Mainstays Alessandra Matte Brown Stoneware Dinner Bowl

I actually purchased this dish for feeding my cats which they didn't like either because it was too big dark I don't know why but I did find another use for it. I used it to cook Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the microwave and it worked perfect. I don't like to constantly heat up the oven and the dish cooked evenly in the microwave it wasn't extremely hot when I took it out clean's really well and if you do have to use it for pet food or water the sides are at the right height. Would be excellent for a salad bowl.

I really like this bowl, it is sturdy (weighing in at 1.8 pounds) and a great size (measuring 8.5" across and about 1.5" deep). The color is a soft neutral and the glazing is flawless, no drips or missed spots. But what I especially like about it is how the sides are not sloped, they are basically straight up. For a senior like me, that really helps a lot with getting food onto a fork or spoon and not accidentally pushing it out of the bowl. Another plus is that it can be washed in the dishwasher and is microwave safe. I hadn't planned on cooking with it but it's helpful to be able to heat food up in a microwave right in the bowl (although there is a warning that it can become hot in the microwave). It is stoneware and will require care handling so it doesn't get chipped, but it is not thin or fragile. I especially plan to use it with dishes that have a topping, such as spaghetti and meat sauce and salad with dressing, because it will be easy to distribute the topping throughout (not just have it on the top) without spilling the food out of the bowl. I am very pleased with this bowl.