The Very Best Oven Mitts and Pot Holders for 2021 and Beyond
Raise your non-protected hand if your oven mitt has seen better days? Yeah, we thought so. (We’re not judging you — it’s the case for practically every home cook we know!) Stick your thumb in a lasagna one time and you’ve got a permanent stain. Pull out too many piping-hot cookie trays and, eventually, you may end up burning a hole through a cotton mitt. These things happen! And yet, most of us don’t think to buy ourselves new mitts or pot holders. Let’s change that!
Whether you’re a fan of oven mitts (they offer more protection when you’re reaching inside an oven) or pot holders (they’re less bulky and can also double as a trivet under a pot), we’ve got you covered. We took a look to see what some other food sites had to recommend and then, in true Kitchn fashion, we weighed in with our own two cents.
1. Homwe Extra Long Professional Silicone Oven Mitts
The Best Oven Mitts, According to Wirecutter
The folks at Wirecutter tested more than 17 oven mitts, pot holders, and oven gloves since 2014 and stand by this oven mitt. Testers noted that the gloves are long enough — 15 inches! — to protect forearms, and that they’re easier to move around than other options. The mitts have silicone parts, which are entirely waterproof and add to the heat protection and gripping ability and mean easy cleanup. Plus, the mitts have a comfy fabric lining. The editors at Epicurious also picked this as the best overall oven mitt.
2. OXO Good Grips Silicone Pot Holder
The Best Pot Holder, According to Wirecutter
When it comes to pot holders, Wirecutter suggests this one from OXO. Testers liked that it has a silicone exterior, whereas most are made of a plain terrycloth material.
3. Big Red House Oven Mitts
The Best Oven Mitts, According to Reviewed
We were surprised to see a cotton oven mitt top the list from Reviewed, and turns out, so were the editors there! They fully expected to see an all-silicone option win, but this mitt was the only one that protected hands for more than four minutes while they held a baking sheet out of a 450-degree oven. (The next runner up only lasted just over one minute!) For what it’s worth, this cotton mitt does have silicone stripes which help with grip. The best silicone mitts, according too Reviewed? Shocker, that award went to the Homwe mitts from above that Epi and Wirecutter liked too!
4. Jane Domestic Suede Oven Mitt/Hot Pad
Kitchn’s Thoughts on the Best Pot Holder
Kitchn staffers have been fans of this suede oven mitt for years. Our Editor-in-Chief declared her love for it back in 2014! “It is thin and flexible, yet very sturdy,” Faith wrote back then. “I love how it has pockets on both sides of the mitt so it’s easy to slip it on wherever you grab it.” All these years later, she still loves it. How does one clean a suede oven mitt, you ask? You just scrub it with a damn kitchen cloth! Honestly, this thing only gets better with age. And because it’s suede, it protects against heat (really, the key thing here) incredibly well.
5. Five Two Silicone Oven Mitts
Kitchn’s Thoughts on the Best Oven Mitts
Yes, these oven mitts are a bit more expensive than the other mitts on this list, but they’re also a million times more gorgeous. If you’re the type who hangs your oven mitts on display for easy access or you care what you look like when you bring a casserole to the table, these mitts are for you. Not only are they pretty, but they’re also incredibly easy to slip on and off, and have a ton of smart features — including built-in magnets and loops, thin and flexible silicone that’s safe up to 650 degrees, and full forearm protection.
Do you have oven mitts you love? Tell us in the comments below.