Too Hot to Handle
We’ve all had that moment. The cookies need to come out now, but you can’t find the oven mitts, or it’s on the wrong angle, or there’s a hole in the insulation — something has gone wrong. So maybe you don’t actually burn yourself, but it’s a close call, with ow ow ow’s and running to the sink for cold water.
Oh, is it just me? Never mind.
I still tested oven mitts for you. I checked to see how easy they were to use, to store, and to clean, if they came in multipacks, made good trivets, the works. Your fingertips can thank me later.
Testing, Testing
1. I tried each one on, feeling for comfort and flexibility.
2. I heated my oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and placed a baking sheet inside. I also put up a pot of water to boil. Once ready, I lifted the pot and the baking sheet, checking for ease of use and to see how long I could hold it before feeling the heat.
3. I squirted ketchup on the mitts and cleaned them, checking for ease.
KitchenAid
Price: $17.27
Notes: Short style gloves are easier for grab-n-go and storage. The silicone feels thin. Heat seeps through mildly after about five seconds.
Stars: 4
Acronde
Price: $8.99
Notes: Easy to use, clean, and store. Comes in a four-pack of two blues and two reds, so it’s perfect for the kosher kitchen. Has a cheap vibe.
Stars: 4.5
Ritz Royale
Price: $18.09
Notes: Four-pack, easy to use and store, hanging loops included. Makes a good trivet. The only downside — needs to be cleaned in the washing machine.
Stars: 4.8
OXO
Price: $17.50
Notes: Slightly large and awkward to use, makes a good trivet, easy to clean, has a loop to hang.
Stars: 4
HomWe
Price: $16.99
Notes: Comes with two silicone trivets, full length gloves, limited flexibility, easy to clean.
Stars: 4.3
Gorilla Grip
Price: $21.99
Notes: Full-length gloves, limited flexibility, easy to clean.
Stars: 3.5
Overall Winner: Ritz Royale
Meets all my needs. It does the job and comes as a multipack. Its design is thoughtful, with hanging loops and finger and hand holds. It also makes a perfect trivet and doesn’t take up much space. The only downside is that you have to wash it in a machine if it gets dirty, but I think it’s worth it.
Tip: If you’re a macho balabusta, scoffing at oven mitts ’cuz dish towels work just fine (looking at you, Ma) — please, don’t. A minute amount of moisture on a towel will turn to steam in a second and burn you. You also need multiple fold overs for it to insulate properly, and if you don’t have the patience for that, you can a) burn yourself and b) drag the towel into the oven or flame. Fun times.
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