Place to wear a mitt

OVEN

["Think of where you might handle something hot, but not for catching a ball—this appliance often requires protective gear for your hands."]

This clue plays on the double meaning of "mitt." While you might first think of a baseball mitt or winter glove, it’s hinting at an oven mitt—the padded glove used to handle hot dishes. The word "place" points to where you’d use that mitt, which is an oven. It’s a simple pun where the answer relies on interpreting "mitt" in a kitchen context instead of a sports or clothing one.