HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BBQ GLOVES

September 10, 2022546 ViewsGloves8

For most people, cooking is a fun leisure activity. Even though most of the times people barbecue it’s usually for a casual, laid-back session where you get to interact and enjoy the company, you need to equip yourself with the necessary tools of the trade. These activities come with high heat, which, in turn, comes with the high risk of accidents. If you plan on engaging in grilling or barbecuing, you need to ensure that you get the right items to reduce the risk of exposure.

Given that grills routinely reach temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit with some charcoal grills capable of pushing the 1,000-degree mark, burns are a constant risk when it comes to grilling. Since the hands and lower arms manipulating the grill tools are the most vulnerable to burns, it makes sense to protect that skin with a good pair of barbecue gloves.

Barbecue gloves come in a variety of heat-resistant materials including leather, neoprene, silicone, and heat resistant fabrics such as Kevlar and Nomex. Some BBQ gloves can provide protection for temperatures that reach more than 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit while still remaining thin enough for the wearer to manipulate a pair of tongs or flip a spatula.

In today’s world, where there is such a wide range of materials and styles available, choosing the right pair to protect one’s paws can be difficult. Below information about some of the most important factors to consider when shopping for the best BBQ gloves.

Mterial

Barbecue gloves come in four different types of materials, including silicone, fabric, leather, and synthetic. Ahead, learn about the pros and cons of each.

Leather barbecue gloves are some of the most durable and heat-resistant, making them ideal for handling hot grill tools. They’re also comfortable to wear. However, leather gloves are also among the most expensive and can be difficult to clean and maintain, given that water can damage leather.
Synthetic gloves typically consist of a neoprene or silicone outer with a cotton or polyester inner. They offer excellent heat resistance and are inexpensive. They will absorb grease and other liquids but are relatively easy to clean.
100 percent silicone gloves have a smooth, hard exterior that resists fluids, making them the ideal choice of smoking gloves when users need to handle hot foods directly. Since silicone resists oil and water, they’re easy to clean when the grilling is done. Silicone BBQ gloves are inexpensive but can be a little stiffer than other gloves. Silicone also doesn’t offer the same level of heat protection.
Fabric gloves for barbecuing typically consist of either Kevlar or Nomex. They provide high levels of heat resistance while remaining thin enough to be comfortable and to allow for a wide range of movement. In fact, you can even use them to rearrange burning coals or chunks of wood. However, the fabric isn’t ideal for certain types of grilling as they will absorb grease and sauces.

Dexterity and Comfort

Whether handling tongs, flipping a basket of veggies, or cutting meat on a grill side table, barbecue gloves need to allow for enough range of movement that the operator isn’t fumbling to hold tools and knives. This is especially important given the inherent danger of grilling, where slips can result in burns.

A comfortable grill glove should fit snugly around the hands and be thin enough to allow for dexterous movements while at the same time being thick enough to resist intense heat. The flexibility of the material is key to dexterity. A glove that’s stiff will restrict movement, making it more difficult to grab barbecue tools or get a handle on shish kebab skewers, while flexible material will conform to the hand, allowing for more freedom of movement.

Heat Resistance and Thickness

When it comes to heat resistance, typically thicker gloves offer more protection than thinner gloves. Most barbecue glove manufacturers list the heat resistance of the glove with most ranging from around 400 degrees Fahrenheit to more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best way to determine what level of heat resistance is necessary is to consider the max temperature of the grill. Most gas grills can generate heat as high as 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, and a charcoal grill can reach more than 1,000 degrees if using certain types of lump charcoal. Look for a glove that can handle the level of heat that will be used.

Lined and Versatile

The adequate lining used in gloves saves us from discomfort. If for grilling, you choose an option in which the lining is not used, then your hands will definitely be filled with sweat, which is dangerous. Also, stay away from gloves made with abrasive linings that feel rough against your hands.

You can never live with a pair of gloves that have only one purpose because, during the grilling process, you have to complete a variety of tasks, for which a versatile grilling glove is helpful. Grilling gloves should be the ones with which you can easily complete tasks such as lighting a fire, changing light bulbs and retrieving foods and other items from a stove, grill, or fire.

Size and Sleeve Length

A good barbecue glove should conform around the hand without being so tight that it’s difficult to remove quickly in the event of an emergency. Some barbecue gloves come in size options while others are one size fits all.

When sizing a glove, also consider the length of the glove’s sleeve. The length of the cuff needs to extend long enough to provide protection for the wrists and lower forearms when working over a hot grill. While some gloves will only provide protection for the wrist, others will extend halfway to the elbow. These longer gloves may restrict movement more than shorter ones, but they can provide better protection.

Easy Cleaning

It’s also helpful to find out how you can clean the gloves too because you might spill meat juices or barbecue sauce on yourself. Depending on how often you cook, you might want a pair that you can hose down in your lawn between baking, smoking or grilling sessions. As long as the gloves fit right and are easy to clean, you’ll love wearing a pair to protect yourself while cooking outside.

Gloves with 100 percent silicone or neoprene outers that are oil- and water-resistant are the easiest to maintain. Typically all that’s needed to clean this type of glove is to run them under a sink faucet when the grilling is complete. Fabric gloves that can soak up juices will typically need a trip through the washing machine to clean. Leather is more difficult to clean, as water will damage it. A special leather cleaner is required for maintaining leather barbecue gloves.

FAQ

1. Which Gloves Would Be Better For A Grilling Session?

AID Extreme quality gloves will be a better option if you work with high temperatures. They are fully capable of working with high temperatures and can hold out heat for up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 seconds.

2. Can BBQ gloves be used only for grilling?

Most BBQ gloves offer multiple functionality features. You can use one pair to do different types of cooking, baking, grilling, and barbecuing. The only precaution that comes with the multi-purpose feature is that you should understand the kind of foods and items each type of glove offers high-quality resistance with.

3. Are welding gloves a good alternative to BBQ grill gloves?

The welding gloves can be substituted for waterproof grill gloves if you prefer. For heat protection, these gloves are usually rated for temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit (sometimes even 1,000 degrees if used briefly). While welding gloves are often quite bulky and thick, you may have trouble handling your tools and cooking while wearing them.

4. Are There Different Types Of Heat Resistant BBQ Gloves?

Though there are many types of gloves, but mainly three types are used more. First-ever gloves made of evergreen food-grade silicone material: These have silicone linings. These linings prevent objects from slipping by hand during use.

On the other are Kevlar gloves, which are the most commonly used. They are the hardest and resist the highest temperature. They are mostly used for heavy-duty works.

The last has leather gloves. They are made to withstand temperatures below 200 degrees Fahrenheit. They are durable in quality and comfortable to wear.