BOLS

How to choose the right professional food bowl

A professional bowl should be ordered with its lid. The lid keeps sauces contained during transport and makes it possible to stack bowls in a display. Each bowl in the range has a specific lid reference, indicated on its product page. The recycled PET Cubik lids are made in France and are suitable for both PS and kraft paper bowls, when the format is the same.

Next, check the heat resistance. The PET-coated kraft paper of the Cubik bowls is suitable for temperatures of up to 100 °C in the oven and microwave, while remaining leak-proof, including in the corners. Ola bagasse bowls are oven- and microwave-safe. The textured PP and Stone bowls are microwave-safe. Stainless steel is suitable for both the oven and freezer. Transparent PS, on the other hand, is intended for cold preparations.

Finally, consider how the bowls stack, whether filled on display or empty in storage. Organic lids feature a flat surface that allows one bowl to be placed on top of another. The Iota bowl screws onto the one below: the stack holds together by itself and only one lid is needed, placed on the top bowl.

Salad bowl, poke bowl or hot meal: which size for which use?

For a mixed salad or poke bowl, you need plenty of volume, a wide opening and a transparent lid that showcases the presentation. The square Cubik bowls and frosted-look Sferik bowls are ideal for this purpose, both in refrigerated displays and for delivery.

For a hot takeaway meal, the question becomes one of reheating by the customer. Laminated kraft paper and bagasse are suitable for both the oven and microwave; PP is microwave-safe only.

For sauces, condiments and appetisers, the small stainless steel bowls or coconut bowls work as ramekins for buffets or table service and can be washed along with the rest of the tableware.

For a complete meal, the Bento glass bowl can be stacked: two levels, one bamboo lid with seal, allowing the main dish, side and dessert to travel together.

Materials available in the Comatec range

The kraft paper bowl with a PET lining remains a benchmark for fast service: leak-proof, suitable for hot preparations, and with a natural look that works well for takeaway foodservice brands. Bagasse from the Ola and Cookplay ranges offers a similar approach, using a material derived from sugar cane.

On the plastics side, the transparent PS used in the Cubik and Organic ranges puts the contents on display for cold preparations. The talc-filled PP used in the Stone bowl helps reduce the amount of plastic, while allowing the bowl to be washed and reused. The textured black PP bowls add a tactile finish.

Durable materials complete the range: matte black stainless steel for table service, borosilicate glass resistant to impacts and temperature changes for the Bento, palm leaf bowls and coconut shells for buffets with a natural look.

Disposable or reusable bowl

Single-use remains the standard when the bowl leaves with the customer and does not return: delivery, takeaway from the counter or outdoor events. The recyclable bowls cover most of these needs.

Reuse changes the equation as soon as the bowl returns to the dishwashing area: dine-in restaurants, self-service restaurants, catering operations or deposit-return systems organised with customers. This is where the reusable range plays an important role in this category, with stainless steel, borosilicate glass, talc-filled PP and the screw-top Iota bowl, Special Jury Prize at the 2023 Snacking d'Or Packaging Awards.

Recyclable and reusable are not the same thing. A recyclable bowl enters a recycling stream after a single service. A reusable bowl goes through the dishwashing process and is used again. The AGEC law requires reusable tableware for dine-in service, while the PlanetScore© displayed on each product page, rated from A to E, makes it possible to compare two materials without relying on their apparent origin. The Manufacturing, Recyclable and Reusable filters allow you to sort the category in one click.

Comatec, a bowl supplier for foodservice professionals

Switching to reusable products changes the calculation: the bowl costs more per unit, is ordered in smaller quantities and becomes cost-effective based on the number of times it goes through the dishwashing process. Before making your choice, request your free samples and test a few bowls in real-life conditions. The online quotation then takes over for larger volumes, and delivery is free on orders over €350 excl. VAT. These bowls complement the salad bowls, takeaway range and food container range.