Straight to the Level
Our favourite kitchen towels are the Zeppoli Classic Kitchen Towels, that are 100% cotton, cheap, really all-purpose, and just like what you’d discover in knowledgeable kitchen. We additionally appreciated the Coyuchi Waffle Dish Cloth, which hit excessive marks for absorbency, dry time, maneuverability, sturdiness, and appears. It is available in a set of six for a surprisingly reasonably priced value.
The phrase “dish towel” is commonly used interchangeably with “kitchen towel,” and for good motive: they’re really multipurpose. Spend a pair hours cooking, and also you’ll rapidly understand you should use a dish towel for rather more than simply drying dinner plates. Within the Critical Eats check kitchen and at house, we use them not only for drying dishes and arms, however for mopping up spills and grabbing scorching handles—they make glorious stand-ins for pot holders.
Selecting one of the best dish towel might be difficult: is it worthwhile to spend a small fortune on one thing that’s arguably (albeit quietly) one of the vital vital instruments in your kitchen? Or must you go for a finances purchase, as a result of towels are supposed to be closely used? In fact, there’s aesthetics to contemplate, too: dish towels are saved “out within the open,” on hooks or draped over oven door handles.
There are nice choices for each kinds of cooks, whether or not you need to spend so much on an expensive dish towel that’ll appear and feel nice, otherwise you’d want to save lots of a buck and substitute it with larger frequency. All of it boils all the way down to how you propose on utilizing it.
To seek out one of the best all-around kitchen towel, we examined 17 towels from standard and respected manufacturers. We selected quite a lot of towel varieties, making certain we included terry fabric, flour sack, flat weave, and waffle weave choices. The vast majority of our samples have been comprised of 100% cotton, which is most generally used for dish towels, however we additionally included microfiber, linen, and linen-blended towels.
The Winners, at a Look
![Zeppoli Classic Kitchen Towels](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/jObqct31tZZKWPoiHomqht-YIVY=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/zeppoli-classic-kitchen-towels-72cbc73b13ea44f39e7b737a57a54e38.jpg)
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These towels look, really feel, and performance like those most well-liked by most cooks in skilled kitchens. They’re sturdy sufficient to take heavy use and thick sufficient to wrap round a scorching pan deal with. Additionally they have a stellar absorbency price (141%!), and a really engaging value level. These towels are made to be arduous employees, and though they aren’t as fairly as a number of the different opponents, followers of this fashion would argue that’s the purpose.
![Coyuchi Waffle Dish Cloth](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/NiKtDEoJfcOi_q6-bMjk9llNVnQ=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/coyuchi-waffle-dish-cloth-f4eff099abb14015b13b4511bfc1656c.jpg)
Wayfair
With a weave that’s neither too thick or skinny, this 100% cotton towel excelled in each process and regarded good doing it (it is available in a set of six neutral-adjacent colours). We appreciated its center-located hanging hook and pliability; it made drying delicate glassware straightforward and environment friendly. Though the worth tag appears excessive, these towels are available a set of six and are comprised of natural cotton.
![Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/Rcwz3zgJqc94_FruHL6oitEJoCc=/fit-in/1500x826/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Williams-Sonoma-Classic-Stripe-Towels-dd4730d710034b03bc591d411adfb8a6.jpg)
Amazon
These 100% cotton towels are woven collectively in a flat crosshatch sample that’s each absorbent and pliable. They’re sturdy, sturdy towels that may deal with most kitchen duties. Though they’re not fairly as smooth because the waffle weave varieties, they’re a stable choice—and are available a formidable quantity of colours.
![Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mops Towels](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/ij2WlmV-rp8Alk0MPEp2LYTJch4=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/utopia-towels-kitchen-bar-mop-46326c1da0e84b24b2efe268920adcb6.jpg)
Amazon
With a fuzzy terry fabric weave, Utopia’s bar mop is good for tossing over a spill or mess within the kitchen. Having a stack available cuts down on paper towel use, and whereas they’re not the fanciest trying towels we’ve ever used, that’s the purpose—they’re straightforward to scrub and reuse. Simply toss ‘em within the wash with a splash of bleach they usually’ll be able to go for the subsequent kitchen catastrophe.
