Wooden Bowl Buying Guide
A striking, classic salad bowl made from a solid piece of wood is a family treasure that can be passed down through the generations. Our American-made wooden bowls and accessories are handcrafted by artisans, bringing out the natural coloring and grain of the wood. No stain is necessary for these exceptional heirloom bowls. The expert cutting and sanding and the natural appearance of the wood give each wooden bowl its unique luster.
Hand-rubbing also brings out the unique colors and markings of the wooden bowls, and they can be kept in the same pristine condition with your care and attention. Our unscented food-safe rub, a proprietary formula used by antique dealers and treasure hunters, will help you maintain the beautiful color and sheen of your lovingly crafted American Farmhouse wooden bowls.
Rating the Hardness of Woods
All of the woods used in American Farmhouse Bowls are hardwoods, and some are harder than others. Each type of wood has a number, based on the Janka hardness test, representing the amount of force it takes to imbed a small steel ball partially into the surface. The higher the Janka rating, the less likely a piece of wood is to become scratched or dented, and all of our bowls are made with woods high on the Janka scale.
Hardwood Bowls
American Farmhouse Bowls' natural hardwood bowls are first-quality with no flaws such as fine cracks or knots. Our craftsmen use the hardest species of wood to create artistic wooden bowls that will enhance any table setting. Here are some of the most popular woods we use, along with the qualities and benefits particular to each kind of wood.
Cherry
Color: Red to red-brown, occasional dark flecks, darkens over time
Grain: Fine, straight and circular lines
Texture: Satin, smooth
Janka: 995
Cherry wood is used to create bowls with a rich, red color that eventually ripens to a warm reddish-brown. Over time, cherry bowls attain a luster that gives them a smooth and gleaming patina.
Black Walnut
Color: Pale brown to chocolate brown
Grain: Straight to wavy
Texture: Medium
Janka: 1,010
Black walnut bowls often have unique light tan and dark brown markings that add elegance to a salad service.
Red Oak
Color: Warm, reddish-brown
Grain: Straight or wavy lines, dashed
Texture: Slightly coarse and uneven
Janka: 1,290
Each red oak bowl has a unique design of circular or parallel lines in a red-tinged light brown color.
Maple
Color: Creamy white to reddish-brown
Grain: Fine, straight or wavy lines
Texture: Smooth and even
Janka: 1,450
Maple bowls are a uniform tan to light-brown color with hints of red. The hardness of this wood makes it ideal for creating chopping blocks and cutting boards as well for crafting heirloom bowls.
Honey Locust
Color: Creamy tan to light reddish-brown
Grain: Swirls and loops
Texture: Uneven
Janka: 1,580
Honey locust wood creates bowls with beautiful swirled patterns of tan and brown. This unique wood isn't as common as many other hardwoods.
Chopping Bowls
These bowls are available in three sizes, and all wooden chopping bowls include sharp wooden-handled mezzalunas for easy cutting. Like the rest of our handcrafted bowls, each chopping bowl is made from a single piece of wood. We use American Beech, one of the hardest woods available, and our chopping bowls are extremely resistant to wear. The 9-inch bowl is excellent for chopping herbs and other small salad items, and the 12-inch and 15-inch chopping bowls have room to prepare a hearty salad for up to four and eight people, respectively.
Salad Bowls
Bowls are available in a range of sizes, including 7-inch individual serving bowls, and you can choose the color and pattern from a wide selection of fine woods. Larger bowls will hold a full, restaurant-style salad for up to a dozen people, depending on the size.
- 10-Inch: Large salad for 1-2
- 12-Inch: Large salad for 3-4
- 15-Inch: Large salad for 6-8
- 17-Inch: Large salad for 10-12
How to Care for Your Wooden Bowls
Our organic wooden bowl and board preserver is made from beeswax and natural oils, including carnauba oil, a waxy oil that imparts a strong, shiny coat to wood products. The formula is often used to restore vintage wooden bowls to a beautiful luster, and it will penetrate and preserve your one-of-a-kind wooden bowl, adding a protective food-safe coating. Heirloom wooden bowls should be treated with a weekly rub for the first month and conditioned every few weeks thereafter.
To prevent drying and cracking, always hand wash your fine wood products in warm, soapy water and dry them immediately. To protect your beautiful wooden bowls and utensils from warping and discoloration, don't leave them in standing water or use them in a microwave oven, and never wash them in an automatic dishwasher.
Lifetime Guarantee
American Farmhouse wooden bowls and utensils are 100% natural, non-toxic and food-safe. Bowls that are washed in warm, soapy water, hand-dried and regularly treated with wood preservative should continue to be as beautiful as the day you bought them. The American Farmhouse Bowls Lifetime Guarantee ensures that, with proper care, your unique, artisan-created wooden bowls will grace your table for many years to come.
For a more detailed look at how to choose the best wooden bowls for you, check out How To Select The Right Wood Species for your Wooden Salad Bowl.