Full Metal Handle

[Fat Guy]

On the French-steel cookware thread, Priscilla observed that many non-serious cooks exhibit an irrational fear of metal handles on cookware.

May we dwell on this phenomenon a bit?

In addition, what's your preferred method of dealing with hot handles? Do you: 1) use a potholder, 2) use an oven mitt; 3) use a towel; or 4) have flame-retardant skin? And in the case of 1, 2, or 3, do you have any specific product recommendations?

[Jinmyo]

I've been using the Orca silicone mit. You can reach into deep fryers with them.

[Anna N]

If it's been in the oven for a while I use both an oven mitt AND a potholder as neither one seems to insulate enough. After I get the pan safely out of the oven and onto a heatproof surface I do my best to remember to drape a folded towel over the handle as a reminder that it is still HOT.

No specific product recommendations - run-of-the-mill mitts and potholders.

Anna N

[Malawry]

I use an ordinary kitchen towel. I used to use potholders but after I started working in a kitchen I got used to working with towels.

I'm afraid of pans that don't have metal handles. Moving pans between stovetop and oven has become so instinctive for me that I don't think about it before I do it. Fortunately, all my home pans have metal handles, so it's not an issue. One of these days I'm gonna torch somebody else's saute pan with a plastic handle, though.

[slkinsey]

For me, it's always #3: a towel. Not that I haven't tried #4 a time or two when I wasn't paying attention.

"Mmmmmm... smells like bacon... AAAAAUGH! MY HAAAAAAAAAAAAND!"

[Varmint]

I use a towel 50% of the time and otherwise, one of the 149 potholders Grandma Varmint crocheted for me. I just can't let them go.

[MatthewB]

For my Lodge stuff, I have the Lodge handle covers. Usually I use regular old mitts & potholders but the Lodge covers are nice if a hot pan is on the stove for awhile.

[Dave the Cook]

A towel if I'm in a hurry. But if dexterity is required, you can't beat welding gloves, available in a variety of colors and styles for any occasion. I have the orange ones for every day use, and pull out the black or gray ones when company's coming.

Seriously, it's amazing how much more easily things are accomplished when you have the use of your fingers.

[Fat Guy]

Seriously, it's amazing how much more easily things are accomplished when you have the use of your fingers.

Even just opposable thumbs are a big help. Ask any dog.

[mamster]

So, I noticed in the King Arthur catalog that they have two silicone potholders: one woven, one solid. I think the woven one has fingers and the solid one is more of a mitt. Has anyone tried the woven one? I keep burning the back of my hand on the oven door while pulling bread off the stone, but I can't do it with a mitt on--not enough dexterity to grab the parchment. I'm thinking the woven silicone glove might help.

Or I could get a peel, I suppose, but then I'd just burn myself on a different part of the oven door.

[maggiethecat]

The Orca Jinmyo mentioned is my grabber of choice, but it goes walkabouts, as do my poinsettia printed mitts still hanging in since Christmas. So...

Kitchen towel.

[Busboy]

Towels. Of course, I also use them to dry things and sop up spills, so every now and again I get reminded that a wet towell is a much better conductor of heat then a dry one.

That horrid choice -- dropping dinner or second degree burns.

[melkor]

I'm with Dave, a pair of welding gloves for the kitchen, another for the grill.

[maggiethecat]

welding gloves, available in a variety of colors and styles for any occasion.

I just checked this out, and the pricing astounds me. They are thirty dollars a dozen? If so, my Christmas list is um, handled.

Or are they thirty dollars the each if I buy 1-3 dozen?

[Dave the Cook]

welding gloves, available in a variety of colors and styles for any occasion.

I just checked this out, and the pricing astounds me. They are thirty dollars a dozen? If so, my Christmas list is um, handled.

Or are they thirty dollars the each if I buy 1-3 dozen?

I think that's per-dozen pricing.

If you go to Home Depot or Lowe's, they'll cost $5 to $8 a pair. They come lined and unlined. The lined ones are preferable.

[Chad]

Got to agree 'bout the welding gloves -- damn handy in the kitchen or working with the grill. I tend to use them (or, it, actually, as a I generally only wear one, leaving my other hand free to handle food) outside rather than inside. Dunno why.

I bought one of those zippy new bumpy silicon potholder/mat things -- supposed to be good up to 600 degrees. The only problem is that the surface, which is nice and grippy when dry, becomes dangerously slippery if there is even a hint of oil on it. It's been relegated to trivet status.

Other than that, kitchen towel all the way.

Chad

[JAZ]

I bought one of those zippy new bumpy silicon potholder/mat things -- supposed to be good up to 600 degrees. The only problem is that the surface, which is nice and grippy when dry, becomes dangerously slippery if there is even a hint of oil on it. It's been relegated to trivet status.

They also heat up if you need to hold onto the pan for any length of time, as when you're removing cookies from a baking sheet.