Entrée Bowls vs Side Bowls: Which Size for Every Meal?
By Made In Cookware - UK | Published: 2026-10-25
Category: Comparisons
Compare Entrée Bowls and Side Bowls from Made In Cookware to find the right size for salads, pasta, desserts, and more. Practical advice on when to choose each.
Quick answer
Choose Entrée Bowls for main-course salads, pasta bowls, and hearty soups where you want plate-like surface area. Choose Side Bowls for small sides, desserts, and snacks when a compact 16.5 cm diameter is enough.
Surface area vs. compactness: the core trade-off
The main difference between these two bowl sizes is how much food they can hold while still feeling like a bowl. Entrée Bowls offer the surface area of a plate with shallow walls, making them ideal for dishes you want to spread out — think composed salads, grain bowls, or pasta with sauce. Side Bowls are smaller and deeper relative to their diameter, perfect for portion-controlled sides, ice cream, or a quick snack.
Both are made in England and share a 10-Year No-Chip Guarantee, so durability is consistent. The choice really comes down to how you plate your meals.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Entrée Bowls for main courses: Use Entrée Bowls when you want a bowl that acts like a plate — great for pasta, grain bowls, hearty soups, and salads with multiple components. The shallow walls help keep ingredients visible and prevent everything from mixing into one pile.
- Side Bowls for small portions: Reach for Side Bowls when you need a bowl for a side salad, a scoop of ice cream, or a small snack. The 16.5 cm diameter is just right for a single serving of berries, nuts, or a light dessert without overwhelming the table.
- Mixing sets for flexibility: If you entertain often or have a family, owning both sizes gives you the most versatility. Use Entrée Bowls for the main course and Side Bowls for sides or desserts. Both are microwave and dishwasher safe, so cleanup is the same. Consider buying a set of each to cover all meal occasions without compromise.
Product facts
- Entrée Bowls: Blends the surface area of a plate and the shallow walls of a bowl to help you plate with intention. This means you can arrange ingredients side by side instead of piling them, which is useful for composed salads or pasta with toppings.
Entrée Bowls - Side Bowls: At 16.5 cm in diameter, the Side Bowls are ideal for small salads, ice cream, and illicit midnight snacking. The compact size makes them easy to handle and store, while still being large enough for a reasonable side dish or dessert.
Side Bowls
Which bowl size fits you?
Best for
- Home cooks who serve composed salads, pasta, or grain bowls as main dishes
- Anyone who wants a bowl that doubles as a plate for better plating
Not ideal for
- Those who only need small bowls for desserts or side dishes — Side Bowls are more practical
- Anyone looking for a deep soup bowl — both are shallow-walled by design
