A bowl of soup makes for a healthy lunch or quick dinner. Your meal is even quicker when you prepare said soup in advance and only reheat it. That’s where a microwave oven with a pre-programmed soup function steps in. There is only one other thing you need – the best microwave soup bowl with a lid.
The market spoils you with choices in this department. Microwave soup bowls come in a variety of styles and sizes. You can pick from ceramic or glass models and even a few plastic ones.
One of the most important things to consider is the lid. Not all microwavable bowls come with microwavable lids. If you want to prevent spills and splatters from soiling the microwave cavity, you should make sure the lid can go in the microwave, too.
If you only need the lid so that you can store the portioned soup in the fridge, a plastic, non-microwavable lid would do.
With so many considerations, finding the best bowl is often challenging. To make things easy, I scoured the market and found the best microwave soup bowls around. Check them out below.
👩💼Are microwavable soup bowls really safe for your health?
Microwavable soup bowls have no negative effects on your health and are perfectly safe to use – as long as you choose the bowl wisely and make sure it is made of glass or ceramic.
Some plastic bowls are also microwavable. However, you should know that almost all plastics release toxic chemicals when exposed to high temperatures. For this reason, I only recommend using glass and ceramic bowls, dishes, and containers in the microwave.
The only exceptions are the canned microwavable soups that come in plastic containers. In this case, manufacturers test the containers to make sure they resist the recommended heat without releasing toxic agents.
💡Can you microwave soup in a ceramic bowl?
Yes, you can microwave soup in a ceramic bowl, but only if the bowl is marked as microwavable.
Generally, all-ceramic bowls, plates, and dishes are microwavable. After all, ceramic resists high temperatures – you can even use it in the oven to bake or make roasts.
The only problem is that some non-microwavable ceramic bowls are decorated with paints that don’t resist high temperatures. The microwave or oven won’t ruin the finish – at least, not visibly. However, these paint products can release heavy metals (if they contain lead) and chemicals.
Next Read: Microwave Stands with Storage for your Home.
The glazing on some ceramic bowls can also release unwanted substances. For this reason, you should only heat soup in ceramic bowls marked as microwavable or marked as safe to use at high temperatures (on a stove or in the oven).
🙋How do I know if a bowl is microwavable?
The easiest way to tell whether the bowl you have is microwavable or not is by looking at its bottom. All microwavable bowls are clearly marked with a symbol. Those bowls that can go in the oven (and that, generally, you can also use in the microwave) may also be marked with an oven or temperature symbol.
The latter symbol generally specifies the maximum temperature the material can withstand. While calculating the microwave temperature based on power is complicated, you should know that most microwaves reach a maximum temperature of about 212°F.
By comparison, most ovens reach temperatures up to 475°F. Thus, if the bowl can go in the oven, it is safe to assume that you can use it in the microwave too.
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One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you should never use metal bowls (or bowls decorated with metallic paint) in the microwave. All reflexive surfaces can reflect the electromagnetic radiation back into the oven cavity and cause arcing.
Arcing can damage your appliance, and the sparks flying around also represent a fire hazard.
🧾What should I look for in a microwavable soup bowl with a lid?
Heat Resistance
As explained above, the most important thing to check in a bowl you want to use in the microwave is the heat resistance.
Most ceramic and glass bowls resist the highest temperature a microwave oven can reach. However, a plastic bowl could catch fire if it is not made specifically for microwave use. This goes for store-bought soup or chili you want to heat in the original packaging.
While most manufacturers pack ready-made foods in microwavable packaging, don’t take it for granted. Check the instructions and make sure the plastic container can go in the appliance.
Material
Microwave soup bowls are commonly made of glass, ceramic, or plastic. Glass and ceramic are by far your best options. Ceramic is undeniably the most versatile since you can use the container as a soup bowl and cereal bowl alike.
Lid
Most microwavable soup bowls come with lids made of the same material as the container. A ceramic bowl with a ceramic lid (or a glass bowl with a glass lid) is an excellent choice to prevent spills and splatters. Some ceramic bowls have plastic lids that are not microwavable.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Consider what you need the lid for (cover the bowl in the oven or keep the soup fresh in the fridge) and pick accordingly.
Shape
When it comes to the shape of the bowl, stay as traditional as possible. Round bowls with no patterns are the easiest to clean. However, this doesn’t mean that the bowl shouldn’t have handles. On the contrary, handles can help you grab the hot container safely once you’ve heated the soup.
Dishwasher-friendly
Most microwave-safe soup bowls are dishwasher friendly, but the plastic lids some bowls come with can only be washed by hand. Check the instructions to stay on the safe side.
⭐Microwave Soup Bowl With Lid Reviews
1. Kook Soup Cups with Plastic Vented Lid
Finding the perfect microwavable soup bowls that can also brighten your day is often hard, but these soup cups from Kook could be just right.
Coming in a set of two, these jumbo cups are perfect for reheating your favorite soup, a stew, chili, ramen, or pasta, or packing salads for lunch and storing ice cream in the freezer. Each cup comes with a microwavable vented lid made of plastic, which is perfect for letting the steam out.