![All-Clad Dish Towels Dual Purpose Reversible](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/yqOveGSN4iGSRFrrbRqKVRTRJXE=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/all-clad-dish-towels-dual-purpose-reversible-6942464343794c54887fdf90bf40c585.jpg)
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We cherished drying our arms on these luxuriously thick, absorbent hand towels. Though they weren’t our favourite for drying dishes, the design does supply a wise improve over different terry fabric towels: these are reversible. You should use the plush aspect for arms, then put the essential cotton aspect to work for different kitchen duties. Both approach, you actually can’t beat the thickness of All-Clad’s towels.
The Assessments
- Absorbency Check: We weighed every towel on a digital scale and recorded the burden in grams. After weighing one cup of water (118 grams), we poured the water onto a sheet pan and coated it with a towel. After ready two minutes, we then transferred the towel to the dimensions and recorded the brand new weight. We consulted Gregory Petrics, a Ph.D. in Arithmetic, to provide you with the calculation [weight after water/weight before water*100-100] to find out the absorbency share of every towel.
- Drying Time Check: As soon as the towels have been dampened and weighed, we draped every one over a wood drying rack, making certain every towel was laid flat with no wrinkles, and didn’t overlap another towel. We checked the towels each quarter-hour to evaluate for dryness; we recorded the period of time it took for every towel to really feel dry to the contact.
- Maneuverability (Ease of Use) Check: As soon as all of the towels have been completely dry, we evaluated how straightforward they have been to make use of as dish drying towels. For every towel, we washed two wine glasses. After rinsing them, we set them upside-down in a drying rack for 30 seconds to take away extra moisture. Then we dried each glasses utilizing the towel. Right here, we took be aware of thickness, pliability, and whether or not the towel left behind any streaks or lint on the glass.
- Staining and Cleansing Check: We examined the towels’ ease of care by smearing 1/2 teaspoon of mustard and 1 tablespoon of ketchup on every towel. After ready one hour, we washed the towels in response to their particular producer’s directions. We then inspected every towel for indicators of staining, in addition to shrinking, fraying, wrinkling, and common sturdiness after one wash/dry cycle.
- Normal Use Check: After finishing the above exams, we selected seven standouts for our last check. We used every successful towel for one week in our kitchen, placing it by a rigorous number of duties: we dried dishes and arms, used it to deal with scorching cookware, wiped spills and messes, and hung it on each wall-mounted hooks and oven door handles. After one week, we washed it once more in response to the producer’s directions and took notes on texture, thickness, versatility, sturdiness, and ease of care.
What We Discovered
The Finest Kitchen Towels Have been Multipurpose
The very best towels have been persistently helpful at quite a lot of duties: drying arms, drying dishes, mopping spills, serving as a potholder or oven mitt, and even appearing as cleansing rags. Towels that carry out brilliantly in a single or two classes weren’t ok to face as much as the true multipurpose workhorses. To decide on a towel that may do all of it, search for thick (however not plush) cotton, a versatile texture that may be maneuvered round tight areas, and a value level low sufficient to justify shopping for a couple of.
Dimension Mattered: Greater Was Not Higher
If we have been utilizing kitchen towels solely to dry our arms, we’d be all for the XXL sizes. However the bigger towels—accounting for each dimensions and thickness—have been awkward to make use of for many duties. Drying a fragile wine glass with a big, thick towel was a nerve-wracking expertise, and we discovered that very massive towels weren’t splendid for utilizing round open flame (for apparent causes)!
