The 5 Best Oven Mitts and Pot Holders of 2025

After researching more than 80 oven mitts, oven gloves, pot holders, and handle covers over the years for this guide, we’ve tested 33 models to-date. Here’s a rundown of the key features we looked for when choosing what to test and recommend:

Heat protection: We looked for models that could protect our hands from high temperatures (400 °F to 450 °F) long enough to carry a heavy dish from the oven across the kitchen or into the dining room.

Keep in mind that pot holders and oven mitts can only do so much to safeguard your hands from high heat; the longer you hold a hot pan, the more heat you’ll feel. Anticipate where you’re going to put a hot item before you remove it from the oven or stovetop. As cookbook author Kate McDermott said, “You don’t want to be caught holding a hot pie for 45 seconds.”

Materials: We considered models made from many materials, including cotton, poly-cotton, neoprene, silicone, and aramid fibers (synthetic heat-resistant fibers such as Kevlar and Nomex). Neoprene, we discovered, stinks and can melt at very high temperatures, so we recommend avoiding it.

Otherwise, any material can work fine, depending on other factors, like thickness. Most of our picks combine waterproof silicone (to keep you from getting burned on a damp mitt), with an inner layer of comfortable, insulating cotton or poly-cotton.

Comfort and maneuverability: Pot holders and oven mitts need to be comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver, and not so bulky that they get in the way when you try to grab a pot lid. According to McDermott, a grippy exterior is paramount for some cooks—if the material of the mitt or pot holder is too slick, you’re more likely to drop a hot pan.

Silicone mitts are particularly grippy, but we found them uncomfortable to use unless they have a fabric liner. We also aimed to find mitts, holders, and gloves that could fit a range of hand sizes and mobility levels.

Functionality and aesthetic: We also looked for oven mitts and pot holders with a loop for hanging, so you can hang them near your stove, always at the ready. Assuming they’ll be hung on display in your kitchen, we also wanted them to be decent looking and available in a variety of colors, though ultimately we favored protection over aesthetics.