The 7 Best Oven Mitts for 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Get a grip on hot pots and pans with these top performers.

In This Article

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Whether you’re grabbing a piping hot frying pan or transporting a steaming casserole dish from the oven to the table, oven mitts are a kitchen essential to keep your hands from getting burnt. With all of the options on the market, it may be tempting to go for a stylish set that matches your kitchen linens without knowing how the mitts perform. Do they actually protect against heat? Do they have a secure grip on hot items? Or do they just feel clumsy? I tested 11 best-selling styles in my home kitchen to answer these questions. These are the best oven mitts I found.

They’re affordable, protective, and flexible enough to provide plenty of grip.

They can't handle the ultra-high heat of broiling or grilling.

This pair of mitts from Big Red House remains our top overall pick because of its versatility, performance, and comfort. It features a cotton exterior and polyester lining, with an added rubberized texture that provides a similar grip as silicone without losing too much flexibility. In my tests, I was able to grab pot handles, lids, casserole dishes, and even a pre-heated Dutch oven without feeling the heat seep through the mitts. Their streamlined fit means less of a chance of catching them on anything, making them an excellent choice for safety. They can be machine-washed and laid flat to dry if they need cleaning. Plus, they’re affordable and happen to come in a handful of fun colors that can coordinate with your kitchen decor.

Dimensions: 12.5 x 7 inches | Materials: Polyester, cotton, silicone | Machine-Washable: Yes | Maximum Temperature: 480°F

Silicone protects hands well, and they’re available in a variety of colors.

They’re not machine-washable.

At under $20 a pair, this silicone set from KitchenAid is a fantastic option if you’re not looking to spend too much on a pair of oven mitts. Made of soft silicone, they come in an array of colors that you can coordinate with your existing kitchen decor or linens. The silicone exterior covers most of the 13-inch mitt, save for the small cotton cuff, so your hands stay well protected. During my tests, I was able to grip loop handles on a casserole dish and maneuver baking cookie sheets with ease, with almost no heat transfer. While they aren’t machine-washable, they’re easy to wipe down, and feature hanging loops for storage when not in use.

Dimensions: 13 x 7 inches | Materials: Polyester, cotton, silicone | Machine-Washable: No | Maximum Temperature: 500°F

These combine a nice fit with stylish and luxurious fabric, and they’re machine-washable.

The linen-cotton blend is more susceptible to staining, and they’re sold as single mitts only.

If there’s such a thing as an elegant oven mitt, it’s this one from Hawkins New York. Made of high-quality linen, it comes in a handful of subdued, earthy hues that look fantastic next to olivewood bowls, marble trivets, and stoneware. Most importantly, it performed well during testing, standing up to hot pot handles and providing adequate protection for grabbing a casserole from the oven. This traditionally styled mitt retains a lot of flexibility, which silicone mitts don’t always offer. They let me have a solid grip on a heavy lasagna pan, while the cuffs protected my wrists from heat. Note that this mitt is sold a la carte, so if you’re looking for a pair, you’ll have to add two to your cart. It would also make an excellent host gift for a home cook who appreciates aesthetics.

Dimensions: 14 x 6 inches | Materials: Linen, cotton | Machine-Washable: Yes | Maximum Temperature: Not specified

Silicone protects hands well, and the mitts are machine-washable

The fit can be awkward for those with smaller hands.

This pair of silicone mitts by GIR delivers heatproof performance at a fairly affordable price tag. It has an extended cotton cuff to protect your forearms and a soft terry lining for comfort. During testing, I found that the silicone was stiffer than others I tried, so if you have smaller hands, it’s more challenging to get a grip. I was still able to maneuver hot casserole dishes and a large Dutch oven with little difficulty, and more importantly, without any heat transfer through the mitt. To clean, the silicone can be wiped down with a sponge, but if needed, mitts can be machine-washed and dried, making them very easy to care for.

Dimensions: 13 x 7 inches | Materials: Polyester, cotton, silicone | Machine-Washable: Yes | Maximum Temperature: Not specified

They’re well made and available in stylish colors.

