Orka Petites
When I first saw Orka oven mitts, in my parents’ kitchen a couple of years ago, I was pretty taken with the rubbery silicone mitts that can handle temps reaching nearly 500 degrees F. I was definitely intrigued, but it wasn’t exactly love at first sight. When I pulled them on, my dad’s Orkas were big, awkward things. I felt like I was wrangling a muffin pan out of the oven using a pair of galoshes on my hands. They made me clumsy and made my grip precarious, and though I appreciated the concept, they weren’t practical for me, or for anyone else with small hands.
Then, I discovered the Orka petites
If you’ve ever had the experience of using a damp dish towel as a makeshift potholder, you know that it’s an extremely ineffective means of keeping the heat of the oven separated from your hand. Doesn’t take long for the 375 degrees of that casserole dish to assert themselves through that damp dishtowel, does it? Well, the Orka silicone mitt is impermeable to water. So not only is it safe to use when wet, but you can actually immerse your mitt-clad hand in a pot of boiling water and feel virtually no change in temperature. Some members of your family like 3-minute eggs while others prefer them hard-boiled? No problem. Slip on an Orka and pull out the soft-cooked eggs at the appointed time.
Who needs tongs when your mitts can withstand those kinds of temps? Turn your kabobs on the grill, take baked potatoes out of the oven, remove a roast to the cutting board, de-pan loaves of bread - all by hand. These mitts can take it. When you’re done, wipe them down with a soapy sponge and rinse in clean water, or toss them in the dishwasher.
And the price? About $15 (US) for each one, so $30 per pair.
Photo from Leon Richman design
