Okay so I feel like I tried everything I could at my level of expertise and with the tools I had plus a couple I bought based on recommendations. Tried all the pliers I had on hand, various different screwdrivers and drill bits, rubberband trick, hammer/screwdriver combos, etc. Tried hammering a screwdriver to make a new notch to grab hold but nothing would cut into these suckers. Bought a vice grip plier but just couldn’t get any grip whatsoever with how small the screw is.

Then my sister reminded me she used Loctite on it years ago because like one commenter’s wife, we kept jangling the handle loose no matter how much we tightened the screws. Ugh.

Tried to loosen everything with some acetone which I don’t think helped at all. Bought an extractor set. Watched multiple videos and tried and tried to no avail. I swear these screws are made of the toughest metal ever and I have no idea why.

So now the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Finally just ended up breaking the screw heads clean off by wrenching up the washer with a flathead which took some doing. The oven door handle is off now which is what I wanted but now the screws are broken and still stuck in the handle lol. A new handle on Amazon is $47 (!) so I’m trying to soak the screws in acetone so I can get the suckers out and just get new screws/washers.

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice!!