The best kitchen tongs you can buy today are the OXO Good Grips 12-Inch stainless steel locking tongs. Both its size and weight allow for more versatility, allowing you to turn or maneuver heavier foods and then easily toss a salad if need be. The 12-inch length was ideal for most tasks and the fact that it is dishwasher safe makes it a smart choice for easy cleanup. A good kitchen tong is a must-have kitchen ingredient in any household.
To determine the best kitchen tongs for your food, we looked at the following features — style, materials, durability, ease of use, length, and storage. We noted that most people would prefer standard kitchen tongs and prioritized them. But we also focused on quality made tongs that were rust-resistant and dishwasher safe with locking mechanisms that were easy to use. Plus, we know it’s important to have a pair of tongs that can be easily stored in drawers. Keep reading to learn more about the rest of our top picks.
Top 7 Best Kitchen Tongs
#1 OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Kitchen tongs that can shift from handling thick foods to twirling pasta with a dishwasher-safe design makes these the best kitchen tongs that we researched.
- Best for arthritic or weak hands
- 12-inch is ideal for most kitchen tasks
- Dishwasher safe
- Tongs aren’t ideal for use with non-stick or enamel pans
OXO is a fan-favorite brand for consumers because they make products that just work. These OXO kitchen tongs are no exception. We think these are the best kitchen tongs because they feature a comfort grip that makes handling these 12-inch stainless steel tongs incredibly easy. This is important, along with the fact that the OXO Good Grips collection has won the Tylenol/Arthritis Foundation Design Award.
These tongs feature an easy to use locking mechanism that makes storage easier whether you prefer to keep them in a drawer or hang them in your kitchen. While the tips of these tongs aren’t silicone-coated — which may be a dealbreaker for people with non-stick or enamel coated cookware — we do like that these tongs are dishwasher safe. If you know someone that loves kitchen gadgets, the best avocado slicer could make the perfect gift.
#2 Hotec Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: A dual set of kitchen tongs for smaller and larger tasks, a comfort grip and a smart design to reduce wobbling and discomfort, with each set of tongs featuring a comfortable non-slip grip.
- Designed to prevent wobbling or pinched fingers
- Set of 2 tongs — 9” and 12”
- Comfort non-slip grip for more control
- Tongs aren’t silicone-coated which may scratch non-stick or enamel cookware
There’s nothing wrong with having more than one set of kitchen tongs when you’re cooking. And we think this two-piece set of tongs from Hotec is a smart choice. First, you’ll like that the stainless steel construction is specifically designed to reduce wobbling or pinched fingers. You can also easily open and close them, as well as quickly lock the tongs with the easy to use pull lock.
With the two different sizes — nine and 12 inches — you can quickly choose the right length for the task at hand. The cushioned handle helps to reduce strain on your hand as you use them as well. And as is standard, these tongs are rust-resistant, and dishwasher safe. But again, these tongs lack silicone coating on the tips which may be a dealbreaker for people with non-stick or enamel-coated cookware. You’ll also need the best granite mortar and pestle to grind herbs for your next meal.
#3 Hot Target Set of 3 Kitchen Tongs
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: The only fully silicone kitchen tongs in our guide, this three-piece set offers the best protection for your pots and pans, with a heat resistant and dishwasher safe design.
- Non-scratch tips ideal for use with enamel or coated cookware
- 3 tongs included — 7, 9, and 12” for a variety of tasks
- Heat resistant and dishwasher safe design
- Crevices between silicone tips and metal may be hard to clean
If you’ve recently upgraded your cookware to non-stick or enamel-coated picks, the last thing you want to do is scratch them with traditional kitchen tongs that feature bare-metal tips. That’s a recipe for having to replace your cookware before you’re ready. We nominated this set of kitchen tongs from Hot Target as our Best Quality because they’re the only pick in our guide that is a set of silicone kitchen tongs with coated tips. You can also get the best kitchen cart where you can place these lovely tongs.
