*Note: I included a quick list of my top 20 ranking gloves below.  Read on for more info and pictures for each along with my ranking system, a buying guide, and user tips.

Why Are Grill Gloves Needed?

Well, including the obvious reasons of protection from the heat, flames, coals and hot metal, there are a few other strong reasons for investing in grilling gloves.  These include:

1. Sudden flare-ups – If your grill is flaming up or has noticeable hot spots, wearing heat-resistant gloves while handling your grilling tools will protect you from a painful burn.

2. Arranging or adding coals – Hands up if you have ever reached into your grill and tried to rearrange your coals or worse, tried to poke out that last stubborn coal stuck in your chimney starter with a regular pair of gloves? With the right pair of BBQ gloves, rearranging coals, adding wood or handling hot food is no longer a safety concern.

3. Protection from scrapes and cuts – A quality pair of grill gloves are made from super strong cut-resistant materials that can protect you from sharp utensils and metal objects while grilling.

Types of Gloves – Which Material Is Best?

Heat resistant gloves come in several different types of materials, each of which has its own pros and cons.  A description, as well as the ideal usage of each type, are described below to help you decide which will best fit your needs.

1. Treated Leather

While leather is tried and true for the most part, it is not without its drawbacks. One of the main disadvantages of wearing grilling gloves made of treated leather is its inability to withstand extraordinary temperatures.  While leather is heat resistant, it isn’t actually heat proof so if you are directly exposed to the heat (moving hot grates etc.) for even short periods of time, you’ll definitely start to feel it.  They might not withstand the temperatures reached on industrial BBQs or ceramic smokers.

Then there is the questionable fit and flexibility aspect.  Leather gloves can be bulky and they don’t stretch.  They can feel downright uncomfortable.  Lastly, if not used regularly, they can shrink and become tough.

I recommend using leather gloves for outdoor work that requires protection against cuts and scrapes.  There are better options for cooking and grilling.

2. Silicone

Although they have many positives, they have several negatives that are hard to overlook in my opinion.  A concerning disadvantage is that silicone gloves tend to appear and feel somewhat clumsy and bulky.  It’s more difficult to find a close, flexible fit, as well.  While silicone is sufficient for pulling foods off the grill and out of the oven, it’s not ideal for handling grilling tools or any movements require dexterity.

Silicon gloves have an average max temperature rating of around 450°F and are unsafe if temperatures get higher.  Open flames, campfires or hot pizza stones are out of the question.

I recommend using silicon gloves if you are doing low and slow cooking or handling hot foods directly.  Being waterproof, they are great for dealing with juicy barbecued meats right off the grill.

Heat Resistance

Gloves with a heat resistance rating up to 932°F is considered very good.  Any with a rating up to 662ºF is considered good.  Any with a rating up to 480°F or below is considered okay to bad.

Forearm Protection

The best grilling gloves have long cuffs and sleeves that cover the wrist and stretch along the forearm.  Because the aim of quality gloves is to prevent you from burning yourself, the most valuable ones take into account the likelihood of your arm or wrist bumping against a scalding pot handle or sizzling grill grate.  For that reason, it makes more sense to focus on insulated grilling gloves that resemble arm warmers in length.

Comfortable Fit Or Multiple Sizes

Pay attention to what barbecue gloves reviews say about the fit or size options.  Most gloves on the market are one-size-fits-all, and many of those end up being one-size-fits-most.  They fit too tightly or they’re loose and sagging.

The best heat-resistant grilling gloves are form fitting but stretchy and won’t restrict your movement.  They fit well enough to deftly use a spatula, tongs, and more delicate tools, as well, yet they’re still durable enough for you to transfer a hot potato from the grill or oven to a plate.

Because you’re dealing with extreme temperatures, you want the extra comfort and protection of lining combined with a breathable material.  The last thing you need to contend with is sweaty hands.  You don’t want to wear heavy gloves that make your fingers feel fatigued, either.

