I don't know if it's a holdover from when I worked on the line after graduating from culinary school, but I love kitchen tongs. I use them every day and consider them one of the best kitchen gadgets in my collection. I own all kinds of styles and sizes, as well as charcuterie platters and mini gold sets for takeout. I use kitchen tongs so much that a friend once pointed out to me, “You and your tongs.”
why? They're like a natural extension of your hands, and they're better than most kitchen gadgets for a variety of tasks, like tossing pasta or flipping large pieces of meat like pot roast in a Dutch oven. Tongs allow you to easily grab, turn, lift, and toss while cooking. Many are around 12 inches, so they keep your hands away from the heat.
We tested different sizes, materials, and designs to find the perfect pair of tongs. I used them in a variety of dishes and incorporated them into my daily meals during the week. My favorites came easily, so read on for the results.
Best overall
Joseph Joseph Elevate Stainless Steel Tongs
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Amazon
These Joseph Joseph tongs are 12 inches long and come with a stand, angled silicone tips, rubberized handles, and an opening/closing lever. The tips of the tongs are slanted, making it easy to get into the corners of the pot. Silicone is not only heat resistant, but also easily scratched by any cooking surface. These are also relatively light, but still very powerful. When I first saw these tongs, I didn't expect to like them as much as I did, but they performed so well that they quickly became my favorite tongs from the drawer during testing.
I also appreciate that the small stand helps keep the tongs off the counter, and the lever for closing them is smooth and non-stick. Many models start to stick after multiple washes, giving Joseph Joseph another advantage.
size: 12 inches | material: Stainless steel and silicone | Dishwasher safe: yes
best silicone
Misen silicone tongs
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Misen
Misen silicone tongs are sold individually or as part of a great cookware set from a brand I also own (and love). These 12-inch stainless steel tongs have silicone tips and rubberized handles for comfort. Compared to other kitchen tongs I've tested, these were bulky and heavy. It may be inconvenient for people with mobility issues, but it's been my go-to when handling heavy pig butts or flipping chicken roasting in the oven. They did their job and were surprisingly gentle, never tearing through the crispy skin I worked so hard to create on the chicken. These were incredibly durable, easy to clean, and effective for any job. The price is also surprisingly reasonable for a brand of this level compared to other more expensive brands that have not performed well.
size: 12 inches | material: stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: yes
best stainless steel
OXO Good Grip 12 inch tongs
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Amazon
Oxo stainless steel tongs are standard size 12 inches. It has a classic black rubberized handle that wraps around the handle for added comfort. I already owned these. These are a great set of kitchen tongs for many reasons. Not only is it light enough for anyone to handle, it also has great grip, whether you're cooking a ribeye in a cast iron pan or emulsifying carbonara at the end. recipe. The tip is made of stainless steel like the tongs. I don't use it on nonstick or enamel surfaces because they scratch easily, but I always use it when cooking with stainless steel or copper pots.
size: 12 inches | material: stainless steel | Is it dishwasher safe? yes
best splurge
Rösle 12 inch tongs
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Amazon
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These tongs are perfect for high-temperature cooking, easy to use, and long enough to reach safely.
I've owned a smaller version of these Rösle tongs for years, and these sleek, shiny tongs did not disappoint. It may look too nice for everyday use, but it's incredibly durable. It's so attractive that you can easily use it at the table, for example to plate or mix salads. They also have great grip, and the tension closure makes it easy to snap them shut while cooking.
Cannot be used in Teflon-coated frying pans. Although it will scratch the surface, it is ideal for stainless steel and other durable metals. Stainless steel makes it ideal for high-temperature cooking such as grilling, but it can also be easily used for almost any other kitchen task. However, over time and high temperatures, the metal can bend or warp. 12 inches is a little heavier than I would like, so keep that in mind when choosing your ideal size.
size: 12 inches | material: stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: yes
How we tested kitchen tongs
I use tongs every time I cook, so I use them for a month for all my cooking, whether it's searing chuck roast for pot roast, flipping chicken breasts in the skillet, or flipping fish fillets in the air fryer. I put it to the test. more. We evaluated how it felt in the hand, how easy it was to clean, and how sensitive it was to the ingredients, especially protein. It was also important to me how these would close and be stored in a drawer with other utensils. Kitchen tongs that open on their own received negative reviews, but kitchen tongs that were kept neatly and neatly received positive reviews. That said, clasps are important and it's also useful for people who like to travel with their kitchen tools.
