You may be thinking, there really isn’t much to a pair of tongs. Well, you would be wrong in thinking that. The best pair of kitchen tongs is like an extension of a cook’s arm. They are literally used in all facets of the kitchen for cooking all sorts of things. They are also used in place of many other kitchen tools simply because you are already using them for everything else so why dirty more dishes. They are much more versatile than you think so owning the best pair of kitchen tongs will really up your cooking game in the kitchen.
In this article, we will go over some of the different types of tongs and how they are constructed. We will also cover some of the best models available on the market today and which pair may be the best fit for you and your kitchen.
How to Choose the Best Kitchen Tongs
When choosing a new pair of kitchen tongs, it is best to know what you will be using them for. There are many different materials used to construct kitchen tongs and created in many different designs, so make sure you know what they will be used for. You wouldn’t want to use plastic tongs when grilling food because they might melt.
Once you know what type of tongs you need, make sure they pair you purchase is made with the finest quality materials. There is no point in buying a cheap pair of tongs only to have them break on you, forcing you to go back to the store to purchase another pair. To avoid any of these situations, spring for the quality materials.
Since we have mentioned quality materials, it is only natural to make sure to ensure your tongs once you have them, the best way to protect them is by getting a pair with a warranty. Try to get a pair of kitchen tongs that comes with some kind of a manufacturer’s guarantee or at least a warranty to protect them in case they break or become damaged while in use or during the shipping process.
Lastly, make sure they are overall easy to use and feel good in your hand. They make plenty of kinds that are form-fitting to your hand or not. Also, make sure that they are easy to clean or are dishwasher safe to save you the time and trouble of washing them by hand.
Construction and Design
When it comes to the construction and design of tongs, there are many different kinds and some that will work better for some jobs over others made from other materials. Generally speaking, tongs are broken down into two categories: cooking tongs and serving tongs. They both can come in an array of different materials to construct them like wood, metal, silicone and plastic just to name a few.
As far as serving tongs go, they are to be used to serve the food after it has been cooked and not during the cooking process. The size of the tongs really depends on the type of cooking you will be doing. Most people prefer to have their tongs no longer than a foot, but if you are working with open flame or using an electric grill or grilling, then more likely than not, you will want a longer pair of tongs.
Many kitchen tongs are made of metal and can get hot quite easily which is why having a set with handles that are not metal like wood, rubber or silicone will reduce the heat transferred. They also provide a grip that fits well in the hand and if they are slip-resistant that is even better.
The tips of the tongs should really be metal to deal with most food cooking in a sauté pan but if you are using nonstick pans, then you may want a set that has silicone tips so it won’t scratch or damage the surface of the pans.
The tension of the tongs being able to open and close with ease is important to the person using them. Some sets of tongs come with a tension adjustment that allows you to change that but not all do come with that ability so make sure they feel right to you.
Some models also come with a locking mechanism that will keep the tongs from opening unless unlocked by the user. Either way to purchasing process will be pretty easy if you follow those guidelines.
Best Kitchen Tongs
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs
The Best Stainless-Steel Tongs
This is one of the best pair of kitchen tongs there is and is sure to up your cooking game in the kitchen. They are very reasonably priced and the company is willing to replace them if they break along the way. They are constructed of brushed stainless steel and have a locking mechanism to keep them closed for safety and storing purposes.
The handles have a comfortable non-slip grip with thumb rests and a large hoop for storing or hanging. They are easy to clean and can be placed in the dishwasher safely.
- The handles have a soft and comfortable, non-slip grip with thumb rests.
- The tongs are made from stainless steel and are dishwasher safe.
- They come with a locking mechanism to keep them closed and a hoop for storing or hanging.
- They do not come with a warranty to protect them.
Cuisipro 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
The Next Best Thing
This next pair is pretty similar to the first set but they are just a bit longer by an inch or two. They do cost more than the other ones but do come with a lifetime warranty to protect them. They are constructed of 18/10 stainless steel and have a locking mechanism to keep them in place when stored.
They also have a hoop at the end for storing or hanging on the wall when not in use. This set is very nice looking and can even double as serving tongs if needed. They are easy to clean and dishwasher safe as well.
- The tongs are constructed of stainless steel and have a hoop at the end for hanging on the wall when unused.
- They have a locking mechanism to keep in place when stored in the drawer.
- They can double as serving tongs and are dishwasher safe as well.
- The tongs come with a lifetime warranty to protect them but they are very expensive.