Versatile

To get the most value for money, it’s smarter to shop for gloves that aren’t limited to cooking or grilling.  The best BBQ grilling gloves are the most versatile ones.  While they protect your hands and wrists from hot coals, grates, stovetops, and food, they also provide protection in other areas.

High-quality heat-resistant grilling gloves that offer excellent value for money can function as traditional winter gloves, as well, but only if they’re waterproof.  Gloves that have Kevlar are strong enough to protect your fingers from knife cuts, and some swear that you can weld metal while you wear them.

Washable

Let’s face it, spills happen.  When cooking, especially outdoor cooking, there is the tendency for your gloves to get dirty quickly.  Anything from errant saucing, meat juices or flavorful marinades, somehow it always finds a way onto our gloves.  If you are working with a charcoal grill, coal ash and grease are a factor too.

Therefore, any gloves that can withstand multiple machine washing and still come out in the same color and shape it started from is considered very good for our purposes.

Overall Quality

I took into account the durability and overall construction as well as the longevity for each of the gloves reviewed.  Gloves that wear through quickly or fade and lose their shape are not what we are looking for here.

Price

Although there isn’t a huge fluctuation in many of these gloves, I considered price when comprising this list and provided a number of options ranging from top of the line gloves to lower cost but still highly rated and functional gloves.

User Feedback and Reviews

Last but not least, I took into account verified purchasers reviews and feedback.  I scoured manufacture and Amazon sites for comments and feedback of over 50 heat resistant grill gloves to help find the best of the best.  I don’t think any recommendation is complete without taking into consideration actual long-term users and their experiences of a product.

2.) Simdevanma Oven Gloves

3.) KAshop BBQ Pro BBQ Gloves – Fireproof Gloves BBQ

First, a layer of food-grade silicone keeps your grip from slipping at an inopportune time. Capture a firm hold of anything you pick up, including food or cooking tools.  The second layer is aramid fiber, which offers additional protection from fire and high temperatures.  The aramid has the insurance of an impressive EN407 certification.  The inner two layers are composed of cotton and polyester, making the gloves breathable, comfortable, and flexible.

4.) Dragon Knuckle Heat Resistant BBQ Gloves

In spite of the extra weight, Dragon Knuckle promises that these are the best grill gloves for dexterity.  The fabric remains breathable, so your hands won’t get sticky or sweaty.  You will still have a nimble grip and you won’t sacrifice flexibility or struggle with removal.  The brand swears that they’re as comfortable as cloth gloves.  Since the cuffs are 12 inches long, you can even use them as winter gloves.

6.) Kitchenux Brand Inferno-IBG-L

A ControlUX seal and a DesignUX seal round out the awards.  You won’t lose dexterity while grilling with these gloves.  They’re practical and functional, but still funky enough to display. The gloves even have palm pads that take up a large area of the palms, further protecting your hands and preventing slippage.

7.) BlueFire Pro Heat Resistant Gloves

8.) STEMAJ BBQ Grilling Cooking Gloves

9.) Brijtek Grillin Chill Gear BBQ Gloves

Every inch of skin that’s covered by the heavy-duty, heat resistant, high-quality Aramid material is safe from burns, but the cotton lining keeps hands from getting sweaty.

10.) Grill Beast BBQ Grilling Cooking Gloves

11.) EvridWear 932°F Extreme Heat and Cut Resistant BBQ Gloves

The fit is still close but comfortable.  Your fingers will have freedom of movement and you won’t sacrifice any of your dexterity, not even when it comes to handling your grilling tools.  Their EN388 certification makes them cut resistant, offering a higher measure of safety anytime you use knives or other sharp tools.  The palms and fingers feature stripes of Silicone for tight gripping.

12.) HellFire BBQ, Grilling & Oven Gloves

You have to love a brand with a sense of humor.  You also have to love a brand that knows its flaws and shares them openly.  For example, HellFire itself advises buyers that their one-size-fits-most gloves won’t necessarily fit smaller hands. They’re also open about the fact that the black lining of their mitts will safely hide stains—always a plus.

