Safety first! These pro-approved kitchen tools can prevent burns, cuts and more

Those of us who love spending time in the kitchen can agree on one thing: Burning your forearm on an oven rack while removing a tray of brownies is the worst. No more, thanks to these nifty oven rack shields. They slip over the edge of the rack to act as a guard, so just in case your arm grazes it, it'll be met by heatproof silicone rather than a piping-hot piece of metal. They can be trimmed down to fit your oven's racks, or even the ones in your toaster oven or air fryer. To install, just slide them over the front edge of the rack via their open sides, which have little ridges that grip the metal. So easy! And if they get dirty, simply peel them off for cleaning.

"A real hand/wrist-saver!" exclaimed an excited user. "Not only do they protect my hands/wrists from bumping into a hot rack when turning or removing items from the oven, they also serve as a 'bumper' to protect the door from the rack edge. And besides, the red color just looks cool through the oven door!"

My cast iron skillet is one of my most prized kitchen possessions, but if you've ever used one, you know how hot the handle can get! My mom bought me one of these silicone guards as a stocking stuffer a few years back, and I've been using it ever since. It slips right over the handle of the pan and can offer protection from temps of up to 450°F. Just remember to take it off if you put your pan in the oven!

"If you own a cast iron skillet of any size, you need this!" declared a fan. "At some point, you will reach for the handle of that iron skillet on the stovetop and realize, too late, that the handle is as hot as the skillet and burn your hand ... Just slip this pliable handle cover on that skillet before you start cooking, and you can pick it up with ease, even after the skillet is HOT!"

True story: My parents adopted a kitten who loved jumping up on the counter near the stove — and would sometimes turn a burner on in the process. Eek! Whether you have pets or young kids, these knob covers will help prevent anything from being switched on that shouldn't be so you can rest a little easier. They're designed to fit right over most modern stove and oven knobs.

"My grandson just got tall enough to reach the stove knobs and started turning them on," explained a (now) relieved reviewer. "I received these and put them on right away. He tried to turn them twice and just stopped touching them. They are a must-have!"

I always have a fire blanket within close reach when I'm cooking or baking, because you never know! Luckily, I haven't yet needed to use it, but if I did, all I'd have to do is pull the tabs to release the blanket and use it to cover whatever is on fire. It's a lot cleaner than using a fire extinguisher, and it can be used over and over again. 

"My wife dropped French fries into hot oil and it boiled over onto the stove and started a fire," shared a user. "It took her a moment to think of the fire blanket, but when she tossed it over the flaming liquid, out it went. They are worth every penny."

There's NoCry(ing) over slippery knives when you have these machine-washable, food-safe mitts in your kitchen. According to the brand, these No. 1 bestsellers are four times stronger than leather and 10 times stronger than steel, meaning it would take quite a lot to pierce them. Now you'll be able to slice and dice with more confidence. 

"Great for butterfingers!" joked a shopper. "I always get accidental cuts while cutting fruit. So when I finally got these, I was quite excited to test [them] out because it didn't make sense to me how a glove could protect my fingers from a sharp knife. But let me tell you, it sure did! I was cutting an apple and my knife slipped onto my finger and the glove completely stopped it from piercing me. I still felt the knife hit my finger, but it was well-protected and no blood was shed."

Nordic Ware is my go-to brand when it comes to sturdy, long-lasting sheet trays, and while this large pan would be ideal for a jumbo batch of cookies, it's also a safety must in my kitchen. Whenever I bake anything like a cake, pizza or casserole, or even roast a chicken, I like placing an extra-large pan like this No. bestseller underneath to catch any drippy batter, cheese or grease. This helps keep the bottom of my oven clean, which also reduces the risk of something catching on fire. Talk about a multitasker!

"I use the pan to catch drips from smaller pans above it," shared a like-minded shopper. "Really useful in preventing bottom of the oven cleanup, especially if you don't have a self-cleaning oven."

Take it from me — your forearms are the most burn-prone part of your body when it comes to taking things in and out of the oven (I have the scars to prove it!). But extra-long oven mitts that nearly reach your elbows will keep that area more protected. With this set, you're getting a 15-inch-long pair of silicone oven mitts, as well as two mini pinch mitts and two silicone trivets. Plus, the mitts have a textured silicone surface for better grip. 

"I have big-time sensitivity to heat, and because of that, I have a hard time finding mitts that don’t transfer heat," explained a home cook. "Not only are these longer — they cover my arms well — but they are thick and have not transferred an ounce of heat. You still have pretty good dexterity while wearing them. They are cute, comfortable and do the job well."

There's no such thing as too many smoke detectors, and should something catch on fire in the kitchen while you're in another room, you'll want to be alerted right away. Best practice is to have at least one on every level of your home and in every bedroom. 

"Very loud and extremely sensitive," wrote a pleased user. "[It] goes off if I take something from the oven [that has] burnt food on it. You won't have to worry about hearing them, for you will be notified in plenty of time to leave your house."

Never strain your wrists opening a can again, thanks to this handy gizmo that does the job with the push of a button. Not only will this No. 1 bestseller give your hands a break, it'll spare them from potential cuts, since it removes the entire lid without exposing any jagged edges. 

"This product has been such a lifesaver in our kitchen!" gushed a happy buyer. "Arthritis has hit us both hard, and opening cans has become an issue for us both. ... Oh my, what a game-changer it is. ... You are left with the lid and no sharp edges! I would recommend this item to anyone, arthritis or not!"

I spotted Giada De Laurentiis using this exact slicer in an Instagram video, and if you value your fingers, it's a good one to have. Mandolines don't exactly have the best reputation — they're often associated with, well, finger "mishaps" due to their extremely sharp blades. That's why safety features are crucial, and this model doesn't skimp. For instance, the side of the blade that isn't being used is completely concealed, and it comes with a spring-loaded food holder, which you stick onto whatever you're slicing to use as a barrier between the fruit/vegetable and your hand. This way, you're never coming in close contact with the blade itself.

"It's easy to use, easy to clean and, with the guard, easy to keep my fingers!" wrote a satisfied shopper. "It's worked on anything I've put on it ... It's stable, and so very sharp! This is a major point for me, because the sharpness means I don't have to exert large amounts of pressure. With shoulder damage, exerting strength causes pain, and I have none using this tool."