Hanging Loops Have been Good to Have
Not all towels we examined had cloth loops for hanging the towel. Though this wasn’t a deal breaker—you possibly can all the time drape it over a hook or your oven door deal with—a dangling loop was appreciated, particularly in kitchens the place a number of towels are in use at any given time. We docked factors for hanging loops that have been too thick to be simply used, and gave commendations for loops located within the heart of the lengthy fringe of a towel, moderately than in a nook. (Nook loops require the towels to dangle awkwardly lengthy, probably grazing the countertop or workspace.)
Save the Terry Fabric for Hand Towels
Terry fabric, a weave comprised of thick, looped cotton, is commonly utilized in bathtub towels, because of its plush feeling and spectacular capability to “drink in” lots of water. It’s comprehensible to imagine they’d make nice kitchen towels for these causes. However our testing revealed they do just one factor—dry arms—very properly. They’re not nice at drying dishes, as a result of the looped weave leaves behind lots of fibers, particularly on glassware. They’re additionally gradual to dry when saturated: in our dry check, the All Clad Reversible Towel, which has a terry fabric weave on one aspect, took six hours and half-hour (the longest of any towel) to really feel dry to the contact. We additionally discovered their thickness to be a detractor in lots of duties. These hefty towels struggled to slip in between slim pot lid handles and felt clumsy when used instead of an oven mitt.
That mentioned, terry fabric towels are stellar at drying arms rapidly and utterly. In case you want to maintain separate towels for dishes and arms, it’s price contemplating a terry fabric towel or two for at any time when your arms are moist.
Waffle Weave Towels Have been a Nice Alternative, Relying on the Depth of the Weave
The towels that had fibers woven collectively in a waffle-like sample have been prime performers within the absorbency, maneuverability, and common use exams. The waffle sample makes these towels very versatile and malleable, which suggests they excel at defending arms round scorching cookware and drying dishes.
The waffle weave towels we examined have been both 100% cotton or a cotton-linen mix, though you may as well discover 100% linen towels. Overwhelmingly, we most well-liked the 100% cotton towels, as a result of their cheaper price level. Linen fibers, whereas extra sturdy and fewer vulnerable to pilling over time, grow to be crinkled and accordion-like across the edges, which reduces their usability—until ironed.
A waffled towel might be deep or shallow, which is represented by how raised the sides of every particular person weave is. Though deep, free weaves really feel luxurious and drink up lots of moisture—they usually are usually costlier, which made us hesitant to make use of them for messy kitchen jobs. These have been additionally extra vulnerable to slight unraveling and fraying on the edges and throughout the uncovered fibers. One among our favorites, from Coyuchi, had a brief, tight weave that felt straightforward to manage, and stood up properly to 2 cycles of washing and drying.
Flour Sack-Fashion Towels Have been Too Skinny to Be Actually Helpful
Flour sack towels—generally referred to as tea towels—have been as soon as comprised of precise flour sacks. Now, they’re merely tremendous skinny, light-weight cotton. Though they dry rapidly when moist, they’re too flimsy to be helpful as a makeshift pot holder.
When are they good to have round? Owing to their no-shed texture, they’re tremendous at sprucing glassware. Embroidered or sample choices is usually a good “only for decor” choice, too.
It’s Not Price Shopping for a Very Costly Towel
It’s tempting to splurge on a stunning towel. In any case, they’re decor-adjacent instruments. However for many cooks, it’s a greater funding to purchase towels in a pack, spending much less per towel. It’s price noting too {that a} excessive value level doesn’t mechanically translate to a greater towel. The costliest towel we examined, the Weston Table Laguna Towel, wasn’t as absorbent as our prime picks, and didn’t rise up properly to being laundered. Our general favourite, from Zeppoli, are available a pack of 15 and price simply $1.73 per towel. Your finances will decide what defines an “costly” towel, however, usually talking, we’d advocate not spending greater than $10 per towel.
