As a professional barbecue chef and cookbook author, I've tried just about everything over the past 20 years to work safely and efficiently at the barbecue. Oven mitts? Dangerous—they catch fire at the slightest spark. Leather gloves? They become rock hard with grease, are difficult to keep clean, and don't insulate well enough. Heat-resistant fabric gloves with silicone protection? An improvement, but they shouldn't get wet and aren't exactly hygienic when handling meat.

When I first saw DIRTY JACK, I knew immediately: this is the modern barbecue towel. Just like in my early days as a chef, I wear it on my right side, while holding a thinner cleaning cloth on my left. This is the most effective and hygienic way to work.

DIRTY JACK towels are heat-resistant, washable at high temperatures, and incredibly durable. They don't dry very well, so people who dry dishes with them without asking quickly learn to avoid them. We've been using them for years now, and I practically never bring gloves to the barbecue anymore.

While writing The Ultimate Low & Slow BBQ Book, I always had a few DIRTY JACK towels on hand. American barbecue is dirty work—grease, smoke, and sticky sauces are guaranteed to leave stains. Mexican barbecue presents its own challenges: hot stones, glowing embers, and rough metal. But in every situation, the DIRTY JACK proved to be the perfect solution.

- Jeroen Hazebroek