Master Hot Oven Safety With This Game-Changing Gadget

Cooking can be a fun and creative process, but if you're not careful, safety hazards can easily interrupt your flow. One of the most common kitchen injuries is accidental burns from hot surfaces like the oven. Whether you're an injury-prone chef or simply prefer to be extra cautious with high temperatures, oven rack protectors are a game-changing kitchen must-have that will make your baking appliances much safer to use.

There are many reasons why you might graze your hands and forearms on the oven rack. You may be lifting a tray that is awkward or heavy or have limited mobility in your arms, increasing your risk of getting injured when using the oven. Heat-resistant safety guards can make your oven more accessible, so you can get the kids involved in baking with extra peace of mind.

While this gadget is very durable and can provide protection against high temperatures, it is not indestructible. It's essential to handle your oven rack protectors properly and to remove them when necessary to avoid a major meltdown, both literally and figuratively, as failing to do so could damage the product and make a big mess. 

In essence, oven rack guards are heat-resistant barriers, typically made of food-grade silicone, that line the edge of your oven rack. The guards are designed to prevent injuries as you remove hot baking dishes from the oven. The rack protectors minimize the amount of heat transferred from the rack to your skin, reducing the risk of burns.

There are many varieties of this product available online, and this set by Linda's Essentials is the most highly-rated on Amazon. It comes in a package of three protectors that can be modified to fit ovens and toaster ovens of all sizes. The malleable grips are easy to install and remove, and the silicone material is free of BPA and PFOA. They are safe to clean in the dishwasher and can withstand temperatures up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now that we've gone over the benefits, it's time to discuss the one major precaution to take when using this product. It's essential to remove your rack protectors before running your oven's self-cleaning function. The self-cleaning process uses intense heat, typically 800 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, to clean sticky residue off your oven by turning it into ash. Not removing the silicone guards can cause them to explode all over your oven and lead to unfortunate consequences, as documented in this viral Reddit post. Actually, it's best to remove the racks altogether to prevent the metal from becoming warped and damaged.