Food & Wine / Jennifer Zaiman
Factors to consider
material
Most tongs are metal or plastic. The tong head or grip part can be made of the same material as the body or can be covered with silicone. Tongs with metal handles last longer than their plastic counterparts, and most are dishwasher safe. Metal-tipped tongs and silicone-tipped tongs have a better grip on slippery, heavy items like steak, while silicone is gentler on delicate items and is safe to use on non-stick frying pans. It is convenient to have a pair of tongs made in Japan in your collection.
length
Tongs come in all lengths, from 4- to 5-inch mini sizes to 14-inch lengths for use on the grill. The length you choose should be comfortable to grip and give you adequate control to move the object. The long handle is great for grilling or smoking when you want to protect yourself from the heat, but it's too long to be useful on the stovetop. The 10-12 inch tong set is a suitable length for use on the stovetop.
comfort of the handle
Finding a set of tongs that gives you a solid feel in your hands is critical to controlling the tongs. Some have rubber, silicone, or wooden handles for comfort, while others have ergonomically designed grips. Choose tongs that fit snugly in your hand, have an appropriate weight, and preferably have some type of non-slip coating for safety.
FAQ
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What types of kitchen tongs are there?
“Kitchen tongs come in many different types, including utility tongs (general-purpose for cooking), serving tongs (useful for plating), barbecue tongs (long handles for grilling from a distance), and salad tongs (useful for scooping salads). ), just to name a few,” says Sapna Dalal, a vegetarian tourist food blogger.
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What are the best kitchen tongs?
Dalal has her favorites. “I prefer tongs with silicone pads on the ends because they're easier to cook with and food doesn't stick to the ends.” As a general rule, the best kitchen tongs are your personal choice. This means that it suits your style of cooking. If you often cook at home, you may want to use a variety of sizes and styles. If you cook occasionally, a set of medium-sized tongs may be sufficient. If you have nonstick cookware, get Dalal's favorite silicone-tipped tongs to protect surfaces.
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How should I clean and store kitchen tongs?
“I wash my tongs with dish soap and store them closed in a drawer with other utensils like spatulas and whisks.” Many tongs are dishwasher safe, and the top rack It can be used cleanly when opened. If your tongs are all-metal and not dishwasher safe, be sure to dry them carefully before storing them to avoid rusting.
Other kitchen tongs we tested
strong candidate
OXO Nylon head with excellent grip ($14 at Amazon.com)
These tongs are perfect if you want to protect more delicate surfaces. It is also easy to handle and very easy to operate when cooking various dishes. However, it is not as heat resistant as silicone. That's the key for us.
GIR tongs ($17 at Amazon.com)
A good alternative to silicone if you want heat-resistant angled tongs, but these felt stiff. It is easy to clean as it can be placed in the dishwasher.
Misen stainless steel tongs ($19 at Misen.com)
There was only room for one of the best stainless steel tongs and it was sent to OXO. I like this one from Misen and had no issues with it. However, I deducted points because it was a little heavy in my hand.
What didn't make the list
I've been disappointed with some premium brands, such as the All-Clad Precision Nonstick Tongs. It was too heavy and the silicone tip broke after the first use and cleaning. The Ingredients The Only Tongs could not stay closed in my utensil drawer. It was annoying and enough to take it off the list. The QuisiPro tongs felt like they were of a lower grade, especially when the opening/closing latch rubbed along the metal when pulled to close.
Food & Wine/Jennifer Zyman
Our expertise
- Jennifer Zyman is a senior commerce writer for Food & Wine and a recovering restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, Bon Appetit, National Geographic, Eater Atlanta, and Atlanta Magazine. Zyman wrote this story, drawing on her insight into testing, her research, her culinary expertise, and her experience in which she used 11 sets of kitchen tongs over the course of a month.
- Additionally, Stacey Ballis, freelance writer, recipe developer, and product reviewer, contributed to this article.Baris was published Food & Wine, eating wellI, all recipes, my recipe, delishmore.
- We reached out to food blogger Vegetarian Tourist Sapna Dalal to find out her thoughts on kitchen tongs.