This style lessens finger dexterity, so it’s not great for gripping narrow handles.

If you’re seeking mitts for pulling baked goods from the oven, this set of two from Caraway is a solid choice. Made of thick organic cotton, these puppet-style mitts feature a thumb pocket on the underside to help grip. This design tends to restrict finger dexterity, which means it works best for grabbing trays of baked goods and casserole dishes — not so great for holding a saucepan with one hand or handling a pair of hot tongs. I tested these with a baked lasagna at 400°F, and they felt comfortable as I moved the dish from the oven and onto a trivet, but I would be iffy of using them at higher temperatures. (Caraway doesn’t give a maximum temperature.) These mitts are available in three chic colorways that complement the brand’s cookware. They’re also machine-washable, and the fabric softens after washing which helps it mold better to your hand as time goes on.

Dimensions: 12 x 6 inches | Materials: Organic cotton | Machine-Washable: Yes | Maximum Temperature: Not specified

They’re flexible with a grippy texture, and the longer length protects more of the arm.

They’re on the pricier side.

This versatile mitt from Food52 is made from silicone, offering plenty of protection against higher temperatures, up to 650°F. The extended cotton cuff provides additional coverage, shielding the entire forearm against a hot pan, while the interior is soft terry. The silicone has a grid pattern that offers an extra grippy surface, which I found useful when grabbing a hot saucepan’s handle. I also liked the flexibility of the silicone on these mitt — they gave me a very secure grip on anything I held, from a lasagna pan to a heavy Dutch oven lid. They’re easy to clean since they can be wiped down or machine-washed, and they hold up well in the machine. Hanging loops and magnets in the mitts make them easy to store. And while I wouldn’t recommend them for grilling (go for a grill glove instead), they stand up to just about any high heat in the kitchen, justifying their higher but not unreasonable price tag.

Dimensions: 15 x 7 inches | Materials: Cotton, silicone | Machine-Washable: Yes | Maximum Temperature: 650°F

They’re versatile with excellent flexibility and heat safe up to 650°F.

They’re sold individually, so a pair is pricey compared to others we tested.

Similar to the Food52 mitts above, the Williams Sonoma Ultimate Oven Mitt pairs a silicone exterior with an extended cuff for maximum coverage. It’s heat-safe to 650°F, making it ideal for reaching into the oven with a meat thermometer, testing a cake for doneness, or handling a preheated Dutch oven prepped as a bread-baking chamber. The cuff is made of durable cotton canvas and has a grommeted hole for hanging, while the interior has a soft quilted lining. The silicone section felt flexible and gave me a tight grip on saucepan handles and the knob of a hot Dutch oven lid. I also didn’t feel any heat when reaching into the oven to pull out a baking tray. It comes in a handful of Williams Sonoma’s signature colors, coordinating with the brand’s dish towels, aprons, and the like. You can turn it inside out and machine-wash it, but I've found spot cleaning or a wipe-down with soapy water typically does the job.

Dimensions: 7 x 15 inches | Materials: Cotton, silicone | Machine-Washable: Yes (inside out) | Maximum Temperature: 650°F

Le Creuset Oven Mitt ($50 each at Amazon)In terms of heat protection, this mitt performed beautifully. I love the extended, closed cuff that kept most of my forearm well-protected against hot pans or handles. It's unnecessarily expensive for a single mitt, but it could make a great gift for a die-hard Le Creuset fan.

Dusen Dusen Oven Mitt ($29 each at Revolve)This mitt’s vibrant stripes make it a fun addition to any kitchen, but the puppet-style silhouette made it difficult to securely grasp smaller, narrower handles. It’s generously sized, which can be great for those with large hands, but it’s impractical for anyone with a smaller grip. It did well against heat, as it’s heatproof to 400°F and machine-washable, but it’s pricier than its performance and versatility warrant.

OXO Good Grips Silicone Oven Mitt ($15 each at Amazon)We’re big fans of OXO, but sadly, this mitt fell short. While the silicone section has added texture for grip, it was also very stiff, making it difficult for me to grab the loop handles of a casserole dish or a saucepan handle. The cuff is also on the narrow side, which may not work for someone with larger forearms.