The Standards: What to Search for in a Kitchen Towel
The very best dish towels are multipurpose towels that can be utilized for extra than simply drying dishes. Search for towels with a powerful, tight weave that may stand as much as scorching cookware, in addition to deal with a wash/dry cycle with none fuss (though some shrinking is unavoidable in nearly all towels). Cotton is favored over linen for its extra reasonably priced value level, and resistance to rumpling across the edges. Low-pile threads are splendid as a result of they depart behind minimal lint, and make for a extra maneuverable towel. If aesthetics are vital in your kitchen, select coloured and patterned towels which might cover stains. Lastly, don’t lay our a fortune on any dish towel: the pricier it’s, the much less possible you’re to truly use it.
![Zeppoli Classic Kitchen Towels](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/jObqct31tZZKWPoiHomqht-YIVY=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/zeppoli-classic-kitchen-towels-72cbc73b13ea44f39e7b737a57a54e38.jpg)
Amazon
What we appreciated: Towels on this fashion are referred to as “aspect towels” in skilled kitchens. They’re coveted (and generally hoarded) amongst cooks for good motive: they’re extremely helpful for a number of jobs. They’re an incredible selection for mopping spills in lieu of paper towels; in our absorbency check, they soaked up 141% of their weight in water. They didn’t depart any lint when used as a dish-drying towel. Better of all, we appreciated their comparatively petite measurement, which wasn’t unwieldy, and lent itself properly to make use of as a makeshift potholder. These towels are among the many least costly we examined and are available a big pack.
What we didn’t like: These towels are surprisingly thirsty, and do grow to be saturated simply. With drying instances that may attain hours (throughout our check, it took 5 hours to really feel absolutely dry), you’ll must have a bunch available whereas cooking. They stain simply, and have a thinner weave than our different prime choose, which suggests they must get replaced with larger regularity.
Worth at time of publish: $19.
Key Specs
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Dimensions: 14 x 25 inches
- Care directions: Machine wash heat; tumble dry low
- Hanging hook: No
![Coyuchi Waffle Dish Cloth](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/NiKtDEoJfcOi_q6-bMjk9llNVnQ=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/coyuchi-waffle-dish-cloth-f4eff099abb14015b13b4511bfc1656c.jpg)
Wayfair
What we appreciated: This towel hit all of the marks. It’s made with a low-profile waffle weave for optimum flexibility and maneuverability. It has a powerful hem round all sides, which helps it resist warping and turning into misshapen when washed and dried. The generously-sized hanging loop is affixed to the middle of a aspect, which makes it straightforward to hold and maintain out of the best way when not in use. It dried comparatively rapidly when moist (three hours and 45 minutes), and hid stains properly, because of its waffled sample and neutral-ish coloration. It additionally appears good and is comprised of natural cotton.
What we didn’t like: It’s on the costly aspect, with every towel costing near $10. There was appreciable shrinking when washed (three and 4 inches from both aspect). We have been barely hesitant to make use of it for soiled or messy duties, to maintain the aesthetics intact.
Worth at time of publish: $58.
Key Specs
- Materials: 100% natural cotton
- Dimensions: 20 x 30 inches
- Care directions: Machine wash chilly on light cycle, non-chlorine bleach; tumble dry low or line dry; cool iron as wanted
- Hanging hook: Sure
![Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/Rcwz3zgJqc94_FruHL6oitEJoCc=/fit-in/1500x826/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Williams-Sonoma-Classic-Stripe-Towels-dd4730d710034b03bc591d411adfb8a6.jpg)
Amazon
What we appreciated: These towels are easy and, because the identify suggests, really basic. They’ll seamlessly merge into nearly any kitchen’s design fashion, they usually’re hardworking towels we don’t really feel now we have to child or shield from messes. Though some towels with a flatter weave are inclined to lag within the absorbency division, the crosshatch stitching right here meant these towels might deal with liquids, whether or not it was drying dishes or mopping up a spill. Selecting a coloration is enjoyable, too—Williams Sonoma at present has a handful of springy hues on supply.
