What Is a Trivet?
Sometimes, it's the smallest gadgets that have the biggest payoff in your kitchen.
As a home chef, you know that it's a bad idea to place a scalding hot pot or platter on a countertop or table to avoid damaging the surface. While a pot holder or a folded dishtowel can be used in pinch, a trivet is a much better choice.
What is a Trivet?
A trivet is a flat, heat-resistant object that acts as a buffer between hot cookware and the more delicate kitchen surface you want to protect. Trivets are a heat-resistant barrier that allows you to place hot-out-of-the-oven dishes onto your wooden table or countertop to cool and serve without worrying about marring your furniture.
Types of Trivets
Whether you're looking for something to support your heavy cast-iron Dutch oven or you simply need a spot to place your espresso maker, there are different types of trivets to suit your needs. It's a good idea to keep several on hand so that you'll always have something sturdy to put under that hot item.
Some trivets might be no thicker than a coaster that you might use to set down your hot cup of coffee or tea. Others have legs that raise up the protective surface a bit, much like a cooling rack, so that you can get some air circulating underneath that hot pot.
Then, there's various shapes to choose from. You don't have to match the shape of your cookware to your trivet as long as it's a suitable size to support it. That means you have your choice of square, rectangle, and round trivets. Some trivets come in an attractive novelty design, like a sunburst or a flower. There are even special shapes, like a heart-shaped trivet or a a trivet in the shape of the American flag, that can double as kitchen decor when not in use. Looking for autumn kitchen accents? Wayfair has maple-shaped trivets that fit the bill nicely.
Additionally, trivets come in a variety of materials. Choose the one that best suits your cooking needs.
Cast Iron: While heavy, this trivet material is sure to withstand the heat and weight of heavy pots, especially Dutch ovens.
Silicone: Flexible and light as air, silicone trivets are heavy-duty when it comes to protecting your surfaces.
Wood: Just as you might use a wooden cutting board to protect your counter, you can use a wooden trivet as a heat-resistant barrier.
Cork: Though cork might feel thin and porous, it's enough to protect a surface from heat and scratches. It's why it's found on the bottom of many coasters!
Stainless Steel: Just like stainless steel appliances, a trivet made from this material is tough and durable.
Bamboo: A bamboo stalk might look delicate, but it's strong enough to make furniture and home decor. When made into a trivet, they provide a natural, heat-resistant surface.
Aluminum: If you're looking for a trivet that's more lightweight than cast iron or stainless steel, opt for aluminum. Despite being thinner, it can still stand up to the heat of that roast pan you're hoping to let rest.
Melamine: Though it looks like porcelain or ceramic and feels delicate to the touch, melamine won't break or crack with heat, making it excellent trivet material.
Trivets are also multifunctional. Those that have raised legs are particularly useful any time you have to raise something – hot or not – off a surface. Here are some examples of other ways you can use your trivets:
Using a hot glue gun? A trivet is a perfect spot to rest it when not in use. Or use a trivet to have a place to put wet paintbrushes down while protecting your table.
Keep that hot hair dryer, curling iron, or straightener from burning your vanity's surface by placing it down on a trivet.
If you've got a flexible silicone trivet, you can place it over a stubborn bottle cap for a better grip to open it.
If you're sold on the multiple benefits and uses of trivets, browse Wayfair for a wide selection of trivets in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles. All are useful, but some are so attractive that you might find yourself wanting to keep them on display even when they're not in use!
Article by Barbara Bellesi Zito.
