Are grill gloves necessary?

For pitmaster Leonard Botello, owner of Texas-based Truth Barbeque, gloves are a necessary part of the process. "I love using gloves when grilling and smoking. I find them to be more necessary than a thermometer," he says. In addition to a pair of heat-resistant gloves, Botello recommends keeping knit gloves on hand for food preparation. "What I love about these knit gloves is they are super affordable, and you can just throw them in the washer when they get dirty," he says. "We simply replace them when they get stained or just take on too much wear. Luckily, the cotton-knit gloves typically come in a pack of 12 which will last the 'weekend warrior' and holiday home cooker quite a while before they have to buy more."

How often should I replace my grill gloves?

"Replace your grill gloves when the threadbare spots appear and/or you start to feel your fingers burning. For gloves with liners, the inner padding can become packed down and lose its insulating quality," says Holzman.

4 Best Grill Gloves for 2023, According to Our Tests

Williams Sonoma Pit Grilling Mitt — Williams Sonoma

Seasoned grillers know to avoid mistakes like using lighter fluid or charcoal briquettes, keeping steaks from tasting like kerosene. Yet, add a live flame, hot charcoal, and metal grates, and otherwise-careful cooks can make the mistake of burning themselves. Grill gloves will not only protect your fingers and forearms but also provide you with peace of mind when you're stationed at the fire. The best of them offer comfort, easy cleanup, and resistance to water and oil. We tested grill gloves to find the right fit for the job, whether it's smoking, cooking over a campfire, or handling hot dishes.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Grill Heat Aid Extreme Heat Resistant Grill Gloves at Amazon

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Best Value:

Hamitor BBQ Grill Gloves at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

Williams Sonoma Pit Grilling Mitt at Williams-Sonoma

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Best Silicone:

Geekhom BBQ Gloves at Amazon

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Amazon

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Pros

They're nicely grippy and flexible for most grilling tasks, in addition to being machine-washable.

Cons

The heat resistance rating can be misleading, and we wouldn't use them to hold hot objects for a long time.

Like most grill gloves on the market, this pair from Grill Heat Aid feels similar to a pair of knit gloves, thanks to a fiber called aramid that's durable and withstands high heat. At a glance, these seem no different than similar grill gloves, but we preferred this pair to others we tested for a few reasons. As "one size fits most" grill gloves can be large for many people, we like that this pair comes in four sizes, including one with an extra-long cuff. The glove liner is made of 100% cotton, which helps them feel a little more breathable, and they're machine-washable. They're stretchy but sturdy, and thin silicone grips add a layer of extra protection between your hands and hot objects.

Their extra-high heat resistance rating of up to 1,472°F can be misleading, however, because this refers to ambient heat. We were able to hold hot cookware from the oven and stove for up to 10 seconds with them, for reference, but grill gloves aren't meant to double as oven mitts. For example, we would wait for a heavy cast iron pan to cool before removing it from the grill. "These gloves are great for tasks that require a sure grip, like flipping hot dogs, grabbing shallow dishes, and handling hot potatoes," one editor says. "I wouldn't recommend it for something you have to hold onto for a long time."

Price at time of publish: $26

Material: Silicone, aramid, cotton
Length: 14.17 inches
Heat Resistance Rating: Up to 1,472°F

Grill Heat Aid Grill Gloves — Food & Wine / Allison Wignall

Amazon

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Pros

You get a pair of good grill gloves at a great price.

Cons

Machine washing isn't recommended, and they're only available in one size.

These Hamitor gloves are similar to other knit-like gloves and cost less, with a couple of caveats. Like the Grill Heat Aid gloves, the Hamitor pair can tolerate an ambient heat of up to 1,472°F. But we would be cautious even at much lower temperatures than this — think 475°F and up — such as when dealing with a gas grill on its highest setting. That said, we found the gloves well-equipped for normal grilling tasks. We were able to comfortably lift charcoal grill grates shortly after cooking, keeping them on to clean the grease pan and transfer hot ash to a bucket to cool. For tasks like this, we wish we could toss them in the washing machine. We'd also like to see a smaller size option. The excess fabric bunched up on our hands and arms, which made us feel sort of clumsy.

