Norpro Silicone Mini Pinch Bowls, 4 Piece Set
|
Our Price: $6.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
|---|
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Norpro Silicone Mini Pinch Bowls, 4 Piece Set
Customer Review: A Convenience in the Kitchen for Creative Cooks
Summary: 5 Stars
I own the Norpros, but I also own other brands. I'm recommending the item more than a specific manufacturer, although I do like this brand.
These are the best for people who like to gather their ingredients before cooking, especially if the recipe calls for a lot of pinches of this and teaspoons of that. It saves stirring with one hand while grabbing for the spice with the other hand, or running around the kitchen, hoping the food won't burn. Because you can pinch them, they're great if you have to return the item back to the original jar.
Because they come in tons of colors, this cuts down on confusion. Sometimes I have 3 recipes going at once and I assign colors so I don't end up adding the wrong ingredient to the wrong dish. Also, sometimes with stir fries I find that the same ingredient might come into play twice -- once for a marinade or or the initial cooking, and once for the sauce -- and so the colors help me sort out which amount first.
They're also bright and cute enough to use as dipping sauces if you have over company. Other, more crafty people, find other uses. The best part about them is that they're simple enough to be put to so many uses based on the hobbies and interests of the person.
Lastly, they're so inexpensive that you can get several sets, and really put them to use!
Customer Review: Mise en place asset
Summary: 5 Stars
I find this Norpro 4-Piece Silicone Mini Flexible Pinch Bowl Set, Multicolored to be essential in my little kitchen. When preparing small quantities of herbs, spices, liquids, solids or gels, not only do these take up less space than my other small bowls, but I find them easier to pour, particularly when my hands are covered in dough or other foodstuff. The flexibility of the silicone allows for a little squeeze, then I can throw these directly into the sink and not worry about them breaking. The primary colors and green are easy to spot and identify and the rigid base makes for sturdy placement on the countertop. They stack into a small space, do not retain odors, come out of the dishwasher with no problem (I do not use the heating option on my dishwasher) and maintain their appearance. I've used these for serving little sauces or dips because I tend to grab these before my porcelain, glass or stainless steel, and kids adore them. When using a small quantity of a hot liquid, I do not burn my fingers by grabbing the little bowl as they do not disperse the heat to the bowl. They also work well as little molds, with the solid slipping out more easily than other containers. I personally think these are a perfect tool in a mise en place kitchen.Customer Review: Multi-Functional Containers
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought these mini-bowls to use when I make bento lunch boxes, to help separate small (dry) ingredients from the rest of the box. I'm happy with them as they served their purpose. There are two reasons I didn't give these bowls 5 stars - I wish these had little seal-able tops so that I could use them for wet ingredients as well (dressings, etc.) and I wish it was possible to buy the set of four in a matching color rather than four different colors in one set.
These could be used if you wanted to have pinch bowls for pepper or sea salt in little bowls at the dinner table as well. These would also be good individual soy sauce containers.
If you're using these for food just make sure to wash these containers thoroughly and frequently as they take on the scent of whatever was served in them.
On the non-food front you could also use these to help organize a: 1) desk drawer for things like safety pins, tacks, paper clips; 2) jewelry drawer for mate-less earrings, extra earring backings, small studs; 3) bathroom medicine cabinet for bobby pins, decorative small hair pins. Essentially any place in your home where you have annoying odds and ends floating around.
Customer Review: Handy to have in the Kitchen
Summary: 5 Stars
I suppose the usefulness of these little bowls depends on what sort of cook you are. By that I mean, what is your style. I have always been a pinch of this and a bit of that along with a dash of this. I have no plans to change in the near future. I have found these little items fit perfectly with my style of cooking. Other than baking, I seldom if ever follow a recipe. These bowls allow me to place the spices I plan to use in them (I have two sets), then I use what I want in the amount I want and what I have left over (unless they are fresh spices; something I always try to use if possible), I can return the unused portion to the bottle, jar or container with little or now fuss as the pouring spout is available with just a little squeeze. When I have two or more dishes going; which is usual for me, then it is extremely important that I have very thing laid out as I do things fast.
I love the way these things clean up...usually a quick rinse in hot water is enough when using dry spices, but they do well in the dishwasher also.
All in all, these have made my life much simpler.
Customer Review: Useful, but be careful with strong smelling foods
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm editing my original review after having used these for a few months. I really do love the squishy little bowls and find myself using them constantly - but that bit in the description about "does not pick up odors" is absolute bull. These things suck up food smell like you wouldn't believe and once the odor is there, it's almost impossible to get rid of. I made the mistake of storing chopped sweet onions in one of my bowls overnight - for about 9 hours - and now the bowl has such a strong oniony scent I don't dare use it for anything else. I tried cleaning it out thoroughly, used boiling water, baking soda, vinegar, even bleach (all at separate times, obviously) to no avail. The silicone absorbed the onion odor and it's there for life. I see other reviewers of these bowls have mentioned similar problems with the bowls retaining food odors so I'm puzzled as to why the description very specifically states otherwise. These bowls should NOT be used for anything that has even a slight odor, or the silicone will smell like that food permanently.