent plants.

 

What Is A Good Size For A Salad Bowl?

A 15” diameter is a good size for a salad bowl. But the size also depends on how many servings you’d like to get from the bowl. To serve side salads for 6 to 8 people, a 15” diameter works well.

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If you typically serve smaller meals of 2 to 4 people, you might prefer a 12” diameter salad bowl.

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An even smaller 10” diameter bowl will serve side salads to 2 people or be just the right size to serve 1 salad as your main course.

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A 6” diameter bowl is the perfect size for a single serving of salad.

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What Is A Good Size For A Fruit Bowl?

A 9” to 11-1/2” fruit bowl is a popular choice for storing and serving fruit. To store and display whole fruit on the countertop, a wire-type bowl keeps fruit fresh and handy to grab for a snack.

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Use an enclosed fruit bowl to serve cut fruit and mixed fruit salads.

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If you are in search of a fruit bowl to store a variety of whole fruits on display like bananas, apples, oranges, and pears, you’ll want a larger 12” to 13” bowl.

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A good sized fruit bowl is one that accommodates a substantial portion of fresh fruit and sits atop the counter without taking up any undue space in the kitchen. Fruit bowls larger than 13” in diameter tend to be cumbersome and less versatile. If you are a fruit lover, you might consider a 2-tier fruit bowl for additional storage space with an appealing look.

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Now that you know the many types and uses of serving bowls, whether you are serving or decorating, you’ll be sure to select the right sized bowl for every occasion.

Before you go, be sure to check out these other helpful kitchen guides -

How Much Does A Deep Fryer Cost?

Should A Saute Pan Be Nonstick?

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