The Best Oven Mitts Are Actually Gloves
It took testing out a new pair of oven mitts to realize that my pair hadn’t been serving me well. Awkwardly shaped, not that heatproof, and unable to securely grip anything, my simple cotton pair wasn’t getting the job done.
While the Ove Glove looks almost too gimmicky to be true, it’s a superior oven mitt. As the name implies, the glove shape gives each finger full flexibility and range of motion. That makes all the difference when lifting very hot and very heavy dishes, especially those with small handles. Because both sides of the gloves have a nonslip silicone grip, you’ll still have a secure grasp even if you, like me, have smaller hands that almost drown in the material. I carried my hot casserole dishes from the oven and across the kitchen to the dinner table with the confidence that I wouldn’t lose my grip and drop food all over myself. (This is a legitimate fear of mine.)
According to the manufacturer’s website, Ove Gloves are made from the same fire-resistant material that firefighters use when they’re battling thousand-degree fires. I’ve never fought a fire, but I do know that these mitts can handle the highest of kitchen temperatures. I held a hot sheet of cookies for around 30 seconds before my hands started feeling warm. With the gloves on, I easily changed the position of my oven racks in my preheated oven. (I wouldn’t recommend doing this, but I needed to put these gloves to the test.)
I tested other nonslip silicone oven mitts, including the Williams-Sonoma Ultimate Oven Mitt and the All-Clad Textiles Silicone Oven Mitt to see if the glove shape was actually useful. All of the oven mitts I tested had similar levels of heat protection. But even with the silicone grip, the traditionally shaped mitts provided less control than the Ove Gloves. With the gloves, I could easily pick up hot metal skewers or wield a pair of tongs.
Although the gloves can withstand temperatures of up to 540°, they’re not foolproof. Unlike most mitts that cover more of my forearm, Ove Gloves only go past my wrist. There’s still the risk of burns if you’re reaching deep into the oven, or if you bump yourself on the rack. Of course, you can always just be careful.
If you’re looking for oven mitts that won’t only protect you from burning yourself on hot dishes but will also prevent you from dropping said dishes, ditch the mitts: The best hand protection comes in the form of gloves.
Finger protection plan:
How To Pick Your Oven Mitts
Baking is always fun, but is your oven ready? Find out how to find practical oven mitts that are also gorgeous to look at and hang in your kitchen.
Oh, Oven Mitts, our trusty sidekick through every cooking adventure. With such an important role to serve in the kitchen, they deserve to be picked out carefully and meticulously. Read on to learn how to pick Oven Mitts as beautiful as your countertops and backsplash.
What Are Oven Mitts?
We all think we know what oven mitts are, but their uses and specifics are still interesting and important. Oven Mitts are insulated gloves or mittens that are usually worn in the kitchen to protect your hands from hot surfaces such as ovens, stovetops, or cookware that has just been heated.
Just like with playing sports (or with anything that could potentially cause physical harm or risk), suitable protection is recommended and required for your own safety. That extends even to the kitchen, and it’s exactly what Oven Mitts are designed for.
With home ovens capable of going up to 550°F and stoves capable of reaching even higher, you’re going to want to prepare yourself well. The CDC says that in 2019, unintentional fires or burns were ranked number seven of the ten leading causes of nonfatal emergency department visits in the United States.
As you can tell, it’s worth putting some thought into the pair of Oven Mitts you buy. After all, there’s nothing worse than cooking a delicious meal on the stove only to drop it while transferring it to the table because you weren’t well protected from the heat intensity.
Picking Out Your Oven Mitts
As we’ve said, picking out your Oven Mitts involves a process much longer and more thought out than just running to your local big-box store and grabbing the first pair you see. There are so many factors that come into play in this decision. Oven Mitts can last a long time and will be used almost every day that you’re cooking, so trust us, you’re going to want to choose wisely.
First, let’s talk about the factors you should be considering.
Material
The primary purpose of Oven Mitts is to protect you from heat, which is accomplished through durable, heat-resistant material. But of course, there are so many to choose from. So which one do you pick?
Since the main purpose of Oven Mitts is to protect your hands from heat, you’re going to want to pick a thick material. With that in mind, there are four different types of material that Oven Mitts are often made out of:
Cotton
Neoprene (which is a type of synthetic rubber)
Silicone
Aramid fabric.
All of them work in exceptional but slightly different ways. The most common one that has become a kitchen staple at this point is the cotton Oven Mitts.
Our lovely Oven Mitts are made with 100% soft, fluffy cotton. The great thing about Oven Mitts is that they come in various colors and designs, so you can add a bit of uniqueness to your kitchen! For example, our product comes in a set of two with bold and distinct Cream and Navy color patterns—a pop of color is guaranteed to make your kitchen come alive.
You may want to consider matching your Oven Mitts to your other Linens and Cookware Set. Instead of feeling restricted to Cream and Navy for Linens and Cookware, you can style with ease and confidence as all of our colors (Peracotta, Cream, Navy, Sage, and Gray) flow together seamlessly. This way, your kitchen can have multiple pops of color without feeling too overwhelming.
Ultimately, when it comes to the material, the choice is up to you and should also be based on the other factors you’ll need to consider.
Coverage
You’re going to have to have good coverage regardless of the material you get for your Oven Mitts. After all, if it’s good material that protects well from heat but doesn’t cover your hands, a crucial factor is missing.
