Best Oven Gloves

Buying guide for Best oven gloves

Whether you’re an avid chef, a baker who frequently needs to move items in and out of the oven, or you’re the pro griller in your house, it’s vital that you keep your hands covered when handling hot foods, utensils, and dishes. You can protect your hands and fingers from scorching temperatures with a pair of heat-resistant oven gloves. Avoid burning your skin with the right pair of gloves that shield your fingers while providing ample dexterity.

Grippy gloves allow you to grab onto dishware with confidence and prevent potential accidents and injuries in the kitchen. Gloves give you the ability to move all your fingers independently, so even odd-shaped items are a cinch to hold.

Most oven gloves also offer protection from the cold and can be used when handling frozen foods.

Why use oven gloves?

Sure, you could grab a towel or dishcloth to get that piping-hot casserole out of the oven, but we guarantee that opting for a pair of oven gloves is a far better decision. Unlike a dish towel, oven gloves keep your hands protected from the heat longer. Here are a few other reasons to consider buying oven gloves for your culinary adventures:

Protection

There’s a chance that when using a dishcloth, you might not adequately cover the hot dish, which in turn may expose your skin to high temperatures. A glove also covers your entire hand, so there’s no need to worry about touching the top rack of the oven with the back of your hand. Long gloves offer even more arm protection.

Grippy

The grippy, textured material of oven gloves allows for a firm hold. Unlike a simple towel, gloves are designed to grab dishes securely.

Maneuverability

There are, unfortunately, more ways than one to get burned when putting things in or getting things out of the oven. If handling items is awkward and unnatural, you’re more likely to touch a hot surface accidentally. With gloves, the five-finger design allows for maximum flexibility and handling.

Heat resistance

Oven gloves are made of incredibly heat-resistant materials. Thick, protective gloves are capable of handling extremely hot items and surfaces, including a hot grill.

Key considerations

Here are some of the things to keep in mind when shopping for oven gloves for your kitchen drawer.

Type

You can choose from a variety of oven glove colors and styles, from bright-orange gloves to extra-long gloves that offer plenty of arm coverage. However, these features have nothing to do with heat protection. The material is what makes all the difference in terms of heat resistance.

Material

• Neoprene: Neoprene is a type of rubber with waterproof properties that also offers incredible heat resistance. It doesn’t just repel water; it’s also suitable for avoiding painful grease splatters. Neoprene is very flexible and stain resistant, too, which makes it ideal for oven gloves. Neoprene is usually safe in temperatures up to 400°F.

• Silicone: Silicone is another super-flexible material that’s grippy and highly protective. Silicone is easy to clean and protects hands from temperatures up to 500°F.

• Nomex and Kevlar: These uber-strong materials aren’t just used for warding off bullets; they’re also heat resistant and very unlikely to catch fire. Oven gloves made of either of these materials are ideal for cooking situations involving very high heat, like frying or grilling, since the materials are capable of withstanding temperatures up to 900°F and more.

• Cotton: Cotton is a natural oven glove option that also happens to be the least expensive. The breathable material is comfortable, but it’s no match for extremely high heat. Touch a hot dish for too long while wearing cotton oven gloves and you’ll likely go from uncomfortable to burned relatively quickly. Use cotton oven gloves to handle items up to 200°F.

Oven gloves vs. oven mitts

You may find it necessary to outfit your kitchen with both types of protective handwear, but here’s the breakdown of the pros and cons of each type.

Oven gloves: These are shaped like five-fingered gloves that allow you to move each finger independently.

• Pros:

  • Flexibility

  • Natural range of motion

  • Dexterity

  • High-quality heat-resistant materials

• Cons:

  • Harder to put on quickly

  • Uncomfortable for some

Oven mitts: Oven mitts have a sizable cavity to fit your fingers, with a small area for your thumb.

• Pros:

  • Easy to pull on and off

  • Excel at handling big, bulky items

  • Comfortable

• Cons:

  • Limited maneuverability

  • Poor grip in certain situations

Oven glove features

Temperature rating

What type of cooking do you do most often? If you’re frequently cooking at high temperatures, pick an oven glove with a high heat rating. A glove’s material is the main factor contributing to heat resistance, but fabric blends and thickness may also affect it. Check the manufacturer’s designated heat rating to be sure a particular glove will meet your needs.

Size and ease of use

• Size: Unlike with oven mitts, you may need to pay attention to the size of oven gloves. A glove that is too big may cancel out the benefits you get from using a flexible, maneuverable protective accessory. Also, consider the length of the oven gloves. If you’re often reaching deep into your oven and coming away with burns on your forearms, it might be worth purchasing a pair of extra-long gloves.

• Ease of use: A pair of oven gloves should be a cinch to pull on. If it takes you too long, you might find yourself dealing with a burned dinner. The right fit is key. Gloves that are too small may leave you reaching for that less-than-ideal dish towel.

Maintenance

Thankfully, oven gloves are a lot easier to take care of than oven mitts because most are made of easy-to-clean materials. Silicone and neoprene, for instance, don’t hold onto stains and clean up easily with a bit of soap and water.

Oven glove prices

The price of oven gloves depends on the material, size, and heat rating.

Inexpensive

The cheapest oven gloves are made of cotton and won’t set you back more than $10.

Mid-range

Neoprene and silicone oven gloves typically range from $10 to $20.

Expensive

High-quality Kevlar and Nomex oven gloves are the priciest, but they’re well worth it for the superior heat protection they provide. You’ll pay up to $40 for a pair of gloves made of these materials.

Tips

• Get the right size. Avoid wearing oversize oven gloves because they may limit maneuverability and make for awkward handling.

• Go for comfort. Choose gloves with a cotton lining for added comfort.

• Use trivets. Before moving a hot dish from oven to table, use a heatproof trivet to protect the surface of the table.

• Use your oven glove for stovetop cooking. Cast iron cookware retains heat exceptionally well, but it might be tough to move off the burner once you’re done cooking if you don’t use proper hand protection.

Don’t throw away those old cotton oven gloves. Use them to dust furniture.

FAQ

Q. Can I use oven gloves for grilling?

A. Absolutely! Just be sure to pick gloves with resistance to very high heat if you plan to use them for grilling. Gloves made of Nomex or Kevlar are ideal. Gloves with a bit of extra length may also be useful when cooking on the grill.

Q. Can I toss my dirty oven gloves in the washing machine?

A. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines. Cotton or cotton-blend gloves are usually fine to throw in the washing machine; otherwise, you'll likely need to wash your gloves by hand. We don’t recommend putting any oven gloves in the dryer, especially if they’ve come into contact with cooking oil.

Q. I’m a frequent baker. What features should I look for in a pair of oven gloves?

A. A textured surface is useful for handling delicate baked goods. Long gloves will also help you to avoid burning your forearms when reaching into the back of your oven.