13.) Grill Heat Aid Extreme Heat Resistant Grill Gloves

They use an Aramid synthetic so that you can repeatedly expose the gloves to intense heat without experiencing wear and tear.  What stands out are the sizes available. The range includes extra small, small, small-to-medium, and a one-size option that works for large to extra-large.

14.) Elino Professionals Heat Resistant Cooking Gloves

Nomex and Kevlar compose the outer layer and provide the heat shield, along with practical but eye-pleasing silicone designs that keep tools, pans, and other implements from slipping out of your hand. The inner liner is 100 percent cotton so you can easily slide it on and off without dealing with sweaty palms.

15.) Woochy Heat Resistant BBQ, Grilling & Oven Gloves

16.) LaTazas Extreme Heat Resistant Grill & Oven Mitts

The outside layer is made of Aramid, Kevlar, and Nomex as well as silicone, so you get triple the protection, and not just against 932F° of heat. These gloves provide protection against sharp objects, too.

17.) Flamen EN407 XL BBQ, Grilling & Cooking Gloves

18.) ISUDA 932 Extreme Heat Resistant Grill Gloves

19.) LauKingdom BBQ Grilling Cooking Gloves

20.) TTLIFE BBQ, Grilling & Cooking Gloves

Pro tip: try opening a jar with your new grilling gloves.

Buyer’s Guide – What To Look For In A Heat Resistant Grilling Glove

Heat resistant grilling glove ratings depend greatly on the quality, performance, and versatility of the gloves.  With fabric technology getting better and cheaper every year, it can be tough to find the newest and best products out there.  Here are some of the features you should look for in heat resistant gloves for grilling.

High Heat Resistant

While it’s unlikely that you regularly cook with temperatures topping 932°F, it is essential that the tools you use can stand up to intense heat.  That goes for spatulas and tongs, but it’s particularly critical that your grilling gloves won’t melt, scorch, or burst into flame.  After all, even if you never cook over 500°F, you need to be prepared to safely start fires in wood stoves and fire pits.

Comfortable

Comfort is anything but a luxury with grill mitts.  Avoid abrasive linings that chafe your hands. Heavy gloves weigh down your hands, destroy your dexterity, and cause sweating.  Moisture of any kind isn’t safe when you work with heat.  Sweaty palms can make you feel the heat of whatever you’re doing.

Form Fitting

A contoured, clinging fit is critical.  Grilling gloves are not like oven mitts.  You need full range of motion in your hands, wrists, and fingers.  Moreover, flexible finger movements are crucial in cooking, resulting in the need for gloves that wrap around each individual finger.

Forearm Protection

Unlike regular gloves, the best heat resistant grilling gloves extend past the wrist.  You should never leave your forearms uncovered and unprotected while you’re cooking, grilling, operating your smoker, or starting a fire.  It takes one second of distraction to brush your wrist or forearm against a burning pot handle, the side of the stove, or part of the grill.  Wearing gloves with lengthy cuffs that cover your forearms erases the risk of burning your skin.

Flexible

To expound on the importance of flexibility, you need to be able to move your hands the same way you do without gloves.  Serious home cooks and grill masters aren’t just flipping burgers. Creating a culinary masterpiece of any kind involves a certain amount of delicacy.  Clumsy, chunky gloves might as well be oven mitts.

Grip

Avoid any grill gloves that don’t have grips.  Even Kevlar-grade gloves will slip for purchase without a bit of help.  Silicone is most-often used to create non-skid, non-stick surfaces that allow you to securely grip pot handles, grill tools, and utensils.

Lined

Without adequate lining, gloves are uncomfortable and prone to causing sweat, which is dangerous.  Stay away from gloves with abrasive linings that feel rough against your hands and cause chafing.  You can’t wear them for any length of time.  The best BBQ gloves use cotton or bamboo-based yarn.

