What our bowls are made of, how big each one is, how to wash them, and what actually damages enamel.
The material
- The body is carbon steel, pressed from a single sheet, with the rim rolled over so there is no sharp edge.
- The coating is vitreous enamel: powdered glass fired onto the steel at around 800 °C, inside and out. It is glass, so it does not absorb smells, stains or flavours.
- The rim is enamelled in a contrasting colour. It is the thinnest part of the coating and the most likely place for a chip.
Sizes, capacities and weights
All measurements are approximate. Size is diameter × depth. Capacity is to the brim; a comfortable serving is roughly two thirds of that.
| Piece | Size | Capacity | Weight | Colour | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cereal Bowl | 14 × 6 cm | 550 ml | 160 g | White, cobalt rim | $22 |
| Soup Bowl | 16 × 7 cm | 800 ml | 210 g | Speckled oat, grey rim | $24 |
| Pasta Bowl | 22 × 4.5 cm | 900 ml | 260 g | Butter yellow, cobalt rim | $28 |
| Serving Bowl | 24 × 9 cm | 2.4 litres | 480 g | Sage outside, white inside | $38 |
| Lidded Bowl | 18 × 8 cm (11 cm with lid) | 1.3 litres | 420 g | White, cobalt rims | $40 |
| Mixing Bowl with Lip | 26 × 12 cm | 3.5 litres | 620 g | White, cobalt rim | $44 |
| Large Basin | 32 × 10 cm | 5 litres | 780 g | Cobalt outside, white inside | $52 |
| Nesting Set of Three | 22, 18 and 14 cm | 1.9, 1.1, 0.55 litres | 620 g | White, cobalt rims | $68 |
Heat
- Oven: yes, at normal cooking temperatures. Use an oven glove: steel gets hot quickly.
- Hob: fine over a low gas flame to warm food through. Do not heat a bowl empty, and do not use these as saucepans on high heat.
- Microwave: no. It is metal.
- Freezer and fridge: yes. Let a frozen bowl come up a little before it goes into a hot oven.
Washing
- Dishwasher-safe. Hand washing keeps the gloss longer.
- Use a soft sponge. Steel wool and scouring powder dull the glaze.
- For marks from metal cutlery, a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water lifts them.
- Dry it after washing rather than leaving it to drain if the rim has a chip, so the exposed steel does not rust.
Is it a fault?
- Normal: a small dark speck at the rim edge, slight waves or thicker patches in the glaze, a pinhole or two, and very small differences in size and colour from one bowl to the next.
- A fault: a chip showing bare steel on arrival, a dent, a crack in the enamel, a lid that does not sit on its bowl, or a piece that is clearly the wrong size. Send a photograph and we replace it.
What actually damages enamel
- Dropping it on its rim onto stone or tile. The steel survives; the enamel at the point of impact may not.
- Heating it empty on a hob, which can crack the glaze.
- Leaving a chipped bowl wet, so the exposed steel rusts. A chip is cosmetic if kept dry.
- Abrasive cleaners, which take the shine off.
If something arrives damaged
Email a photograph of the piece and its box to info@aldorven.com within 14 days of delivery. We send a replacement or a refund, whichever you prefer. The Refund policy has the details.