Before removing a hot tray from the oven, clear a heat-safe landing spot on the counter, put on 2 dry oven mitts, and clear the path. After opening the oven door, wait 1 or 2 seconds for the burst of hot steam to pass. Pull out the rack if needed and grip the tray with 2 hands, supporting it with your palms. Keep the tray away from your body as you carry it.
Preparation is half the job. Clear the place where the tray will go and set down a wooden trivet, wire rack, or thick wooden board. Do not set a hot tray on a wet counter, marble, or glass surface. Clear obstacles from the path, such as a chair, an open drawer, or a child moving around on the floor. The 2 oven mitts must be dry; a damp mitt or cloth transfers heat to your hand immediately. Preparing both hands with oven mitts lets you grip the tray at 2 points. Do not open the oven until you are ready.
When the oven door opens, steam bursts out and can burn your face, arms, and eyes. After opening the door, wait 1 or 2 seconds and keep your face away from the level of the door; wait for the steam to clear before leaning toward the food. If you wear glasses, be aware that steam can fog the lenses. Open the door all the way and keep it stable so you do not bump into it while pulling out the tray. Do not leave the oven door half open. Keep children away from the front of the oven while opening it.
If possible, move the rack out along with the tray. Pull the rack partway out with an oven-mitted hand or, if the oven has one, with its rack-pull handle. This way, you do not have to reach into the oven to get the tray. Reaching deep inside can cause your arm to touch the upper heating element or the hot edge of the door. Grip the tray with 2 hands, supporting it with your palms rather than your fingertips. The edges of the door and tray are thin, so they transfer heat quickly. Make sure the tray does not slide as you pull out the rack.
Heavy dishes and those containing liquids need extra care. If a dish containing sauce, oil, or boiling water tilts, its contents can spill onto your arm; keep the dish level and carry it away from your body. Do not carry a very heavy casserole dish by yourself. If possible, pull it out with the rack and take hold of it near the counter. Do not remove your oven mitts as soon as you set the tray on the counter; it remains hot while you adjust its position. Trying to close the oven door with your foot or elbow can throw off your balance.
The tray is still hot on the counter, even if it does not look that way. Leaving an oven mitt or cloth beside it can keep the next person from reaching for it with a bare hand; in a crowded kitchen, calling out a warning also helps. Metal-handled pans taken from the oven pose the same risk, so cover the handle with an oven mitt. Close the oven door after removing the tray; leaving it open loses heat and creates a risk of someone bumping into it or getting burned. The same warning applies to a glass dish just removed from the oven.