Breathable

The type of fabrics and materials used can make all the difference.  Heavy, dense material will always make your hands sweat.  Breathable material that ventilates is the best choice.  It’s possible to find durable, heavy-duty gloves that are still lightweight.

Versatile

It’s hard to justify purchasing an item that only has a single purpose.  Versatile grilling gloves are helpful beyond the grill.  In addition to using them for traditional cooking, you should be able to light fires, change light bulbs, and retrieve foods and other items from the stove, grill, or fire.

Washable

Gloves get messy.  You’re often touching meat, which requires a wash, anyway.  However, gloves are also magnets for marinades, sauces, flour, spices, and other cooking messes.  You should either be able to simply wipe off your gloves, hand wash them, or toss them in the washing machine.  It’s generally better to hang up the gloves and let them air dry.

Heat Resistant Grilling Gloves FAQ

User Tips And Caring For Your Gloves Guide

How To Clean A Fabric BBQ Glove

Each pair of grilling gloves has its own wash and care instructions.  Most often, you can put them in the washing machine on the gentle cycle, but washing them by hand is somewhat safer. It doesn’t take much time.  The best method depends on the fabric.

Regardless of the method you choose, begin by spot treating your gloves.  Treat grease splatters, sticky spots, and stains with a gentle detergent or Dawn soap, and then use a small sponge or toothbrush to scrub the area.  You may be able to get away with spot treatments and rinses for the most part.  Anytime you can avoid a full wash, do so.

Pro tip: To make tight gloves a bit more loose fitting, after washing and while they are still damp, put on the gloves and where you feel them the most tightly, pull the gloves to loosen the fit a little.

With any grilling glove, you will find reviewers who swear that they immediately felt the heat of whatever item they tried to pick up while wearing their gloves.  It’s inevitable.  To that end, it’s subjective and depends entirely on the product and the person using it.

With a high-quality grilling glove that has at least three layers, including a durable, highly resistant outer layer, you shouldn’t feel any heat for a couple of minutes—long enough to change a hot light bulb, at any rate, and remember that many gloves claim that you can even weld with them.

Here is a useful temperature guide for handling heat while wearing high heat resistant fabric gloves. While this is not an exact formula for every make of fabric gloves, it is a good starting point.  Please use extreme caution whenever handling hot items.

Will Fabric Heat Resistant Grill Glove Protect From Heat if They Get Wet?

Simply: no.  Gloves that are entirely made of fabric rarely, if ever, fully protect your hands if they get wet.  More often than not, the wet materials conduct the heat faster, resulting in a quick burn.  There are exceptions but read the directions closely to make sure.  Exercise caution even with fabric gloves that claim to be waterproof.

Final Verdict – Which Heat Resistant Gloves For Grilling Are The Best?

When it comes to handling a charcoal chimney starter full of hot charcoal, rearranging coals, setting air vents and removing meat from hot grates and foiling it up, you need to have quality grilling gloves to protect your hands and forearms.

The best heat-resistant grilling gloves act as a barrier between your hands and intense temperatures, but you don’t give up your freedom of movement or flexibility.  You can change a temperature dial or quickly cut up vegetables for the grill.  Lightweight is best for comfort and breathability, but you don’t want to sacrifice heavy-duty protection by way of heat-retardant fibers such as Aramid, Kevlar, or Nomex.

Grills Gloves Make The Perfect Gift

They are great for the chef or chefs in the household who love to barbecue and grill, bake and cook.  They make the perfect gift for dads, moms, family, and friends.

I hope my Top 20 Best Heat Resistant Gloves For Grilling was helpful for you.  As always, if you or someone you know is interested in heat-resistant grilling gloves please consider sharing with your friends or on social media.  Sharing is caring my friends!

If you would like to leave a comment or have a review of your own to share on any of the heat-resistant grilling gloves on this list or you can think of a pair I missed, please do so below. We always welcome your input.

Cheers,

Patrick