BonBowl Saves Dishwashing

By Lorrie Baumann

Bonbowl is an induction cooktop system designed and built for the student who wants to cook one pot meals to be eaten from a bowl on her lap while she watches television in her dormitory room or the artist who wants a hot lunch but can’t leave the studio while the kiln is firing the latest pots. It was invented by Mike Kobida, who’d planned to introduce it to the market during this year’s Inspired Home Show until that was canceled by this year’s COVID-19 pandemic.

“When I started Bonbowl, I was living in New York City in a tiny studio apartment with an extremely small kitchen. I was working long hours and was eating out all the time because I wasn’t willing to take out all the pots and pans to cook a home-cooked meal,” he said. “I wanted a simple solution to make cooking for myself as simple as possible which would allow me to cook at home…. I felt that cooking for myself was generally healthier than takeout and would also help me save money.”

Bonbowl began shipping in June, with orders coming from presales on the company’s website at its $149 retail price for both the induction cooktop and the cooking bowl that pairs with it. The cooking bowl is double-walled, with a plastic shell that stays relatively cool, so that it can be handled easily, and the consumer can place the bowl on a lap for eating. Particularly suited to one-pot meals like a noodle soup or a grain bowl, cooking times with the device are similar to those obtained with any other induction burner or stovetop. It’s black outside, with the interior bowl of brushed stainless steel. A PFOA-free nonstick coating is available as an option. Bonbowl is UL-listed and comes from a company that was launched in 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Bonbowl is its first product.