Here’s a nifty dish drying pad . . . which doubles as a non-slip hot pad for pans! Many thanks to Belinda Wolfe, aboard Rickshaw, for sharing this. (UPDATE: I have THREE of these on Barefoot Gal — one of my first purchases after we bought the boat — and love them!)
I absolutely love this idea! Here’s what Belinda said; her photos are at the bottom of this post.
Here is a product I really love. As with most cruisers/boaters I want products that serve more than one purpose. This one does. It is an OXO drying mat/hot pad.
I have two – one on each side of my sink. A small one that is next to my drain rack that I use to drain glasses and a large one between my sink and my cook top. That one I use to set dirty dishes. The beauty of it is that any water that drips off those wet dishes, or anything else wet that I set down – like frozen food, the water stays on the mat. Since all boats list, even those at dock, this mat keeps the water corralled. It keeps the water from running back in the corner or under the stove rim. And when I take a hot pan off the stove I can put it on the mat. It is easy to clean and it can be dried quickly with a towel – unlike a cloth drying mat.
The silicone is naturally non slip — good for both dishes and hot pans — and is heat-resistant to 425° F. They clean easily, too — I find that a nail brush works well if any “gunk” gets around the ribs.
The OXO mats come in three sizes and are available on Amazon. All are a medium gray as shown in Belinda’s photos below:
- Large — 12-1/2″ x 16-3/4″ (this is the larger of the two in Belinda’s photos; the rib pattern has changed slightly)
- Small — 6″ x 17″ (the smaller in Belinda’s photos)
- Square — 12″ x 12″ (When the OXO mat in this size is unavailable, this is a comparable product with good reviews.)
In reading reviews, I find two comments over and over. First, people like these over other silicone drying mats because there is a continuous lip around the outside, so water doesn’t spill off the side as on some other brands (Belinda also loved this feature). Second, even the “large” mat is fairly small. While this might be a complaint for home use, it’s usually a positive for a boat galley!
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Greg Gegner says
I want one
Bob Kellett says
This is my favorite website that is emailed automatically to me. I learn something new with each posting. I also love and use your fantastic cookbook! Thank you so. Happy Holidays!
Nita Haas says
Great for the galley or home. I get so many ideas from you it makes my head spin sometimes.
The Boat Galley says
Some are mine, some come from other readers . . . I love how sometimes ideas “pile on”!
Janice Sterling says
I’m curious if it molds.
Carolyn Shearlock says
No more so than any other dish mat — you do have to dump the water periodically and occasionally give it a wash, just like the mat under a drainer.
peggy at ECY says
That is what we have on all our boats! Described it on another post about pot holders thinking I was sharing something new with you but of course you already knew!!
Judith Pringle says
I have two on our Hunter e33,love them!
Cheryn Croker says
There is also a sample of in sink dish drainers from ‘Chef’n dish garden ‘ on the web. The round dish drainer would fit boat sinks and one drainer for the bench top looks like plastic grass and has multiple ‘spikes’ to hold dishes while underway.
Marilyn Van Os says
Aloha Carolyn and Happy Thanksgiving! I just wanted to let you know, and to thank you for what Iʻve learned from you over the past couple of years. Iʻve bought a number of your suggestions with excellent result. I admit that Iʻm not a sailor but am working toward living in a Tiny House. I pass on your recommendations and observations to others in my Tiny House People group. Thanks again for sharing what you learn! If you can make it work on a boat, we can certainly make it work in our small spaces as well.
The Boat Galley says
Thank you!
Rhonda says
Feliz Navidad
Can’t wait to get one when we go back to the USA. Love your site,thanks!
Anita Moeder says
This IS a perfect product! Thx
Jim Cosgrove says
Purchased one based on your recommendation and we are really happy with it. Works great! Thanks.
Marta Crichlow says
I have one that started on our 4 month cruise North (Alaska) Drain dinner dishes, place on the table before serving pizza right out of the oven. On deck to protect from wine spills. It is my goto sailors gift. Got mine at Lowes!
Laine Common says
I saw this in the photo of another article you posted and had to track it down immediately! It arrives tomorrow! Got the XXL black one :D.
Might get a couple more smaller ones too!
Jackie Bartz says
When I was on the boat I used a plastic tray with a piece of non-skid below it and a towel in it as a dish rack. Took a bit of creative stacking to get items close to vertical so they could drain and dry. The “ah ha” moment came when I realized that I could lean dishes (or pans) against the cupboard that was behind my drying “rack”. This might help others…and would work wonderfully well with these silicone mats. Wish I’d had them.
Dawn Teresa says
I love ours; especially to place dishes/pots on to keep them from moving around while preparing meals.
Judith Nelson Cruzan says
I didn’t think to use it as a place for hot pans! It’s also great for keeping a cutting board from sliding.
Jerri Miller says
I️ purchased two of these yesterday and now I see this post! Ha ha. Great minds….
imdb says
I have one of these for home, but this article makes me want to buy a couple other sizes for the second home (boat). Thanks for sharing.