OXO Large Silicone Drying Mat Doubles as a Trivet

A frying pan that needs hand washing can become the awkward last item in a kitchen cleanup: the dishwasher has space for the plates, but the pan still needs somewhere to dry. The OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat provides a broad, ribbed surface for that job. It can also work as a trivet within the maker's stated heat limit. This is model 1410880, a single gray mat with a raised edge and rows of short ribs.

Raised ribs leave space beneath cookware

The molded bars sit above the mat's lower surface. OXO describes this arrangement as elevating and aerating the items resting on it. A pan rests on the ribs rather than directly against the whole mat. The low format also leaves the area above it open for a platter or bowl, without a frame to work around.

The manufacturer specifically names frying pans and platters. Picture the pieces you regularly wash by hand, including their handles. One broad pan may fit on its own yet leave little room for a platter alongside it. Set items apart so the open surface is not lost under a stack.

A flat mat will not hold a row of plates upright. If plates make up most of your washing, supports that separate them may matter more than an open layout for cookware.

A second job under hot dishes

OXO rates the silicone for heat resistance up to 425°F and explicitly says the mat can be used as a trivet. This gives it another task before the washing begins: a place for suitable hot cookware when serving. Someone equipping a small kitchen gets two jobs from one piece, with one mat to find storage for.

The 425°F figure is the manufacturer's upper limit. Keep cookware above that temperature off the mat and follow the care instructions for the table or counter underneath. If you cannot establish that a hot item is within the limit, leave it off this mat.

Think about timing, too. The mat cannot stay full of drying dishes and serve beneath the next hot pan at the same time. If those jobs routinely overlap, a separate trivet will still be useful. Its two uses add most value when your kitchen routine allows you to switch between them.

Clear the counter when the job is done

The flexibility is useful after cleanup. OXO says the mat can be rolled up or hung for storage; the hanging hole is visible at one edge. You can reserve counter space for drying when needed and reclaim it for another task afterward, provided you have a place to put the mat.

At 16.9 by 12.5 by 0.25 inches in OXO's specifications, it is still a fairly broad rectangle while in use. Measure the open part of your counter, allowing for the faucet, soap and anything you normally keep beside the sink. Being easy to put away does not reduce the space needed while dishes are drying.

The maker marks the mat dishwasher safe. The design has a raised perimeter but no projecting spout to send collected water into the sink. Plan to empty any water that remains, clean the mat and let it dry before rolling it away.

Choose it for a separate hand-washed load

Start with the items you expect to dry. If your dishwasher takes the everyday plates and glasses, the odd hand-washed pan or serving dish may be all the mat has to accommodate. In that situation, a full upright rack can be more structure than you need beside the sink.

If you already have a drying arrangement and a trivet that fit your habits, another mat may add little. Buy this one for the particular pieces you wash and the times you can clear it away; it is less compelling as a permanent home for a large mixed load.