KitchenAid Silicone Tipped Stainless Steel Tongs
The Best Silicone Tongs
This set of tongs is the best silicone tipped tongs around if you are looking for something a bit softer. They are a bit more expensive and do not come protected by a warranty. The tongs have a stainless steel frame and silicone tips that are great for all surfaces of cooking equipment. The tongs can resist heat up to 500 degrees and wont scratch surface of non-stick.
There is a hoop for hanging on the wall when not in use and a locking mechanism for keeping them in place when stored in the drawer. The tongs are very strong and durable and have a nice finish. They are easy to clean and are dishwasher safe.
- The tongs are easy to clean and are dishwasher safe.
- They have a stainless-steel frame and silicone tips that are heat resistant up to 500 degrees.
- There is a locking mechanism to keep in place when stored and hoop for hanging on the wall when not in use.
- They are fairly expensive and do not come with a warranty to protect them.
Winco Utility Tong with Rubber Tip and Locking Clip
The Best Rubber Tip Tongs
This set of tongs is much shorter than the rest of the tong sets but won’t scratch your pans while in use. They are very cheap to purchase but do not come with a warranty to protect them. They are constructed on a stainless-steel frame and have rubber tips that are heat resistant up to 600 degrees.
The handles have soft and comfortable grips that make handling easy and a locking mechanism to keep them in place when stored in the drawer. There is a hoop at the end to hang them on the wall when not in use. They are easy to clean and are dishwasher safe as well.
- The tongs have soft and comfortable grips on the handles and a hoop at the end for hanging on the wall.
- They have a stainless-steel frame and rubber tips that are scratch resistant and heat resistant up to 600 degrees.
- They are easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
- While they are very affordable to purchase, they do not come with a warranty to protect them.
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Tongs With Nylon Heads
The Best Nylon Tip Tongs
This set of tongs is a version of some of the others and will do the job but they are fairly expensive compared to the others and do not come with a warranty to protect them. They have a stainless-steel frame and nylon tips that won’t scratch surfaces and are heat resistant up to 400 degrees.
The handles have a soft and comfortable grip that is easy to handle and a locking mechanism that keeps them in place while stored in the drawer. They have a hoop to hang them on the wall when not in use and are easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
- The handles have a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant.
- They have a stainless-steel frame and rubber tips that won’t scratch pans and are heat resistant up to 400 degrees.
- They have a locking mechanism for storing, a hoop for hanging on the wall and are dishwasher safe.
- They are fairly expensive when compared to other tongs and do not come with a warranty to protect them.
The Bargain Buy
While this set may not have all the bells and whistles, it does come with two sets of tongs, one longer than the other. They are fairly cheap to purchase but do not come with a warranty to protect them. They are constructed of stainless steel and have a hoop at the end of the tongs for hanging on the wall when not in use.
They have soft and comfortable grips that are slip resistant on both sets and a locking mechanism to keep them in place when stored in the drawer. They are easy to handle and use and are dishwasher safe as well.
- The handles have a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant.
- They have a locking mechanism to keep them in place when stored and a hoop for hanging on the wall.
- They are easy to use and easy to clean as they are dishwasher safe.
- They may be very cheap to purchase, but do not come with a warranty to protect them.
HOT TARGET Set of 3 Multi-Color Tongs
The Best Deal on a Set of Tongs
This deal on a set of 3 pairs of tongs comes in color coordinated styles which each pair is longer than the other. They are fairly expensive but do come with a full warranty and money back guarantee. They have a stainless-steel frame on each of the tongs and silicone tips that are heat resistant up to 480 degrees and will not scratch the surface of your pans.
They all have a locking mechanism to keep them in place when stored in a drawer and a hoop at the end to hang them on the wall when not in use. They have a soft and comfortable grip on the handles that is slip resistant and they are easy to clean using the dishwasher.
- The handles have soft and comfortable grips that are slip resistant.
- They all have a locking mechanism for storing, a hoop for hanging on the wall and are dishwasher safe.
- They have a stainless-steel frame and silicone tips that are heat resistant up to 480 degrees and will not scratch the surface of pans.
- They are all fairly expensive when compared to other sets of tongs.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, it really doesn’t matter what kind of tongs you get because they are all generally the same price and will last about the same amount of time. What matters is what you will be using them for, if you have non-stick pans and need tongs for them, then get some that will not damage the pan, otherwise you should be in the clear to buy any kind you like.
