The 7 Very Best Dish Towels

Whatwe’relookingfor

Material:Cotton| Size:14” x 25”

I first learned about these when I worked at Bon Appétit. They were the kitchen towels of choice among staffers, who taught me that they’re also the kitchen towels of choice in a lot of restaurant kitchens — always a good sign when it comes to durability. Indeed, I used my set for about six years before most finally got stained enough that I was compelled to switch them out with some new Ikea ones below (and in fact, a few stragglers still remain). That’s a pretty great lifespan when you consider they cost just over a dollar each.

They’re also the preferred towel for recipe developer and food writerGrace Elkus, who says they’re absorbent and don’t ever fray even though she’s constantly throwing them in the wash. “I like that they aren’t super-fluffy,” she says (as opposed to the more textured bar towels below). I agree the material is great. In comparison, they’re a bit thicker than the Ikea ones below, which is especially nice for leaving produce out to dry and grabbing hot pan handles. “And they’re fine enough looking to keep out,” Elkus says. I’d even go so far as to say they have a very classic-in-a-good-way vibe.

Material:Cotton| Size:18” x 24”

I grabbed a ton of these a few years ago when shopping in person at Ikea. (Most of my Zeppoli ones were in fairly dire straits at that point and the price, 79 cents each, was compelling enough that I thought I would give them a shot.) They’re not quite as thick — they feel thinner and softer out of the gate — but I like that even better for drying my hands. They’re still plenty absorbent and if I have something soaking wet, like a ton of just-washed kale leaves, I simply double-up when laying them out on the counter. They air dry even faster than the Zeppoli ones, too. And though I keep mine folded in abasketor draped over the oven handle, they have a little attached hook for storing if that’s how you want to keep them.

Material:Cotton| Size:16” x 19”

Bar towels are most often made from terry cloth — even thicker than the Zeppoli fabric and more textured than any “dish towel” or “kitchen towel” counterpart (makes sense, if you think about bartenders mopping up all the liquid that collects on a bar counter).This also makes them extremely absorbent, says Jorge Gaviria, founder ofMasienda. He calls them “high volume towels” and likes that he can rotate through them without being precious (indeed, most of the time he washes them after just one use). The slightly thicker fabric also allows him to handle hot pans without getting burned. Todd Pulsinelli, chef atThe Chloein New Orleans, who uses them both at his restaurant and at home, says the same. One disclaimer: This style of towel will let some lint off the first time or two you use it, so wash first thing and be cautious early on about patting food dry directly.

Material:Cotton| Size:20” x 30”

Flour-sack towels are made of cotton like most of the others on this list, but they’re generally thinner and have a slightly looser weave than those not delineated as such (in fact, I would say my Ikea ones are flour sack style even though the brand doesn’t explicitly call them that). The set I own is no longer available, though these from Williams Sonoma are similar — both in material and because they’re especially large (the largest on this list, in fact). I set mine out to dry foods like just-washed leafy greens that can’t fit in my salad spinner and just-rinsed chickpeas. The surface area gives more room to spread things out and for air to circulate around. I find the texture especially soft to dry my hands. I also like to pull them out when I have company; maybe it’s silly, but because I don’t use them as much, they appear cleaner and less raggedy, which I think looks nicer while people are hanging in the kitchen as I cook.

Meherwan Irani, owner ofChai Paniin Asheville, North Carolina, and founder ofSpicewalla, says they’re great at absorbing moisture, whether he’s wiping down counters or drying his hands. “I also need my kitchen towels to be lint-free so things wipe off cleanly,” he says, “and flour sack towels leave no trace.” He and chefCamille Becerra, who uses flour-sack towels too, say they hang nicely and cleanly, a bonus for something you leave out in the open.

Material:Cotton| Size:21” x 28”

Alexandra Wight, founder and chef ofCrown Jewelin Great Diamond Island, ME says she’s amazed that in the four years she’s been using these Hawkins New York kitchen towels, they’ve never retained any stains. “They really hold up over time,” she says, “and there’s no fraying either.” She notes that the other biggest plus is how big (close to the dimensions of the Williams Sonomaones above) and plush they are. “You can fold them over once and you really don’t feel any heat through them,” she says. “And they’re great to spread out on the counter and use as a dish drying space. They hold a lot of pieces.”

Material:Recycled polyester, polyamide| Size:18” x 30”

Elkus keeps some more decorative kitchen towels around in addition to her Zeppolis, mostly to set out when guests come over. Still, she says, they’re notjustfor show; they function totally well, too. Though she hasn’t put them through as much wear and tear, they’re absorbent enough to dry hands thoroughly and they haven’t worn down at all in the wash. Plus, she says, “they have a pattern for every holiday, every season, whatever look you’re going for. And they always release new collections, too.” She’s not exaggerating: There are over 1,000 different designs to shop from.

Material:Cotton| Size:18” x 28”

While the brand above offers a staggering number of designs to choose from, I wanted to include a simpler decorative towel that I use and love myself.These come in a set of four or six, each in a different muted color. The former includes two stripes and two plaids, and the latter includes two stripes and one plaid. While I cycle through the majority of my kitchen towels regularly and store whatever isn’t being used folded in a basket, I keep these hanging on my oven door handle. I love the way they look: simple but not as utilitarian as the Zeppoli or Ikea ones above. They’re a bit more expensive, but that’s fine since I primarily use them to dry my wet hands. They’re incredibly absorbent and soft. I also occasionally grab one to touch a hot handle (though I’m careful to make sure I do this only when the stove or my pan isn’t messy). Given this, I wash them less frequently than my other towels — every few weeks, give or take — and they still look good as new after more than a year of being in the same spot.