Oven Mitts come in all shapes and sizes, so there are a lot of options for you to choose from. It all comes down to your cooking needs. Traditional Oven Mitts average at around 14 inches in length and cover down to your wrist, at the least. But don’t be fooled by the slightly shorter Oven Mitts. Our Oven Mitts are 11 inches long and easily get the job done without the extra bulk.
Now, you may have heard of (or even own) Pot Holders, which are basically Oven Mitts that don’t offer quite as much protection. They’re great for transferring hot cookware from one end of the stove to the other, especially since they can fold over the handles of a pot really easily. They can also work as a stylish and convenient hotplate in a pinch. However, Pot Holders won’t provide protection to your forearm, which is especially important when pulling a pan out of the oven, so that’s when you’ll want your Oven Mitts to come in.
Heat Resistance
While we love a fashionable Oven Mitt moment, it’s critical that your Oven Mitts protect you from the heat. The material and coverage are all important and stem from the main factor at hand: heat resistance.
Oven Mitts are the only thing between you and a piping hot pan, and potentially, a mean second-degree burn that will leave you blistered and in pain for weeks. Undoubtedly, you’re going to want a product that resists heat well.
When looking for Oven Mitts, you should select one that can resist up to 400°F. Although the process of taking the pan out of the oven and transferring it to a countertop probably won’t take very long, you should also select one that can withstand high temperatures for more than ten seconds.
The best Oven Mitts have an extra layer of material, as that will provide more insulation for your hands and thus better prevent burning. After all, there’s nothing more stylish than safety. Designed with you in mind, and with the goal of keeping your hands safe, our Oven Mitts have a double-layer stain-resistant weave stitching that will save the day when you’re handling your Dutch Oven fresh out of the oven.
Grip and Fit
Now that you’ve thought about the material, coverage, and heat resistance, let’s talk about grip and fit. Needless to say, you should be able to hold your cookware with the Oven Mitts on. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with some unfortunate burns.
When it comes to touching hot surfaces in the kitchen, there are three tools that are often used: Oven Mitts, Pot Holders, and the one we haven’t mentioned yet, cooking gloves.
Oven Mitts vs. Oven Gloves
You’ve probably heard of Oven Mitts and cooking gloves at one point or another. They’re often used interchangeably, but they are, in fact, two different things that serve different functions due to their qualities, including grip and fit.
It’s important to know the qualities of each before buying one, so you're aware of what tasks each one is more suitable for.
Oven Mitts have wonderful qualities that make them very useful in the kitchen, including:
Softness
Material that provides an efficient and protective barrier between you and the hot surface and is easy to slide on and off.
Cooking gloves also provide protection; however, they also have qualities that differ from Oven Mitts, such as:
Allow for more control.
Don’t need to be taken off when stirring food.
There are pros and cons, but both hold a purpose in the kitchen. If you’re moving a smaller Sauce Pan full of liquids around or off of the stovetop, you may prefer cooking gloves. If you’re about to stick your hands into a scorching hot oven and pull out your Sauté Pan, you may feel more secure with Oven Mitts.
Ease of Cleaning
Last but not least: cleaning. As with any kitchen gadget, whether it be cookware or the tools you use to handle them, easy cleaning is always a bonus.
When it comes to Oven Mitts, the material determines the level of difficulty when cleaning them. Silicone oven mitts, for example, are the hardest to clean, as they require being hand-cleaned with soap and water (although some may be dishwasher safe).If you’re inclined to using Oven Mitts and love a simple cleanup, try to find a product that you can easily throw in the washing machine.
Because they’re made of cotton, the Caraway Home Oven Mitts are machine washable. Say goodbye to the fast fashion of subpar kitchen tools: Whether you tumble dry on low or hand dry, these Oven Mitts will be left feeling softer and fluffier than over!
Ready To Change Your Kitchen for Good?
Oven Mitts truly is your partner in crime in the kitchen. Hot or cold heavy pots and pans? No problem, they’ve got your back.
Invest in a pair of great quality Oven Mitts for your ease and convenience in the kitchen throughout the years to come.
You spent so much time getting your kitchen decor just perfect, don’t forget about getting the perfect pair of Oven Mitts to match.
Favorite oven mitts?
I have some Cuisinart brand oven mitts that I like, they come up to mid-arm, quilted fabric with silicone type material lining the "mitten" area. However, I'm getting burned sometimes because the silicone must have a hairline crack, hole, or is just deteriorating on one of the mitts. I like having the "non-slip" function with the fabric for comfort (I have a pair of all silicone gloves and they are too sweaty). I don't have large hands, so I don't want something too bulky. As far as length, a few inches past my wrist/mid-arm is good. What gloves have you had good experiences with? I definitely want mitts/gloves vs pot holders.
I've had these gloves (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) for about 6 years now and am pretty happy with them. I chose them because they came in a small size so I have reasonable dexterity compared the giant one-size Ove-Glove brand, so I can securely grip a small knob to remove a lid, etc.
They may not be as long as you want. I have a pair of all-silicone mitts that go to my elbow if I think I need the length but they’re clunky.
Our team has undergone professional training. Skilled expert knowledge, firm helper awareness, to meet shoppers' demand for Custom Chef Apron,Double Oven Mitt Wholesaler,Double Oven Mitt,Muslin Cotton Blanket,Wholesale Organic Cotton Swaddle Blankets,Baby Swaddle Supplier,Custom Kitchen Textiles,Custom Household Textile Products,Chef Apron Set,Wholesale Oven Mitts suppliers
