Broth bowl or plate: which is better for the former?

Our memory works like a time machine - however, only in one direction. If you go back thirty or forty years and go into a china shop, some items will not be there. No, not because of a shortage, they just weren’t even aware of them back then. Take, for example, a stand for tea bags - it was successfully replaced by an ordinary saucer, and continues to do so even now. Today there are so many dishes, it is so diverse that it is very difficult to make a choice.

Among the many sets of services, bowls, plates, and salad bowls, there are always broth bowls. True, not everyone knows that the direct purpose of the broth pot is to serve first courses. So why buy a broth maker if your house is used to using deep plates?

Soup plate

Of all the kitchen utensils, the plate probably has the longest history. It appeared much earlier than the spoon. The first bowl-like food containers, according to excavations, were quite deep to hold liquid. Since then, a lot has changed: shape, material, decor appeared, functionality was divided.

Reference. Deep dining rooms, otherwise known as soup plates, are intended for first courses. They usually have a diameter of 20 to 24 cm and hold from 250 to 500 ml of food. Most often they have a round shape, but in recent years square and triangular plates have been gaining popularity.

A classic soup plate has beveled sides to prevent broth from spilling onto the table. But this is not their only role.Raised edges are needed to remove excess liquid from the spoon while eating.

The most common form has sloping edges, but they can be almost parallel to the table. Sauces and creamy soups are served in such plates.

Important! In a plate with wide sides, food cools quickly.

Deep bowl-shaped plates are very popular. They have practically no sides; they are the “working” part of the container. That's why such plates They have a smaller diameter and are convenient to store. Plus, when serving, you don’t have to worry about the edges getting dirty.

Reference! When serving, the dishes with the first course are usually placed on a substitution plate (showplate).

Broth pot

Sometimes there is another name - bouillon cup. This name is quite justified; the broth bowl resembles an ordinary large cup. The main difference from the cup is the size and capacity up to 500 ml.

Classic broth bowls have two handles, which make it easier to carry the dishes to the dining area. Modern design thought is very flexible, so there are models with “ears” or with one handle.

Important! When serving, a broth pot with one handle is placed so that the handle is on the left side.

According to the rules of etiquette, broths are served in such cups, as the name suggests. As well as puree soups and dressing soups, in which the ingredients are chopped very finely. It is not forbidden to drink liquid remains from a cup with one handle, and it must be held with your left hand.

And if you have two handles, it is not customary to drink over the edge.

Reference! They eat from broth bowls with a dessert spoon.

A deep plate, bowl or broth - they all have the same purpose and are made of identical materials. If this is so, then how to make a choice in favor of one item or another?

What to choose: broth or plate

Advice on choosing traditionally sounds like this: “pay attention to the manufacturer, only branded products are of high quality.” This is true, but quality goods can also be found in regular supermarkets.

Therefore, your choice should be guided by more than just one motive.

• Does brand matter? Then it’s worth visiting branded stores and making a choice based on the available assortment.
• Is saving space important? It makes the most sense to stick to deep cup-shaped plates or broth bowls with “ears.”
• Do you have to cook for several days at once? Buy broth cups, they are convenient for heating up the first dish in the microwave.
• Do you love culinary delights? Do you prepare multi-colored and multi-layered soups? Then a transparent glass broth bowl is just a godsend. Each layer will be visible in it.
• Are you choosing dishes for little “whims”? Give preference to anatomical shapes. This requirement is best met by children's dishes in the shape of a cup. It is easy to grip with small hands. In addition, the “surprise moment” is important to the child. He will certainly finish everything “to the bottom” in order to examine the drawing that opens to his eyes. Hence the conclusion: the deeper the dishes, the more the baby will eat!
• Do you need to choose dishes that match those in your home? Then we start from the shape, color, pattern. Whether these are plates or broth bowls is a matter of taste.

Finally, the most important criterion: the dishes should be convenient to eat from! This can only be determined experimentally.