Price at time of publish: $12

Material: Silicone, aramid, cotton, polyester
Length: 13.78 inches
Heat Resistance Rating: Up to 1,472°F

Hamitor BBQ Grill Gloves holding the Everdure Cube portable grill — Food & Wine / Mary Claire Lagroue

Williams Sonoma

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Pros

These gloves held up well in our heat resistance tests, and we liked their more tailored fit.

Cons

Machine washing isn't recommended, and similar pairs cost less.

Williams Sonoma's Pit Grilling Mitt also comes as a set of two, and while it costs more than similar sets, it's worth the splurge for a few reasons. The gloves offered perhaps the best heat protection of the seven we tested. We felt almost no heat for the first eight seconds of holding a pan at 450°F, while we held the handle of a pot filled with boiling water for 15 seconds without any issues — the silicone grips helped it feel secure. Taking off the glove, we were surprised at how much hotter the silicone on the outside felt than the cotton interior. We also found the Pit Grilling Mitt more fitted than others, with enough room (and stretch) left for larger hands. The snugger fit let us work close to an open flame without worrying about excess material dipping into the fire.

Price at time of publish: $40 for two

Material: Silicone, aramid, cotton
Length: 13 inches
Heat Resistance Rating: Up to 475°F

Williams Sonoma Pit Grill Mitt — Food & Wine / Mary Claire Lagroue

Amazon

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Pros

These gloves have a non-slip exterior that resists both water and grease. They're very easy to clean.

Cons

We found the thick silicone a bit bulky; cloth-like gloves offer better precision.

If waterproof and oil-proof are two of the top qualities you need in a glove, consider this pair. These BPA-free silicone gloves can withstand heat up to 446°F and provide an excellent grip. We like having the option to put these gloves in the dishwasher or wash them with soap and hot water as if washing our hands. This makes them great for messy tasks, from applying marinades and wet rubs to transferring meats to the grill. From stoking the fire to handling the meat, the oil- and liquid-resistant exterior allows for an easy transition between jobs. The cotton lining keeps your hands comfortable, and it's machine-washable. We also like the hanging loops for extra convenience.

Price at time of publish: $20

Material: Silicone, cotton, polyester
Length: 14 inches
Heat Resistance Rating: Up to 446°F

Our Favorite

Heat protection means limited contact with live fire and extra hot temperatures. But home cooks and pros alike can benefit from the added protection of a glove. The best grill gloves for you will be the pair designed for the kinds of tasks you have in mind, from preparing meat to helming the barbecue for a long session. We recommend the Grill Heat Aid Extreme Heat Resistance Gloves to the average griller.

Other Grill Gloves We Tested

Grill Armor Oven Gloves ($30 at Amazon)

The Grill Armor Oven Gloves have a lot in common with our Best Overall pick, including the sizes available. We tested the version with the long cuff and would have preferred a smaller fit in the fingers to grab items more easily, though the cuff itself felt snug enough. We felt heat coming through at just about five seconds when holding a hot dish, so we would use caution with hot objects. We liked the conveniences of hanging loops and machine-washable fabric.

The Ove Glove ($20 at Amazon)

Sold as a single glove, the Ove Glove comes close to the cost of the Williams Sonoma Pit Grilling Mitt, but it didn't perform as well. While it has a higher heat resistance rating, 540°F, it got warmer faster. We couldn't hold a hot pan for 10 seconds, so we'd limit it to quick tasks. We like that it's machine-washable, but the light color shows stains. It's shorter than others at 11 inches, and we found it snugger, too — a pro if you ask our testers.

Loveuing Kitchen Oven Gloves ($18 at Amazon)

These silicone oven and grill gloves can take on messy tasks like applying marinades and transferring meats to the grill. That said, this pair didn't protect our hands against the heat of a hot dish; the quick heat transfer made us think we'd burn ourselves if we tried to hold it longer. If you're in search of waterproof grilling gloves, this pair will hold up. Otherwise, we think the average griller would find another pair more useful.

