Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t change what I recommend.
Hear me out on this one. Yes, it’s cute. It’s also one of the most useful small things in my kitchen. Every stackable piece is a different colour, so on a day when my brain has gone on holiday I don’t have to read a single label to find the right size. They nest together, they take up less cupboard space, and they make cooking a little less of a decision.
Saves: thinking, cupboard space, and the faff of hunting for the right size.
The short version: if you want one set that does the lot, I’d go for the Joseph Joseph, because it’s the one I own and it has lasted. If you want the same idea for less, the nesting bowl and measuring cup set is the budget option, though I haven’t used it. If you mostly need bowls with lids for mixing and the fridge, the Menbyci stainless steel set is the good-value one.
Why I bought stackable measuring spoons and bowls
I originally got them because I was teaching one of my nieces to cook. She was three at the time, and naming the colours was an easy way to teach her the spoon and cup sizes. The little bowls worked the same way: this colour for this step, that colour for the next.
The trick worked just as well on a 40-year-old man child who needed the same basic cooking principles.
Why they matter now
Fast forward to life as a spoonie, and that same colour association keeps the cognitive load down on lower-spoon days. I know the yellow spoon is a teaspoon, the purple spoon is a tablespoon, the green cup is ¼ cup, and the little green bowl is perfect for weighing out ingredients. I don’t think about it. I just grab it.
They also stack neatly together, which is amazingly satisfying for my OCD, and they take up less room in the cupboard.
Yes, it’s a little thing. It’s probably not something I’d run out and buy tomorrow. But it’s ridiculous how much easier it makes cooking on the days my brain has gone on holiday.
Three stackable measuring sets at three budgets
| Set | Material | Dishwasher | Microwave | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Joseph Nest 9 | BPA-free polypropylene | Mine cope with it | Not rated | Colour-coded measuring plus bowls, and the one I own |
| Nesting bowl and measuring cup set, 8 pack | 100% polypropylene, BPA free (per the listing) | Top rack, except the sieve (per the listing) | Check the listing | The same idea for less. I haven’t used it |
| Menbyci 6-piece mixing bowls with lids | Stainless steel | Check the listing | No, it’s stainless steel | Mixing and fridge storage |
Listing details were last checked in October 2026.
The one I own: Joseph Joseph Nest 9. I bought mine several years ago, so the rainbow colours are a bit different now, but they’ve stood the test of time and cope with the dishwasher. The pieces are BPA-free polypropylene plastic. They’re not rated for the microwave. I’m not going to pretend they haven’t been used that way on occasion, but I usually reach for a Pyrex jug instead, and I’d check the manufacturer’s instructions before you do the same. Joseph Joseph 40031 Nest 9 Nesting Bowls Set.
See the Joseph Joseph Nest 9 on Amazon
Images are from the official Joseph Joseph website.
The budget-friendly version: a nesting bowl and measuring cup set. This one is similar to the Joseph Joseph and more budget-friendly. I haven’t used it, so I can’t speak for the quality, but the ratings are pretty good at the time of writing. The listing says it’s 100% polypropylene and BPA free, and top-rack dishwasher safe except for the sieve. Nesting Bowls with Measuring Cups, Colander and Sifter Set, 8 pack.
See the nesting bowl and measuring cup set on Amazon
The good-value stainless steel set: Menbyci 6-piece mixing bowls with lids. I’ve collected the stainless steel stackable bowls and the silicone baking sets separately over the years, and paid a lot more for them. The bowls nest together, and the lids mean I can put a bowl straight in the fridge without moving the food into something else, so there’s less washing up later and no wrestling with cling wrap. Stainless steel can’t go in the microwave, so this one is for mixing and fridge storage. Menbyci 6-piece stainless steel mixing bowls with lids.
See the Menbyci stainless steel set on Amazon
Before you buy
- Look for sets where the sizes are marked on the piece, as well as colour-coded. Colour is great until you’ve lost one.
- Check the care instructions. Dishwasher, microwave and oven limits are different for each set and sometimes for each piece.
- Plastic sets are light and easy to lift. Stainless is sturdier but heavier, so think about which one you can handle on a bad day.
- You don’t need the whole set. Measuring spoons and a couple of bowls in the same colours will do most of the work.
Quick questions
Are stackable measuring spoons and bowls dishwasher safe?
It depends on the set. Mine cope with the dishwasher. The budget set’s listing says top rack only, and not the sieve. Check the care instructions for whatever you buy.
Can I put them in the microwave?
Only if the maker says so. The Joseph Joseph set isn’t rated for it, and stainless steel can’t go in at all. For microwave jobs I use a Pyrex jug, and I’ve reviewed the microwave-safe measuring jugs.
Do I need the whole set?
No. Measuring spoons and two or three bowls in matching colours will do most of the work.
Is colour-coding enough?
It works for me, but I’d also look for sizes marked on the piece, so you’re not stuck if you lose one.
Keep going
This is one of the “start cheap” picks on my Low-Spoon Cooking Essentials page, where I’ve listed everything else on my bench and what each item saves me. If you’re after containers that go from fridge to oven, I’ve reviewed two Pyrex sets: Simply Store containers and microwave-safe measuring jugs. If you’re after easy dinners to put the bowls to work on, browse the Low Spoons recipes and pick one that matches your day.
