Preparation
If you make a lot of casseroles, do a lot of baking, or simply like to roast vegetables, you know how important it is to have good oven mitts. Whether you’re taking a sheet pan out of the oven, moving a Dutch oven from one burner to another, or grilling kebabs, you’ll want a reliable pair of oven gloves or mitts to protect your hands from the heat. When shopping for oven mitts, look for iterations made from thick, flexible materials. “The thick material is necessary for heat resistance, and the flexibility is important because you want to be able to handle many different sizes and shapes of baking vessels,” Andrea Prunella, executive pastry chef of Chip City in New York City, says. Additionally, if you can find a pair of oven mitts long enough to reach your elbows, that will help you from getting wrist burns (ouch).
Thick cotton gloves are Prunella’s go-to for high heat resistance, which is key for handling heavier items like cast-iron skillets or Dutch ovens. “I personally like to use oven mitts that are colorful or even have funny graphics or sayings on them to add to the fun in the kitchen,” she says. Oven mitts come in a wide variety of different designs and materials, and we encourage you to browse online and in person to find what works best for you. To help get you started on your search, check out our top picks below.
Martha’s Favorite: Martha Stewart Collection Pot Holder & Oven Mitt SetBest Glove Option: The ‘Ove’ GloveBest Splurge-Worthy: Food52 x Farmhouse Pottery Double Oven MittSmartest Set: KitchenAid Two-Pack Asteroid Oven MittsBest Mini: KitchenAid Asteroid Mini Cotton Oven Mitts with Silicone Grip
