How to Buy Oven Mitts

A staple in any kitchen, oven mitts protect your hands from burns when removing a sheet of cookies from the oven or grabbing a non-insulated pan handle. Numerous styles are available to choose from, and it is easy to find one to suit your personal needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Buy silicone oven mitts from department stores and cooking supply retailers. Available in styles that cover just your fingers or as entire mitts, they are heat resistant and easy to clean. Unfortunately, thin silicone mitts may allow the heat from a hot pan to become uncomfortable in a short time. Look for thick varieties.
2. Shop at your local department store for oven mitts that come in pretty sets, designed to match your hand towels and other kitchen accessories. Consider buying a couple extra, since mitts take a lot of abuse and can look scruffy long before their matching components lose their flair.
3. Purchase name brand oven mitts, made by leading kitchen appliance manufacturers for highly-rated performance. Shop for these at a specialty kitchen or cooking supply store. Alternately, order from online suppliers. (See Resources)
4. Order professional chef-quality oven mitts when you're serious about cooking. Also known as "chef's gloves," these mitts are designed to protect the master cook from heat and come in protective Kevlar-reinforced fibers to withstand constant abuse (see Resources below).
5. Choose oven mitts made of neoprene, available in kitchen supply stores or order online, for a soft, flexible grip. Some neoprene mitts are waterproof and the wearer may reach into hot liquids. Check the manufacturer's label first.
6. Consider hand size before purchasing oven mitts. Mitts designed for a male chef with large hands can feel bulky on smaller female hands. Some brands of mitts come in either small or large sizes. In addition, mitts designed to fit children may be acceptable for small adult hands (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Silicone oven mitts can be slippery. When using them, make sure you have a strong grip on your hot pan to prevent an accident.