What we didn’t like: In our absorbency exams, it couldn’t examine to the spectacular efficiency of the terry fabric varieties — nevertheless it did dry faster. The feel is a bit of tough, and never fairly as pliable because the Coyuchi. The hanging hook is hooked up to a nook of the towel.
Worth at time of publish: $22, relying on coloration.
Key Specs
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Dimensions: 20 x 30 inches
- Care directions: Machine wash heat, non-chlorine bleach; tumble dry; heat iron as wanted
- Hanging hook: Sure
![Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mops Towels](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/ij2WlmV-rp8Alk0MPEp2LYTJch4=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/utopia-towels-kitchen-bar-mop-46326c1da0e84b24b2efe268920adcb6.jpg)
Amazon
What we appreciated: These towels are extremely absorbent (with an absorbency price of 160%). They’re excellent for utilizing as an alternative of paper towels, they usually’re made to be tossed round—no must maintain them in pristine situation. They arrive in a set of a dozen and are a primary, white coloration (until you go for a special hue), and have a “no fuss” vibe that may be brightened with bleach.
What we didn’t like: The looped fibers are comparatively free, and received’t final ceaselessly. When saturated, this towel is heavy and takes a very long time to air-dry. If used to dry dishes, it’ll depart behind lint.
Worth at time of publish: $18.
Key Specs
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Dimensions: 16 x 19 inches
- Care directions: Use chilly water, bleach secure, wash individually from darkish colours; dry instantly
- Hanging hook: No
![All-Clad Dish Towels Dual Purpose Reversible](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/yqOveGSN4iGSRFrrbRqKVRTRJXE=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/all-clad-dish-towels-dual-purpose-reversible-6942464343794c54887fdf90bf40c585.jpg)
Amazon
What we appreciated: These towels are unbelievable for drying arms. They’re smooth and thick, and take in lots of water. They’re good stand-ins for pot holders when maneuvering sheet pans out and in of the oven. All-Clad’s towels have been a powerful competitor in our staining and cleansing exams, main us to consider these sturdy towels will final for years.
What we didn’t like: They’re thick to a fault when confronted with sure duties. We have been hesitant to make use of them for drying the bowl and stem of delicate glassware, they usually have been a good squeeze into slim lid handles. At $10 a towel, they’re on the prime vary of costly.
Worth at time of publish: $30.
Key Specs
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Dimensions: 17 x 30 inches
- Care directions: Machine wash heat, non-chlorine bleach; tumble dry; heat iron as wanted
- Hanging hook: No
The Competitors
- Sur La Table Washed Waffle Kitchen Towels: We appreciated this thick and smooth towel—and appreciated its sturdy hanging hook—however its weave was loosely threaded, and began to point out indicators of wear and tear after two washes.
- Williams Sonoma All Purpose Pantry Towels: Williams Sonoma’s All Objective Towels are a mean performer with out a lot to hate…or love. They’re a bit rougher than a few of our different picks, and only a bit too thick to be our go-to for drying delicate dishes.
- All-Clad Textiles Kitchen Towels: An honest terry fabric choice for drying arms, this towel is reasonably priced and fairly absorbent. Nevertheless it left behind lots of lint on glassware, and started to look matted after only one wash.
- Zeppoli Flour Sack Towels: Though this was our favourite among the many flour sack choices, it doesn’t lend itself to make use of as a pot holder, which nixed it early from additional rounds of testing.
- Weston Table Laguna Kitchen Towel: This 100% linen towel is a looker, however at $24 per single towel, we have been hesitant to carry it close to something that might stain, tear, burn, or fray it. It’s well-made and fairly, and would work greatest as an ornamental or “arms solely” towel.
- Utopia Towels Dish Towels: At first blush, these look nearly indistinguishable from the Zeppoli Basic Kitchen Towels, our winners. However the Utopia towels have been much less absorbent, and had a stiffer, rougher texture.