The only downside is that the lids aren’t airtight, meaning that you’ll have to keep the bowls upright during transport.
Bowl and lid alike are also dishwasher friendly. The cups have a capacity of 25 ounces and are ideal to use at home or on the go. Aside from the soup cup, you’ll also get a recipe booklet. All in all, an excellent choice either for home or for the office.
2. Chefcaptain French Onion Soup Crock Chili Bowls with Handles and Lids
The French is one of the top cuisines worldwide, and nothing beats a hot onion soup with bread and cheese on a cold evening. If you’ve already made the base, melting the cheese in the microwave oven can make your meal quick. And that’s where onion soup bowls step in.
Coming in a set of four, they’re made of ceramic and come with microwavable ceramic lids. They also have convenient handles and are very easy to clean.
Each bowl in the set has a capacity of 20 ounces – just right for a portion. The elegant design respects the traditional lines of French ceramic bowls. At the same time, the two-color finish gives these bowls a modern touch.
Onion soup aside, you can also use them for chili, pasta, noodles, or even to make delicious polenta.
3. Bake & Serve Large Ceramic Soup Bowls With Handles
Another set of ceramic soup bowls comes from Bake & Serve. These ones are not specifically made for onion soup but are stylish and spacious.
Each bowl in the set – they’re two in total – has a capacity of 30 ounces. The lids are also made of ceramic, and the entire thing can go either in the microwave or in the oven – up to a temperature of 400°F.
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I particularly like the dual color of the bowls, with a light exterior and dark interior. The lid is a dark brown, and a stylish design on each bowl enhances the fashion factor.
The handles on each side of the bowl make it very easy to grab them when they’re hot (use an oven mitt for this purpose). Another highlight is the ceramic spoon that makes them perfect for ramen soup. These bowls are also dishwasher friendly.
4. CorningWare Microwave Soup Mug with Vented Lid
Soup bowls are nice and all, but if you’re after something trendier, this lovely soup mug stands out. While it doesn’t come in a set, the blueberry finish makes it absolutely adorable and unmissable.
The mug has a convenient handle on one side (that doesn’t get hot while microwaving) and comes with a vented plastic lid. The lid is not airtight, but it lets off steam and keeps your soup fresh for longer when you store it in the fridge. Soup aside, this mug is also perfect for microwaving coffee, oatmeal, tea, and even for storing butter.
The 20-ounce size makes it perfect for one portion. Its high-gloss exterior is non-porous for easier cleaning, while the plastic lid also resists staining.
You should not use the mug in an oven or place it in the freezer. Extreme temperatures can damage it.
5. Leaves And Trees Y Mini Sized Glass Pasta Noodles Bowl with Lid and Handle
Last but not least, if you need a very large soup bowl for your family, check out this mini-size glass pasta noodle bowl with a clear lid and handle from Leaves And Trees Y.
Despite its name, the 45-ounce bowl is also perfect for soup. The transparent glass allows you to monitor cooking, and the lid is airtight – even though it doesn’t do a good job of preventing spills during transport.
Made of borosilicate glass, it resists temperatures between 0°F and 400°F, meaning that it can go in the microwave but also in the oven, fridge, and freezer.
You can also use it as a salad bowl or to store vegetables, such as pepper or a few carrots. The large bowl is dishwasher friendly and easy to clean. A good choice for a larger family.
📊Comparison Table of Microwave Soup Bowl With Lid
| Kook Soup Cups | Chefcaptain Bowls | Bake & Serve Soup Bowls | CorningWare Soup Mug | Leaves And Trees Y Bowl | |
| Capacity | 25 oz | 20 oz | 30 oz | 20 oz | 45 oz |
| Material | Ceramic | Ceramic | Ceramic | Ceramic | Glass |
| N° of bowls | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Lid | Plastic | Ceramic | Ceramic | Plastic | Glass |
| Price | $$$ | $$$$$ | $$$$ | $$ | $$ |
🧠Microwave Soup Bowl With Lid – Frequent Questions
How long do you microwave soup?
Generally, it takes about three minutes for soup to heat. You should stop the cycle every 60 seconds and stir to prevent hot spots.
How do I cook frozen soup in the microwave?
Yes, you can cook frozen soup in the microwave, in a covered microwave bowl. Follow the cooking instructions on the package, or thaw the frozen soup first and then heat it for three minutes. Stir periodically to ensure even heating.
What is the best way to reheat frozen soup?
The best way to reheat frozen soup is to defrost it first using your microwave’s defrost function. Then, use the pre-programmed soup function of your appliance or set the heating cycle to three minutes on 1,000 watts (or max heat if your oven has lower wattage).
Stop the cycle and stir every minute. If your microwave has a lower wattage, taste the soup after three minutes and decide whether you should reheat it some more.
Final thoughts
A microwave soup bowl with a lid is a valuable addition to your cookware. You can use it for much more than heating soup; most bowls are also perfect for your cereal breakfast or to cook other food varieties.
I hope this guide can help you pick the best microwave soup bowl for you.
