My husband wanted silicone pot holders and he loves pigs, so when I saw these I just had to buy them for his Christmas stocking! I was skeptical when I first saw them...how could they really protect your hands from heat?! But they work amazingly well. In addition, they are easy to clean off (no more gummy, gunky pot holders) and the texture helps hold onto slippery pots and handles. I especially love them for grabbing the handle of my cast iron skillet when I need to move it while cooking. These were one of the best purchases of 2009 for our household!