Kitchen Essentials: Oven Mitts

Mar 23, 2022 by Chef David

By S. Levin

I grew up using potholders to protect my hands when taking hot items out of the oven, very often the same potholder becomes a trivet to protect the table.  Maybe we are overly concerned about what heat can do to the table forgetting how dangerous it can be to our hands. Anyone who has ever gotten burned knows how painful it can be. Burns can happen with a momentary lapse of judgment, such as a reflex to catch a hot item, or brushing your arm against hot metal while moving a pan in the oven.

Now I reach for the proper protective personal equipment, a heat-resistant oven mitt!

Avoiding Burns

While cooking there are several common culprits which result in burns – hot ovens, grills, pot handles, spills, steam, or splatters from hot liquids. To avoid burns, pay attention. When opening pots, tilt the cover away from you, don’t reach over with your arm because the steam burns. An unexpected yet common cause of burns happens when taking hot items out of the microwave. Think before you touch, try not to rush, but be prepared just in case.

If you do get burned run it under cool water immediately to prevent blistering. Acting quickly to cool the area minimizes the damage. Ice is no longer recommended, it stresses the skin, and can result in scarring. If you have blistering, try not to break it.  The fluid-filled blister is nature’s way of protecting against infection. Cover the wound with sterile non-adhesive gauze and antiseptic lotion. Seek medical attention for blistering burns over three inches long.

Personal Protective Equipment in the Kitchen

Getting burnt can ruin your entire cooking experience. Using a heat-resistant oven mitt is a simple way to protect yourself. Look for a mitt that covers your forearms and hands, you can use the same glove in the kitchen and when grilling. There are many choices available,  you don’t even have to compromise on looks.  Say goodbye to tried and true cloth mitts, which stain, and provide no protection against burns from hot liquids.

The mitt you select should be comfortable, inside, and outside, without restricting your range of motion. Look for heat resistance. Some mitts can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees, while that might be overkill, it gives you an idea about what is possible. My must-haves include an exterior that can withstand high temperatures for long enough to remove a hot baking pan from the oven. The mitt should be waterproof and dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean and ideally stain-proof.

You can select between a range of gloves and mitts; the difference is one has fingers that the other does not. Whichever you select, make sure it does not feel clumsy or bulky. You should be able to handle utensils as well as carry hot items wearing the mitt, and securely grip items. Too much padding might compromise your ability to feel the utensils, or securely grip pots or baking pans.  Find your fit just as you would for a shoe, your oven mitt or glove should conform to your hand comfortably, not too tight, or too loose. It should provide safety but not be too hard to put on or take off.

A Brand to Consider – Geekhom

I found that Geekhom’s extra-long silicone oven mitts satisfied my criteria, and they come in so many colors! They are heat resistant up to 446 degrees F, making them ideal for cooking in the kitchen or grilling. Geekhom makes both grilling gloves and mitts, allowing you to pick the product that best suits your needs.

I use a mitt because I find the fit to be comfortable and forgiving. It works well for people with all-size hands and is fast and easy to quickly slip on and off. Geekhom mitts have non-slip grips on both the top and bottom. This means that I don’t need to worry about finding the left or right hand or putting my fingers in the proper slots.

This glove is waterproof, steam proof, and dishwasher safe. The silicone is BPA-free. Because Geekhom gloves bend easily, they do not cramp my cooking style. What I like best is the soft quilted heat-resistant cotton liner.  It gives me the best of both worlds, the comfort of cotton and the protection of silicone.  The extra-long sleeve covers my arm from accidental bumps and burns.

Who is Geekhom?

Geekhom is a premium kitchen brand founded in 2005. They offer a vast line of quality kitchen and home products all available online. They have successfully married vibrant colors with functional excellence.

Whatever you do Choose Safety

While it is common for amateur chefs to wear an apron in the kitchen to provide protection against spills some still reach for their handy dandy potholders instead of protecting their arms and hands with an oven mitt.  With the versatility, comfort, and protection, silicone oven mitts have transitioned from grilling basics and earned their rightful place as an essential kitchen item.  You can have it all safety, style, and functionality.

Add silicone grilling mitts to your list of kitchen essentials, and don’t get burned again.