Do you like to spend time in the kitchen? If so, you know that kitchen tongs are one of the most important pieces of equipment a cook can have. Kitchen tongs are useful for all kinds of things, including grilling, tossing ingredients, and more.
However, there are hundreds of kitchen tongs on the market. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. Good kitchen tongs should be durable and easy to use.
As a home chef, I’ve tried dozens of kitchen tongs over the years. Whether you’re looking for salad tongs or barbecue tongs, this article will help you discover the tongs available to buy. Let’s get started with 10 of the kitchen tongs.
Best Kitchen Tongs:
1. ALLWIN-HOUSEWARE 2 Pack Kitchen Tongs
Are you looking for silicone tongs that are affordable, durable, and easy to use? The ALLWIN-HOUSEWARE Kitchen Tongs come in a variety of attractive colors to complement their extra thick stainless steel construction and nonslip silicone tips.
These tongs come with ergonomically designed silicone grips as well as nonslip tips that make it easy to pick up a variety of foods. Even if you’re cooking with greasy foods, these tongs will hold on tightly.
Because they come in both 9 and 12-inch lengths, these tongs are multi-use and good for barbecuing as well as indoor cooking. To keep your hands away from the heat, these silicone tongs are heat resistant up to 500 degrees.
Lastly, the pull-ring locking mechanism doubles as a hanging loop, reducing the amount of space they take up in your storage. However, be aware that some customers have found the lock difficult to work with one hand.
2. The Original POPCO Tongs
As another brightly colored, silicone-tipped set of kitchen tongs, the POPCO tongs stand out for their unique design and high level of flexibility.
These tongs are great for cooking on non-stick pots and pans since their silicone tips are gentle enough not to scratch the coating. They also have cushioned silicone grips that are easy to hold on to, even when your fingers are oily or wet.
On the other hand, the body of these tongs is made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, so they’re extra durable and made to last.
With a hanging ring-pull locking mechanism, the POPCO kitchen tongs are easy to store in a drawer or hang up and air dry. Plus, the variety of sizes in bright colors makes it easier to avoid cross-contamination.
3. ALLWIN-HOUSEWARE 304 Stainless Steel Kitchen Cooking Tongs
For an affordable, versatile set of cooking tongs, the ALLWIN-HOUSEWARE 304 Kitchen Tongs are a durable and ergonomic choice.
Made from high-quality, premium 304 stainless steel, these tongs are heavy-duty and made to last. They have nonslip, cushioned handles that are easy to hold onto in any condition.
These tongs are dishwasher safe, lockable, and come with a large hanging loop for storage. Keep in mind that like all stainless steel tongs, there’s a risk of scratching any non-stick pans you might have while using these.
Since they come in a set of two sizes, these tongs are especially versatile for use in the kitchen as well as on the grill.
4. HOT TARGET Heavy Duty Non-Stick Stainless Steel Silicone BBQ and Kitchen Tongs (Set of 3 – 7, 9, & 12 inches)
Do you like bold colors with your kitchen equipment? The HOT TARGET BBQ and Kitchen Tongs are durable, lightweight cooking tongs that come in a pack of 3 bright colors.
With a stainless steel body and silicone tips, these tongs are the best of both worlds. While many traditional metal tongs are highly durable, they tend to be more difficult to use. Plus, metal tongs might scratch your non-stick pots and pans.
Instead, these tongs are lightweight, long-lasting, and easy on your pans. They also come with a ring-pull locking mechanism that allows for easy storage.
Customers say these are some of the cooking tongs because of their high durability and excellent grip. They also note their attractive and high-quality design. However, some consumers say that the ring lock stops working after some use.
The HOT TARGET kitchen tongs are true to their name — they’re heavy-duty and excellent for both kitchen and BBQ cooking. If you like bright colors and a unique design, these could be the cooking tongs for you.
5. Hotec Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs
For a pair of restaurant-quality metal tongs that are versatile for use when barbecuing, serving salad, flipping meat or vegetables, and more. Their lightweight and corrosion-resistant stainless steel design helps to make these tongs long-lasting as well as easy to use.
If you struggle with joint pain or shaky hands, these tongs have an ergonomic handle design with silicone cushions that are easy to hold onto even when greasy or wet. Also, the strong metal design of the tips holds tightly to all kinds of food.
These tongs are dishwasher safe and can be locked easily with a ring-pull mechanism that makes them simple to store. Because they don’t have silicone tips, the Hotec metal tongs are more heat-resistant, but they have the potential to scratch non-stick coatings on pots and pans.
6. OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs
Are you looking for a pair of premium cooking tongs that are easy on the hands and lock for easy storage? The OXO Good Grips tongs live up to their name with non-slip handles that make picking up food a breeze.
No matter how greasy or slippery your hands are, the cushioned grip and thumb rest of these tongs make them easy to hold on to. They also have high-performance gripping power that can be used to pick up both small and large items with ease.
These cooking tongs lock closed easily, so they take up very little space in your drawer. Or, lock them closed and hang them by the large loop on the end.
Since they’re available in 9-inch, 12-inch, 16-inch, and mini sizes, there’s sure to be a size perfect for your needs. However, some consumers say the lock function doesn’t work very well, so be sure to consider how important the locking function is for you.
