Question: I have noticed that silicone oven mitts are becoming more widely used. I have to assume that they can withstand great temperatures. Can they be considered a direct replacement due to their thermal insulation properties?

Answer: The thermal conductivity of some silicones is reported to be approximately 0.22 W/m*K compared to cotton fabrics at 0.029W/m*K suggesting the cotton is a significantly better insulator. Silicone may provide benefits in protection against steam and fluid, stain resistance, and spilling over traditional cotton and the wall thicknesses are easily controlled to address the difference in thermal conductivity.

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