Factors to Consider

Use and Care

Considering how and what you cook will help you choose the right grill gloves. Are you a once-a-season griller looking to flip burgers and corn? Or are you in a weekly routine with a full smoker setup? Some grill gloves are made for handling meat and some are made more for heat protection. Decide which side of the equation you fall on and purchase a set best fit for the job. Waterproof, food-grade silicone is a good choice for pulling apart that pork shoulder. Leather gloves, meanwhile, won't be as convenient as food-grade disposable gloves for food prep. The right tools make any project a whole lot easier.

Also, consider how much cleaning and care you want to give your gloves, says Daniel Holzman, chef and founder of Danny Boy's Pizza. "Some are dishwasher safe, some appropriate for the washing machine, others are spot clean only. Generally speaking, I use grill gloves to shield me from the heat but not directly in contact with the food. I still use utensils to manipulate food on the grill so my gloves don't need to be food surface sanitary, just clean from dirt and debris."

Material

Aramid is a synthetic fiber. It's the material used in most cloth-like gloves for its high heat resistance and durability. It's typical for gloves of this material to tout a Level Five rating for cut resistance, which offers protection against knives. That doesn't mean these gloves are impenetrable, however, so take caution with sharp objects. Note that cloth-like gloves must fully dry before use. Wet materials conduct heat faster and will defeat the purpose of using a heat-resistant glove, no matter the temperature.

Silicone gloves are ideal for smoking meats and handling food. They resist oil and water and tend to be easy to clean, whether by hand washing or in the dishwasher. They offer a bit less flexibility than other styles of glove but are relatively inexpensive. The biggest downside is their low heat resistance compared to other types.

Neoprene or synthetic silicone gloves resist high heat and are affordable. Yet, this material isn't a great choice for handling meat, as it absorbs fat and other fluids. While the best ones fit like a glove, most don't offer forearm protection.

Kevlar or Nomex gloves mimic many of the best qualities of synthetic but are very easy to use and heat resistant even at high temperatures. Also like synthetic, the fabric absorbs fluids. Prices vary from inexpensive to investment.

Leather gloves are heat resistant, hold up well over time, and are consistently the most comfortable kind of grill glove. They can be a solid investment or gift and great for working over hot coals or fire on a regular basis. Leather, however, isn't recommended for handling meat, as it's more difficult to to clean and maintain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are grill gloves necessary?

For pitmaster Leonard Botello, owner of Texas-based Truth Barbeque, gloves are a necessary part of the process. "I love using gloves when grilling and smoking. I find them to be more necessary than a thermometer," he says.

In addition to a pair of heat-resistant gloves, Botello recommends keeping knit gloves on hand for food preparation. "What I love about these knit gloves is they are super affordable, and you can just throw them in the washer when they get dirty," he says. "We simply replace them when they get stained or just take on too much wear. Luckily, the cotton-knit gloves typically come in a pack of 12 which will last the 'weekend warrior' and holiday home cooker quite a while before they have to buy more."
How often should I replace my grill gloves?

"Replace your grill gloves when the threadbare spots appear and/or you start to feel your fingers burning. For gloves with liners, the inner padding can become packed down and lose its insulating quality," says Holzman.

Our Expertise

Alissa Fitzgerald is a chef, recipe developer, and food writer with over 15 years of experience in the food industry. For this piece, she interviewed Daniel Holzman, chef and founder of Danny Boy's Pizza, and Leonard Botello IV, pitmaster and owner of Truth Barbeque, to find out what the pros look for in grill gloves.

Mary Claire Lagroue works as an associate commerce editor at Food & Wine. A former associate editor at Allrecipes, she joined Dotdash Meredith in 2019. She tested three of the grill gloves on this list and combined her insights and those from editors who tested the other four grill gloves to write this article.