We also like that you get three tongs ranging from seven, nine, and 12 inches in length. So, you could use the seven-inch tongs as serving tongs and the other two for cooking. You’ll also get the popular comfort grip as well as the locking loop that makes storing these tongs in drawers easier. As is also common, these tongs are heat resistant and dishwasher safe. These tongs will be perfect for cooking in your best-cast iron skillet.
#4 Rösle Stainless Steel 12-Inch Lock and Release Tongs
Award: BEST DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: A sturdy pair of kitchen tongs designed with an intuitive locking mechanism that allows for easy opening and closing based on the tongs’ vertical orientation.
- Intuitive one-handed open and close design
- Dishwasher-safe stainless steel design
- Great for handling larger items
- Lacks comfort grip or covered tongs
When you’re working in the kitchen, you might not always have a free hand to open and lock a pair of tongs. This pair of kitchen tongs from Rösle isn’t just ideal for working with larger items like thick cuts of meat. But it’s also smartly designed so that you can quickly open or lock the tongs with one hand. By simply holding the tongs with the tips facing downward you can unlock them, and by positioning it so that the tips are facing upward, you can lock them again.
fWe like that these are another great set of stainless steel tongs that are dishwasher safe and rust-resistant. And the longer 12-inch length means that these can also pull double duty at the grill to turn items without the risk of burning your hands. However, if you prefer a pair of tongs with a comfort grip, that’s one feature that’s lacking in this pick. Speaking of comfort, this is also important to consider when choosing the best potato peeler.
#5 Hinmay Scissors Tongs with Comfort-Grip Handle
Award: BEST FOR BBQ
WHY WE LIKE IT: A pair of kitchen scissor tongs with a comfort grip and the highest heat resistance at 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit making them great for BBQing.
- Rust-resistant, and lead and cadmium-free construction
- Highest heat resistance in our guide
- 2-piece set of scissor tongs — 12” each
- May not have as much versatility as traditional kitchen tongs
- No locking mechanism
If you’re cooking over an open flame — or very high heat — you know how important it is to have kitchen utensils that are designed to stand up to that kind of punishment. We’ve included these Hinmay kitchen scissor tongs because they have the highest heat resistance rating of all of the tongs in our guide. While we doubt you’ll be cooking at this extreme heat, you can rest assured that these tongs can withstand temperatures up to 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit.
We also liked that these tongs featured a comfort grip to prevent any pinching while you use them — which can be an issue with scissor tongs. The stainless steel design is free of lead or cadmium. But you’ll appreciate that the grips on these tongs are imprinted to provide better grip. And as is standard, these tongs are dishwasher safe for quick and easy cleanup. Speaking of quick and easy, the best automatic pot-stirrer will make cooking hassle-free.
#6 Hiash Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs
Award: BEST FOR EVENTS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A simple set of scissor tongs that are a great basic addition to your kitchen utensils that can double as serving tongs at parties and dinners, made from food-grade stainless steel.
- A great basic tool for simple cooking tasks
- Food-grade stainless steel that’s rust-resistant
- Dishwasher safe material
- Lacks comfort grip and may cause pressure on your hands
- No locking mechanism
There’s nothing worse than people using their bare hands to serve themselves. It’s unsanitary and just doesn’t look right. We like this simple set of scissor tongs from Hiash because they can pull double duty as a cooking or serving tool. For cooking, you’ll like that these tongs have continuous handles to prevent your fingers from getting pinched. Plus the textured tips help improve your grip on foods — making them ideal for an occasional cook. You can also hang your tongs around the best spice rack to ensure everything is accessbile when cooking.
But since these tongs lack a comfort grip, we think they’re better reserved for serving tasks. Whether you’re dishing out salad, sides, or the main event at a barbecue, you’ll still enjoy the sturdy grip and smooth handles. You’ll also appreciate the food-grade stainless steel which is rust-resistant and dishwasher safe. You might also want to make sure your best melon baller is safe.
#7 DRAGONN Premium Set of 12-inch and 9-inch Kitchen Tongs
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: An affordable set of kitchen tongs with a comfort grip — proving that you don’t have to sacrifice quality if you’re shopping on a budget.
