I Tried the Kitchen Towels Our Editors Can’t Stop Raving About — and They’re Worth the Hype (and on Sale on Prime Day!)
I have been drastically trying to cut back on paper towels for more than a year now, which means that I rely on my kitchen towels more than ever before. I use them to wipe down counters and clean surfaces, transfer hot pans, pat vegetables dry, layer between pans to keep them scratch free, pick up lids to get a whiff of my bubbling sauce, cover my KitchenAid when it’s not in use, wipe down the steaming nozzle of my coffee maker, and even wrap my loaves of bread, since I have yet to buy a bread box. Last fall, I even gifted a loaf of banana bread to my neighbor in a kitchen towel when I couldn’t find a big enough box.
When it came to choosing kitchen towels, I took a cue from fellow Kitchn editors as well as pro chefs who swear by Zeppoli’s Classic Kitchen Towels. In fact, they’re so popular here at the Kitchn, we even included them on our Kitchn Essentials list — twice! Usually, a set of 15 costs $26, but thanks to Amazon Prime Day, you can snag them for just under $16! ICYMI, this Prime Day — aka the Prime Early Access Sale — is only running through the end of today, October 12. So, you better act fast to score on these game-changing towels! Oh, and just a little FYI: The Prime Early Access Sale is only available to Prime members, but don’t panic: If you’re not already a member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial. Easy!
“These are the ones that you’re gonna put to WORK,” noted Riddley, a trusted Kitchn contributor, who tested them out for last year’s Kitchn Essentials list. Since they’re made from 100 percent cotton, they soak up almost as much liquid as the strongest paper towels. I simply fold them over a couple of times when sopping up a spill, and voila, no leaks! Despite putting them to the ultimate tests in my kitchen, they always emerge soft after each wash.
Another pro? You won’t be dealing with any nasty odors. Unlike synthetic fabrics that tend to retain funky smells (especially when damp), the natural material air-dries rather quickly, which means I get a ton of use out of these towels before I need to toss them in the laundry bin. Other than the various tasks I listed earlier, I also keep a towel near my sink to dry dishes or my wet hands, as well as an additional one on my oven door handle to tackle grease and sauce splatters. (It’s also the towel my husband invariably reaches for during post-meal cleanups.) As for washing these towels, I usually toss them in a hot cycle with detergent and a cup of bleach, a combo that gets out even the toughest stains. If all else fails, I rely on my favorite stain remover to get the job done.
Sure, these aren’t the prettiest kitchen towels out there, but as several editors have noted, these babies work hard! They’re fuss-free, easy to care for, and just so darn useful. Not to mention, you get major bang for your buck. My set of 15 has lasted for almost a year and half, and I can still see myself squeezing another few years of hard work out of them. Sure beats wasting space, money, and environmental resources on single-use paper towels!
There’s no better time to get your hardworking hands on this set. At just $16, that’s some serious bang for your buck! Thanks, Amazon.
Buy: Zeppoli Classic Dish Towels, $15.88 (normally $25.99)