Traditionally, why are 'pasta bowls' wide and shallow?
I was curious as to why they're marketed as pasta bowls in the UK, and it's because they're frequently used for pasta (obviously). Buy why are bowls used for pasta traditionally wide and relatively shallow? As opposed to other types of bowl?
The reasons I can think of are potentially to do with serving size (i.e. can fit more in the bowl) or thermodynamics (larger surface area to allow faster cooling). But I don't know why either of these would specifically apply to pasta dishes.
For context, this is what is generally considered a pasta bowl here in the UK as far as I'm aware:
As compared to a cereal/all-purpose bowl:
Or a soup bowl/lipped bowl:
I understand that a 'pasta bowl' is not exclusively for pasta dishes and I know that other types of bowl are also used when it comes to serving pasta. But I'm interested in why, in the UK at least, a 'pasta bowl' is sold as such.
Best Answer
My hypothesis is that there is no functional reason for having a wide rim on a pasta bowl. I contend that this is simply marketing, and the choice of the person presenting the meal. It is just a name for a bowl. Pasta is served in all sorts of vessels; plates, deep bowls, shallow bowls. Saucing, in part, determines the vessel. For example, you can't serve tortellini in brodo on a plate. Plates, bowls, and dishes are often designed and chosen for the way they compliment a final dish's visual appeal. The Chinese (and other noodle eating cultures) don't necessarily eat noodles from wide-rimmed bowls, and I would confidently guess that you wouldn't have to look that far back to find a time that there was really was no such thing presented as a wide-rimmed, pasta bowl. So, I would say that this is not a tradition at all. This is a product of restaurants, ceramic makers, and the media (magazines and food TV).
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Quick Answer about "Traditionally, why are 'pasta bowls' wide and shallow?"
Pasta bowls often have a wider surface area and shallow walls, so you get the ideal sauce-to-noodle ratio and can evenly dress your entire dish with cheese. Also, they're also much more photogenic, so your weeknight meal can look and feel like you're dining out, minus the upcharge.What is the point of a pasta bowl?
The classic design of a pasta bowl balances two things that are typical of most pasta dishes: noodles and sauce. Whatever the noodle shape\u2014and there are many\u2014you'll want all of them to have contact with the sauce and mix evenly. The low, spread-out shape of a pasta bowl is ideal for that sort of sauce distribution.What size should a pasta bowl be?
Researching the subject, pasta bowls are on average 23 cm diameter and on the shallow side, all of which offer the best sauce/pasta ratio. We have chosen both shallow and deeper bowls as for spaghetti or linguini, we prefer a deeper bowl, which cuts down on the sauce flying in all directions while you're tucking in.Why do soup bowls have wide rims?
The wide rim allows us to rest chiles, bread, or other nibbly things on it; it also makes a full bowl easy to pick up.What do you use low bowl for?
Merits of the low bowl: It's the Goldilocks of plating. It's just big enough to hold soup, salad (like a side salad\u2026 I eat salad out of giant mixing bowls because there is no other way), pasta, rice-based dishes, anything that came out of a one-pot meal, ice cream\u2026 almost anything.Appam - Made Traditionally || With Two Side Dishes Cooking In Village House || The Traditional Life
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