- Comfort grip for improved control and handling
- 2-piece set of sturdy stainless steel kitchen tongs
- Lockable with dishwasher-safe design
- Tongs lack silicone covered tips which may scratch some cookware
Everyone needs quality cooking utensils whether you have a beer or champagne budget. Our final pick is for this set of Dragonn tongs. We like that you get a pair of tongs that are nine and 12 inches. These stainless steel tongs are designed to be rust-resistant but are also dishwasher safe.
You’ll like that these tongs also feature the popular comfort grips, and a locking ring so that you can easily store them in a drawer. But also note that the grips feature thumb notches so you have an improved grip while you cook. Plus the 12-inch tongs can also double as grill tongs so you can safely turn foods or even the actual grill without the risk of getting burned. However, as is somewhat common in this guide, these tongs lack silicone tips.
How We Decided
Kitchen tongs are such an essential tool if you’re cooking. To create our guide we looked at the following core features — style, materials, durability, ease of use, length, and storage. All of the picks in our guide are made from stainless steel. This is important because stainless steel tends to be more durable and more resistant to wear such as rusting.
In terms of style, we featured both scissor tongs and standard kitchen tongs. Our #5 and #6 picks are scissor tongs while the rest are all standard kitchen tongs. However, while all of our picks were made from stainless steel, only some featured comfort grips or covered tips. Our #4 pick was the only standard kitchen tong that lacked a comfort grip and our #6 pick was the only scissor tong that also lacked this feature. And our Best Quality pick was the only selection in our guide that had not just a comfort grip but covered tips to protect your cookware.
In general, we thought all of the picks in our guide were fairly easy to use. But the #4 pick proved to be the easiest with a one-handed locking mechanism that could be easily activated or deactivated based on whether you pointed the tongs up or down. The most common length was 12 inches for tongs. However, some of our picks included sets that offered a range of lengths from seven to 12 inches. And finally, all of our picks were designed to be stored in a drawer.
Best Kitchen Tongs for Your Food Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Factors to Consider
- Style
All tongs are not the same. Popular styles include serving, scissor, and standard kitchen tongs. Within the kitchen tong category, the most common options include those that lock, those that don’t, and serving tongs which are often made from one continuous piece of metal or plastic. For most people, locking tongs are preferable. - Materials
You should look for a pair of kitchen tongs made from sturdy materials. Ideally, options like stainless steel are best since they’re more durable. However, also keep in mind that if you’re cooking with non-stick or enamel cookware, you may want to invest in a pair of tongs with silicone tips to preserve your pans. - Durability
Can your tongs easily handle heavy foods? You’ll want to make sure that if you plan on using kitchen tongs to turn larger items like steaks and roasts that they’re sturdy enough to handle the task. - Heat Transfer
This is especially where a pair of silicone kitchen tongs can come in handy. Silicone has a higher heat resistance and is a great way to protect your fingers from getting burned through heat transfer. However, if you don’t pick a silicone pair of kitchen tongs, then you’ll need to pay attention to how easily a pair of tongs get hot, and if that heat transfers into the handle end. - Ease of Use
Kitchen tongs quickly become an essential item when you’re cooking. Whether you’re turning food on a pan, handling hot baking sheets, or prepping food before you begin cooking, you want a pair of kitchen tongs that are easy to manage. Look for tongs that are comfortable to hold with a good spring. They shouldn’t be too heavy either. Also, consider tongs with a comfort grip such as added silicone strips to make using them more comfortable. - Length
For general use, a 12-inch set of tongs should be sufficient. But you can also find tongs that are shorter for more precise needs or little helpers in the kitchen as well as longer ones that are designed for grilling so that you can safely turn foods at the back of the grill without the risk of burning yourself. - Storage
Even though most kitchen tongs are designed to be hung thanks to the built-in loop, for the average home cook, they’re not using tongs as a decorative device. So, look for kitchen tongs that also feature a locking mechanism so you can store them flat in a drawer when not in use.
