The 3 best grilling gloves we tested in 2021

Our testing methodology

We recently retested all of our picks, focusing on dexterity and heat resistance and retention. We considered how easy it was to grab and operate tongs, hold a beverage, tend to a fire, and adjust food over a fire. We then noted what happened to each glove after 5 seconds on glowing-hot coals.

We also spoke with author, Barbecue University TV host, and namesake of our favorite set of gloves, Steven Raichlen, as well as famed New York City-based meat purveyor Pat LaFrieda to learn what makes a great grilling glove. Both told us welding gloves were the way to go, and after testing various models in different materials, we agreed. LaFrieda and (obviously) Raichlen both noted that a longer cuff on a welding glove is ideal (hence Raichlen’s decision to design his own pair).

Here’s what we looked for in our top picks:

Heat resistance and retention: We took the temperature of the interior of each glove before and after placing them on glowing coals for five seconds. We noted how much the temperature had risen, and took note of any burns or smudges (none of the gloves burned, though some saw slight melting).

Performance and Dexterity: It’s important to be able to operate tools and, perhaps, keep grip on a beverage while wearing grilling gloves. We noted whether or not we were able to maneuver easily within them.

Material quality: We looked over each glove for stitching defects, or weak points where the gloves might begin to separate. We’ll keep an eye on this going forward as we test for longevity.

Design: A grill glove that can withstand temperatures exceeding 500 degrees Fahrenheit is a great idea, but if the cuffs are so short that your wrists and forearms are exposed while reaching over an open flame, what good are they really? Now, not all of us are getting so dangerously close to a flame every time we grill, but there are instances, and you want to be prepared. We realized early on in testing that gloves with longer cuffs are greatly preferred.

The best grill gloves overall

Steven Raichlen’s Extra Long Suede Grill Gloves are essentially oversized and reinforced welding gloves, and the most protective ones we’ve tried.

Pros: Comfortable liner, plenty of dexterity, no exposed seams, protection almost to elbow (17.5 inches long)

Cons: Not machine washable, may be too large for cooks with smaller hands

There’s no shortage of suede grilling gloves out there, thanks to the material’s mobility, but most pairs that are widely available hardly extend past the wrist. Steven Raichlen’s Extra Long Suede Grill Gloves, however, are nearly elbow-length at 17 and three-quarters of an inch. 

Inspired by welding gloves, Raichlen’s grill gloves protect the forearms from hot coals and can handle temperatures of up to 475 degrees Fahrenheit — a threshold that we find more than high enough for grilling. 

In our tests, these gloves restricted our fingers’ range of motion the least and withstood glowing hardwood charcoal embers for roughly five seconds before our hands got too hot to hold them. We also measured the internal temperature with a meat probe before and after placing them on hot coals for five seconds, and the internal temperature didn’t rise by more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

The only real downsides of these gloves are that they aren’t machine washable (wipe them down with a damp cloth, instead) and they only come in one size (which tends to favor larger hands). If you happen to have smaller hands, you might want to consider one of our other recommendations below.

The best high-heat grill gloves

If you’re going to come into close contact with flames and/or coals, you’ll probably want actual Kevlar-inforced welding gloves and US Forge’s 400s are the best we’ve tried.

Pros: Best for handling high heat, affordable

Cons: Shorter than we’d like (14″), don’t offer the best mobility

Made of suede, reinforced with Kevlar, and insulated with a heavy-duty cotton liner that adds comfort and also wicks away sweat, these US Forge 400 welding gloves are rated for heat up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit.

While you don’t want to go burying your hands into hot coals with these gloves on, they’ll withstand high temperatures better than the average grilling glove.

During our tests, we found that they were a little more constrictive than the Steven Raichlen model we recommend above, and we had a harder time bending our fingers and exercising finer motor skills, but they’d be well-suited for those with smaller hands and were still plenty comfortable. and only They also offer exceptional heat resistance, and the internal temperature only rose up 12 degrees Fahrenheit after spending five seconds atop red-hot hardwood coals.

The downsides of these gloves are that they only come in one size (which is on the large side), and that they don’t offer full forearm protection. Still, so long as you’re not trying to grab the stem of a wine glass or do any fine-motor-skill work, they’re a great option.

The best waterproof grill gloves

Jolly Green Products’ Ekogrips BBQ Oven Gloves are waterproof, can handle getting messy, and come with a lifetime warranty for replacement.

Pros: Easy to clean, grippy, lifetime replacement warranty

Cons: Not the best dexterity or comfort, not as heat-resistant as suede

If you want a pair of grilling gloves that can stand to get a little messy and be tossed into the dishwasher, Jolly Green Products’ Ekogrips BBQ Oven Gloves are our favorite option. They’re grippy, durable, and waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting them outside, either.

Rip-resistant and designed to withstand heat up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, these gloves fared surprisingly well during our hot coal test, and while they did get plenty hot, they didn’t melt. And if you did happen to trash them one way or another, Jolly Green Products offers hassle-free lifetime replacement.

Regardless of the warranty, know that grill grates, charcoal, and grills themselves tend to exceed 425-degree temperatures and you are liable to burn yourself and melt these gloves if you push them to their limit by handling hot coals or hardware. That said, we were able to briefly handle blazing-hot hardwood coals with these silicone gloves momentarily without any damage to them (or our hands).

While these gloves are plenty grippy, the silicone they’re made of doesn’t offer the best dexterity, and you’ll have a hard time performing more delicate tasks, like operating grilling tools or handling a beverage while wearing them. They’re also a little more cumbersome when it comes to storage, because they don’t fold or roll up neatly (or at all) in the way that suede and cotton do.

The bottom line with these gloves is that if you’re going to be careless with them, as in get them covered in grease or forget them beside the grill for a day, a month, or even a year, they’ll withstand whatever weather may come (so long as they don’t blow away).

What else we tested

Cuisinart Full Coverage Heat-Resistant Grill Gloves: These gloves work well, and the silicone palms and fingers are extremely effective, but they don’t offer as much protection as we’d like, and we found them constrictive for larger hands.

Meater Mitts: These gloves worked about as well as the Cuisinart ones did, but didn’t offer quite as much protection. They’re perfectly serviceable, and we recommend them, but we have more confidence in our top picks overall.

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