- Now Designs Flour Sack Kitchen Dish Towels: This set of three towels earned smiles for its cheery colours, however the towels have been low-performers in each check. They’re so skinny, they’re really see-through—a top quality that stopped us from testing them as pot holders for warm cookware.
- Aunt Martha’s Flour Sack Dish Towels: Though Amazon reviewers love these as a clean canvas for embroidery, we struggled to seek out their usefulness within the kitchen. They’re supersized to a fault, and lots of in our package deal had odd dimensions. They’re additionally not as absorbent as our different flour sack check topics.
- Hyer Kitchen Microfiber Kitchen Dish Towels: We love a towel that leaves no hint (these don’t deposit any lint), however these aren’t nice multitaskers, owing to their distinctive texture and skinny composition. We’d maintain a stack shut by for cleansing and sprucing the kitchen, although.
- Hawkins New York Essential Dish Towel Set: Arms down (and dry), these $14-per towel choices smoked the competitors within the “appears” class. However their XL size made them awkward to make use of for many duties, and we have been reluctant to make use of them for messier duties.
- Magic Linen Waffle Kitchen Towel: Though we loved the luxurious really feel of this linen-cotton blended towel and its deep, thirsty waffle weave, its $18-per-towel price ticket made it impractical for on a regular basis use.
- Five Two Utility Towels: These easy cotton towels have been decently absorbent and nearly as versatile because the Zeppoli Basic, our prime choose. Nevertheless, at over $15 extra per towel (on the time of testing), it was arduous to justify the splurge.
FAQs
What’s the distinction between dish towels and tea towels?
Tea towels are skinny, versatile towels comprised of cotton or linen—they’re generally referred to as flour sack towels, and sometimes printed or embroidered with designs or patterns. Though you should use tea towels for dish towels, they’re much less versatile, and sometimes used as ornament. They’re, we’ll add, fairly nice at drying glassware, as a result of their lack of lint. (The phrase “tea towel” has its origins in excessive society; these towels have been used to insulate teapots and maintain baskets of scones heat).
What are bar mops?
Bar mops are plush, terry cloth-style towels made with high-pile looped cotton. They’re thirsty and absorbent, making them splendid for mopping up spills on moist surfaces. However they grow to be rapidly saturated, which makes them removed from splendid to be used as pot holders. Additionally they depart behind lots of lint when used as a dish drying towel.
What’s a aspect towel?
A aspect towel is restaurant lingo for a primary, low-cost dish towel that can be utilized for quite a lot of kitchen duties. Our prime choose on this evaluate, the Zeppoli Basic Kitchen Towels, are thought-about a aspect towel.
What’s one of the best ways to scrub dish towels?
Past “in response to producer directions,” you imply? Jokes apart, dish towels must be washed in chilly water and tumble-dried on the bottom warmth setting to keep away from shrinking. All cotton and linen towels will shrink as much as 4 inches after the primary wash/dry cycle, though for those who’re involved about that, you possibly can hang-dry them to reduce floor space loss. In case your kitchen towels get stained, deal with them instantly with a stain remover and wash on chilly. If the stain stays, strive treating and washing once more earlier than placing within the dryer; warmth will “set” the stain. Most producers be aware that if bleach is used, it must be the non-chlorine sort.
Are kitchen towels and dish cloths the identical?
Linguistically, sure. Though dish towels are also known as kitchen towels and vice-versa, there’s one occasion the place we wouldn’t swap them out. Terry fabric towels are greatest reserved for drying arms, as a result of they depart behind lint when used for drying dishes (particularly on glassware).
Which materials is greatest for a dish towel?
Our exams revealed that cotton was preferable for dish towels, owing to its excessive absorbency price, low price, and suppleness. Linen is a wonderful choice as properly, though it’s costlier and vulnerable to wrinkling and rumpling within the dryer. Though microfiber doesn’t depart behind lint, it’s not splendid for drying arms or swapping in as a pot holder.