It’s a great question. Who hasn’t had the experience of thinking they’re buying a good one only to get it home, use it, and find out it’s a disappointment? It’s time we knew what to look for!

And why? Because a good dish towel is an important kitchen asset. It serves a variety of purposes—drying spills and dishes, handling hot pots, and even handling food. And the plain fact is, the better the dish towel, the better it handles the afore-mentioned chores. Drying dishes with a cheap, inferior towel is the pits, simply put!

Because it is such an important asset in the kitchen, let’s look at what makes an exceptional one. It ought to be large, sturdy, absorbent, and able to last through hundreds of washings without going limp or falling apart.

I found this helpful information on a great foodie site, WiseBread (www.wisebread.com). And one of the first things these folks said was that great dish towels don’t cost an arm and a leg, if you know where to look. WiseBread knows this because they went looking, and they found some of the best kitchen towels at the best prices. Read on for their 5 favorites:

Now Designs Ripple Towels are oversized soft white kitchen towels that are ultra absorbent and tough enough to handle any job in the kitchen. They’re made of 100% Turkish cotton, which is softer and more durable than any other material. Each towel measures 18” x 28,” which can cover a large surface area. It offers streak-free drying and features raised ridges throughout for better absorbency. The towels come in 20 different vibrant colors and you can also find matching dish cloths from the brand.

They were also selected by America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated as the best kitchen towels available because reviewers found that they hold up to rigorous use and repeated washings. In other words, they should last you for years. However, the higher price point makes them more expensive than the other options on WiseBread’s list. A pack of 2 towels runs around $18 on amazon.com.

Next up is Aunt Martha's Flour Sack Dish Towels. Also ultra-absorbent, they will last for years without pilling or fraying. The premium 130 cotton thread count towels are hemmed on all sides, so they work well and will look great. They dry streak-free without leaving any lint behind. They come pre-washed and pre-bleached, making them soft and ready to use the moment they arrive. My Aunt Annie used these. We used to help her in the kitchen and had fun asking, “Aunt Annie, where’s the Aunt Martha?”

Also recommended by Cook’s Illustrated, these are some of amazon.com’s bestselling dish towels ($21.00 for a set of 7).

Keeble Outlets One Dozen Kitchen Dish Towels offer high quality for a very reasonable price. These sturdy but soft, white cotton towels have a herringbone design that makes for better absorbency, which makes them ideal for drying. They are bleach-safe and will stay vibrant even after hundreds of washes. You do need to wash the towels before the first use, though, and the all-natural fibers will shrink during that first washing, but this is completely normal. These happen to be the choice of professional chefs around the world and are also some of amazon.com’s bestselling dish towels.

Some reviewers did find, though, that after a few hundred washing, these towels didn’t hold up as well as some of the more expensive dish towels on their list. But for the price, they might be the place to start when upgrading your kitchen linens. The thin, low lint towels are available in a range of colors and sell for $18.

DII Soft Everyday Kitchen Basic Waffle Terry Towels have a large 15” x 26” surface area. The thick, soft cotton towels are very absorbent and ideal for drying. In fact, the Washington Post and Apartment Therapy both recommend waffle or basket weave cotton towels because they’re some of the most absorbent towels available. This weave captures more water, thus they’re more effective in wiping up spills.

Another amazon.com bestseller, this towel is designed to last through many washings for years of dependable use. A set of 4 sells for $14.99.

Finally, the set of 13 Liliane Collection Kitchen Dish Towels, 25" x 14", are woven with a two-ply natural cotton yarn, making them heavier and sturdier than other towels. They are also two inches longer than most towels to allow for some shrinking in the wash. They feature a herringbone design, which makes them more absorbent and ideal for drying. The low lint towels have four hemmed sides and are bleach-safe. These are commercial quality and last through repeated washings. They come in five colors, have stellar online reviews, and are also some of amazon.com’s bestselling dish towels. Backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, these 13 towels sell for $14.99.