Hedley & Bennett Oven Mitts ($30 a set at Hedley & Bennett)I wanted to love these mitts for their vibrant colors and sturdy build, but I found them to be very difficult to use. Their thicker design protected my hands from the heat but also kept me from getting a secure grasp on anything, including something as simple to carry as a baking tray. Even after one wash, they still felt too bulky and rigid, especially when compared to other mitts with a similar design.

Food & Wine / Bernadette Machard De Gramont

The Food & Wine editors selected 11 of the best oven mitts on the market based on previous testing and research. I tested them in my home kitchen, incorporating them into my regular cooking routine. I used them to hold saucepan handles, handle pot lids, and transfer baking trays, casseroles, and heavy Dutch ovens in and out of the oven. I noted any detectable heat transfer, their ability to grip, and how practical they were in terms of safety.

Conventional oven mitts are in the shape of a mitten, with a large section for four fingers and a separate compartment for the thumb. This style of mitt doesn’t offer a ton of finger dexterity, but it is typically flexible enough to get a decent grip on pot handles, lids, and the like. Puppet-style mitts have a compartment for four fingers, but the thumb compartment is on the underside of the mitt, requiring your hand to function like a crab’s pincer. These tend to be more restrictive than their conventional counterparts, but you can use them to safely move baking dishes and trays to and from the oven. Other options include a glove-style mitt with five individual finger compartmnets. This offers the most in finger dexterity, allowing you to switch from maneuvering hot dishes and pans to using utensils without having to remove the glove entirely.

Food & Wine / Bernadette Machard De Gramont

Traditional oven mitts are made of some type of thick cloth, like cotton canvas or denim, padded to provide protection against heat. These tend to offer a lot of flexibility as they mold to the hand easily, allowing for a tighter grasp on smaller handles and the edges of a baking dish. Overly padded cloth mitts, however, can also be bulky and rigid depending on how thick they are.

Silicone is another option for oven mitts because of its high heat resistance and easy maintenance. If selecting a silicone mitt, check to ensure the silicone is not so stiff that it prevents you from getting a good grip on pans and handles. Additional texture on a silicone mitt can give additional grip that may come in handy especially if a pan is wet or greasy.

Food & Wine / Bernadette Machard De Gramont

All of the mitts we’ve listed here are for indoor use, with varying maximums between 350°F and 650°F. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s specs to note your mitts’ maximum heat threshold to prevent burns. For reaching into an oven when using high heat (i.e. the broiler or prepping a Dutch oven for bread baking), opt for a mitt that can withstand at least 500°F, which will most likely be made of silicone or a silicone-fabric hybrid. For outdoor use on grills and pizza ovens, look for mitts that are rated for temperatures up to 900°F.

Food & Wine / Bernadette Machard De Gramont

The easiest answer is to check the oven mitt’s care tag, but if that isn’t available, most all-fabric mitts can be machine-washed and laid flat to dry. Mitts made of silicone and cloth may also be machine washable, but some are designated as “wipe clean only”. Be sure to read the care instructions for your particular mitt and follow them.

Technically, yes, but it isn’t the safest option. Even a folded dishcloth may not provide adequate protection from heat or a secure grip. A kitchen towel’s dangling ends may also be prone to catching fire or snagging on a pot handle. Moreover, if your kitchen towel is even slightly damp, it can cause an instant steam burn if it comes in contact with a hot handle or baking dish. The best course of action is to use the appropriate tool — an oven mitt or pot holder — instead.

Totally. Food-grade silicone kitchen implements can handle a large temperature range and are famously easy to maintain, as long as you stay within their specified care guidelines.

It depends on your personal preferences and cooking needs. The best material for oven mitts is one that is thick enough to insulate your hand from the heat, but not so thick that you can't control your grip. You may want a set of cloth mitts for general use and a silicone set for working with higher temperatures. It’s a great idea to try both cloth and silicone versions to see what you’re most comfortable with.

Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, cookware, and other kitchen and home products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.