7. StarPack Basics Silicone Kitchen Tongs (9-Inch & 12-Inch)
Are you looking for a durable pair of kitchen tongs that won’t scratch your non-stick pans? The StarPack Basics Silicone tongs might be right for you.
The StarPack tongs have the durability of stainless steel and the convenience of silicone tips. These tongs also have slightly raised silicone grips, which makes them much easier to hold when your hands are wet or greasy. As a result, these are some of the tongs for people with mobility problems in their hands.
These tongs come in a pack of 2, with one 12-inch pair and one 9-inch pair. They are also available in a Basic model, which is heat resistant up to 480 degrees, and a Premium model, which is heat resistant up to 600 degrees.
However, it’s important to note that some people find that the tips come off in the dishwasher after a few months of use. And like all silicone-tipped kitchen tongs, there’s a risk of the tips melting with prolonged exposure to heat.
8. DRAGONN Premium Set of 12-inch and 9-inch Stainless-Steel Locking Kitchen Tongs
If you love to barbecue, you know how important a good set of metal tongs are. These premium stainless-steel tongs come in a pack of 2, so you’ll always have one on hand.
These tongs are excellent for BBQ because of their heavy-duty steel design. Unlike silicone tongs, which can melt when exposed to high heat, these tongs are heat-proof. They also have excellent gripping ability, making them one of the safest options when it comes to working with very hot ingredients.
Both tongs in the set come with a cushioned grip and an easy-lock mechanism, so they’re easy to hold and store. Just click the tongs closed and the lock will engage. You can also hang them from the loops on the ends.
Be careful with your non-stick pans, though. Stainless steel tongs like these can be easy to accidentally scratch non-stick coating.
The DRAGONN Premium tongs are one of the locking tongs because of how easy they are to store. Leave them hanging on the side of your grill, and they’ll be ready and waiting to make BBQing a little easier.
9. OXO Good Grips 9-Inch Tongs with Silicone Heads
Similar to the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel kitchen tongs, these premium tongs have excellent nonslip handles and a durable design that will last for years.
In contrast to the OXO Stainless Steel tongs, however, these tongs have silicone tips to go with their heavy-duty steel body. As a result, these tongs are perfect for everyday kitchen activities, since they are safe for non-stick pans. They are also more heat resistant than most silicone tongs, with a rating of heat resistance of up to 600 degrees.
Adding to their everyday versatility, these tongs are dishwasher safe and lock easily with a ring-pull mechanism. This makes them easy to store, especially since they also come with a hanging loop.
Keep in mind that these tongs are only 9 inches long, which might be too short for some people.
10. Rösle Stainless Steel 12-inch Lock and Release Tongs
If you’re interested in a luxury pair of stainless steel kitchen tongs, Rösle tongs might be right for you. Their unique, sleek design stands out among its competitors, especially with its high-quality 18/10 stainless steel construction.
These tongs also stand out for their lifetime warranty. When coupled with its one-handed easy-open locking mechanism, ergonomic handle design, and easy-to-clean material, it’s clear why these tongs are priced above the rest.
However, some customers report problems with the locking mechanism, saying that it pops open when it shouldn’t. Depending on how important the locking feature is to you, consider this when deciding what product to buy.
Factors to Consider
Handles
It’s important to consider whether your kitchen tongs have non-slip handles. Stainless steel tongs, especially, can often be difficult to hold onto, so be sure to look for raised silicone grips when choosing a pair.
Tips
One of the biggest factors in choosing a pair of kitchen tongs should always be silicone vs metal tongs. While stainless steel tips are more heat-resistant, and in some cases have a firmer grip, they can easily scratch non-stick coating on your pots and pans.
On the other hand, silicone tips are non-stick safe and are usually more flexible. However, they have a lower heat resistance, which might make them unsuitable for very hot cooking, such as barbecue.
Size
The size and length of your kitchen tongs have a large effect on what kind of cooking you can do with them. Very long tongs are excellent for situations in which you want as much distance as possible from the heat source. On the other hand, short tongs provide more control.
Of course, you can always get the best of both worlds by picking up a set.
Sets and Affordability
Many tongs now come in a set of 2, 3, or even more. By buying a set, you can avoid the difficulties that come with tongs that are either too long or too short for your cooking needs. Color-coded sets can also help to avoid food cross-contamination.
In addition, affordability is of course a consideration when shopping for kitchen tongs. Although most tongs are around the same price, some standouts are either much more or much less expensive than the norm. You can expect higher-priced tongs to have better craftsmanship and often higher durability, than lower-priced products.
Conclusion
Kitchen tongs are one of the most versatile pieces of kitchen equipment. Whether you cook every so often, or you’re a master griller, you’ll probably end up needing a variety of tongs at some point.
For that reason, our top pick for the kitchen tongs is the 2 Pack Black Kitchen Tongs, Premium Silicone BPA Free Non-Stick Stainless Steel BBQ Cooking Grilling Locking Food Tongs.
These tongs are the best of both worlds: with a durable-yet-lightweight stainless steel body, and flexible silicone tips, you get the benefits of heavy-duty construction with the safety of silicone. Since these tongs also come in a pack of multiple lengths, they’re perfect for any cooking situation.