A Taste of Home
Strong Points:
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Pack of 2. Perfect for large kitchens.
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Affordable
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Available in 11 different colors/patterns and 2 sizes
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Subtle dotted texture on top for extra grip
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Easily wipes clean with a damp cloth
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Resistant to dirt
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Walking doesn't work
Cons:
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Absorbs water slightly and feels damp to the touch after wiping up a spill
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Needs a pad to prevent slipping
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Thinner than other options
While some may consider the best kitchen mats to be a luxury item, we believe they are a kitchen necessity that everyone should have. Affordable and offering better support than a kitchen rug, this KMAT 2-piece set is great value for money.
This set is relatively inexpensive for its price range, but it does include two waterproof mats that come in 11 different shades and patterns. As with the more expensive options, spills are super easy to wipe up with a damp cloth, and the stain-resistant material helps prevent soaking in. With a small mat and large runner, this set covers a pretty large surface area, making it a great choice for larger kitchens. If you don't need two mats, consider keeping one in your laundry room or at your standing desk instead.
That said, Test Kitchen team member Sarah Tramonte found the mat not supportive enough for eight hours of standing in her test kitchen and thought it was best suited for non-commercial use. That's not surprising, since it's thinner than the other mats she tested. The compromise has a lot to do with the low price, she says, making the mat a good fit for “home cooks who only cook an hour or two a day.” If you need a little more support, she recommends purchasing two or three rug pads for extra comfort and grip.
But if you are on a budget, its performance is definitely worth raving about. After all, having a thin kitchen mat is definitely better than no mat at all!
A Taste of Home
Strong Points:
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Made from 100% natural, sustainable bamboo
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The slits are coated to prevent moisture absorption
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The slats allow the mat to be easily folded up when not in use.
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Soft felt backing with anti-slip ridges
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Securely fastened
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Easy to wipe off
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No rug pad needed underneath
Cons:
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Only two sizes and colors available
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Dirt can get in between the cracks
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expensive
We're obsessed with the current bamboo kitchen trend (hello, bamboo cutting board stove covers!), and that love extends to kitchen mats. Despite some damage to the box (it happens with shipping, after all), the Anji Mountain Bamboo Mat is our pick for the best bamboo kitchen mat out there. Of the two we tested, it's the better value and more sturdily built. Plus, it looks super chic and comes in a variety of sizes to fit any kitchen size.
This mat is made from bamboo slats, giving it an organic look. I like that the slats allow you to fold the mat in half for storage. The underside is non-slip thanks to a layer of soft felt and small ridges of a rubber-like anti-slip material scattered across the surface. I like that the felt is included, as it helps prevent scratches and other damage to the floor below. It stays firmly in place and only moves when a lot of pressure is applied.
The bamboo slats repel water, providing extra protection for your kitchen floor. The gaps between the slats are lined with a rubber-like material to prevent moisture from seeping in. The downside to this mat is that dirt can get in between the slats, making it a little more difficult to clean than mats made from PVC. However, if you keep the mat lying flat, any dirt that seeps into the gaps won't be noticeable.
For a bamboo kitchen mat, this mat performs very well and will likely last significantly longer than the other PVC mats we tested. Overall, we found this mat to be a great value and perfect for those who prefer a more sustainable, organic aesthetic.
What to look out for when buying a kitchen mat
The first thing to consider before buying is whether to choose a kitchen mat or a kitchen rug. “Mats may be considered the easiest to clean, as they can be cleaned immediately after a spill,” says design expert Susan Serra. But for those who want authentic materials and style that match the design of their kitchen, she continues, mats may not be the best option.
Conversely, mats are much more comfortable and supportive than thin kitchen rugs, which is handy for anyone who spends a lot of time in the sink washing dishes or cooking complicated meals that take hours to prepare.
Another important consideration is size and placement: “Look closely at where you'll be putting your kitchen mat — in front of your stove or sink, say — and look for one that's sized to have a few steps on either side of the middle,” advises Susan. Longer mats will take up more floor space, but they'll look clunky and unattractive. Plus, Susan warns, “narrow, long, thick rugs can easily become a tripping hazard.”
Why you should trust us
Our team has three years of experience testing and rating everything from the best coffee subscriptions to the best flower delivery services. We take our testing seriously and only recommend products we love, regardless of popularity or brand name.
For this article, we spoke with Susan Serra, CKD, CAPS, president of Susan Serra Associates, Inc., a company that provides kitchen and dining design services. She is also the founder of Scandinavian Made, a store that stocks both new and vintage handwoven Swedish rugs. Susan is an award-winning kitchen design professional who has been designing kitchens since 1986.
How to Find the Best Kitchen Mats
To find the best kitchen mats, we tested seven different kitchen mats from seven different brands, focusing especially on bestsellers with positive reviews. For every mat, we tested the following features:
- Packaging and Shipping
- Absorbent and water repellent
- Size and Appearance
- material
- Easy to maintain
- Quality and Cost
Beyond the product list, to get a complete picture of how each mat performs, we took each of the seven mats into our product testing lab. Our product testing team thoroughly tested each mat in every category to create a complete profile of each kitchen mat. A Taste of Home Our test kitchen team double-checks the comfort and pain relief claims.
Testing involves a number of hands-on experiments, but the most important are things like seeing if there were any wrinkles when they arrived (and how easily those wrinkles smoothed out), how much water the rugs absorb (or repel) when we splashed 1/4 cup of water on each rug, a pass/fail test to determine whether they were slippery or not, how well each rug held up to our recommended care instructions after being rubbed with yogurt, oil and dirt, and whether they were more comfortable to stand on for long periods of time compared to a hard floor.
During the two-day testing period, three of the contenders did not meet our criteria, but four received high marks across the board. These four were selected for this list of best kitchen mats. Because each product has slightly different features, we are confident that there is something for everyone on this list. Even better, you can be sure that each product will perform as expected. Thanks to our testing team!
FAQ
Which mats are best for your kitchen floor?
Some people prefer a thicker, more bouncy mat, but others find that a thicker mat puts more pressure on their feet. If you're not sure what thickness you need, Susan suggests standing on a few different types and brands of mats to find one that's most comfortable but not too bouncy.
What is the best material for a kitchen mat?
Most kitchen mats have a memory foam core. Natural materials like bamboo have a soft, organic feel, but may not be for people who tend to create a lot of mess in the kitchen. Susan agrees, saying that “rug materials are best in the kitchen because they're easy to clean.” Rubber or memory foam mats last longer because they can be wiped down easily with a damp cloth.
