The 10 Best Tongs for Cooking in 2026 (Kitchen, Grill and Nonstick Picks)
Ten kitchen tongs compared on grip, heat resistance, comfort and build: stainless steel locking tongs, silicone-tipped tongs for nonstick pans, 16-inch grill tongs and the plain steel pairs restaurant cooks use.
The best kitchen tongs for most people are the OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Locking Tongs. They grip, they lock, and they are comfortable for hours. For nonstick pans, get the Culinary Couture silicone set. For the grill, the OXO 16-Inch.
A good pair of tongs for cooking does three things: holds food without crushing it, keeps your hand away from the heat, and stays comfortable through a whole dinner. We compared ten cooking tongs on exactly that, using specs, owner reviews and what America’s Test Kitchen and other reviewers found. Grip strength and heat resistance decided the order.
Every pair here is among the best top-rated kitchen tongs on Amazon (the best cooking tongs 2026 has to offer, if you want the short version), from an $8 restaurant pair to a walnut pasta tong.
Scissor tongs, locking tongs, silicone tongs, tongs with metal tips, tweezer tongs, mini serving tongs for food: they are all below, with a plain guide to which one you actually need.
Quick Picks: Best Kitchen Tongs for Cooking
Best overallOXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
Best silicone setCulinary Couture Silicone-Tipped Kitchen Tongs (7, 9 and 12 Inch Set of 3)
Best for grillingOXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Stainless Steel Tongs
Kitchen Tongs Comparison Chart
All ten tongs side by side. Heat ratings are the makers’ own numbers: silicone tips have a stated limit, bare steel does not, but steel handles still get warm over a grill.
| Tongs | Length | Tips | Lock | Heat rating | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs | 12 in | Scalloped stainless | Pull-ring lock | Steel head, no stated limit | 4.8 ★ (14,220) | $$ |
| Culinary Couture Silicone-Tipped Kitchen Tongs (7, 9 and 12 Inch Set of 3) | 7, 9, 12 in | Silicone, scalloped | Pull-ring lock | Silicone tips to 428°F | 4.7 ★ (9,145) | $ |
| Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs with Silicone Tips (7 and 9 Inch, 2 Pack) | 7, 9 in | Silicone, scalloped | Pull lock | Silicone tips to 550°F | 4.7 ★ (10,044) | $ |
| Edlund 4412HDL 12-Inch Heavy-Duty Locking Tongs | 12 in | Scalloped stainless | Patented lock | All steel, no stated limit | 4.3 ★ (826) | $$ |
| OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Stainless Steel Tongs | 16 in | Scalloped stainless | Pull-ring lock | Steel head, no stated limit | 4.8 ★ (14,220) | $$$ |
| COOCLAN Precision Serrated Cooking Tongs (11.5 and 13.5 Inch, 2 Set) | 11.5, 13.5 in | Serrated stainless | None (one piece) | 600°F, one-piece 18/8 steel | 4.5 ★ (354) | $$ |
| Winco 12-Inch Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Utility Tongs | 12 in | Scalloped stainless | Locking clip | All steel, no stated limit | 4.6 ★ (109) | $ |
| HOTEC 12-Inch Stainless Steel Cooking Tweezer Tongs (2 Pack) | 12 in | Pointed + round steel | None (one piece) | All steel, no stated limit | 4.7 ★ (1,669) | $ |
| HINMAY 7-Inch Mini Tongs with Silicone Tips (Set of 3) | 7 in x3 | Silicone | Pull-ring lock | Silicone tips to 480°F | 4.8 ★ (5,717) | $ |
| Boxiki Kitchen 3-in-1 Walnut Tongs and Pasta Server (12 Inch) | 12 in | Walnut: forked + flat | None | Wood, heat-resistant | 4.2 ★ (128) | $$$ |
Ratings and review counts are as listed on Amazon at time of writing and change over time. Price tiers: $ under $10 · $$ $10–20 · $$$ over $20.
The 10 Best Kitchen Tongs, Reviewed
Ranked with the best all-round cooking tongs first: the most popular kitchen tongs for beginners and the pairs chefs use. The grill, plating and serving picks follow, so skip to the one that matches how you cook.
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
If you buy one pair of tongs for cooking, make it this one. America’s Test Kitchen has called these the perfect tong for years, and 14,000 Amazon ratings agree. The scalloped stainless edges hold a chicken thigh or a handful of green beans with the same light squeeze, and the soft handles stay put even when your hands are wet.
- Spring tension is light enough for small hands and tired wrists
- Locks shut with one hand for the drawer
- Same design comes in 7, 9 and 16 inch
- Bare steel edges can mark a nonstick pan if you drag them
- Handles are not meant to sit in a hot pan
Culinary Couture Silicone-Tipped Kitchen Tongs (7, 9 and 12 Inch Set of 3)
Three locking tongs for about ten dollars, and 9,000 ratings say they hold up. The silicone heads are safe on nonstick and enamel pans, the stainless arms do not flex, and the pull ring doubles as a hanging loop. The 7 inch pair ends up living by the stove for grabbing toast and sliced tomatoes.
- Covers serving, stovetop and grill in one box
- BPA-free silicone that does not hold odours
- Comes in a gift box, and in colours other than black
- 428°F is the lowest heat rating here, so keep them out of a very hot dry pan
- Silicone can stain with tomato sauce over time
Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs with Silicone Tips (7 and 9 Inch, 2 Pack)
The whole handle is wrapped in silicone, with a thumb rest shaped to take pressure off your fingers and thumbs. That makes these the easy-grip tongs on this list, and the best grill tongs for arthritis or weak hands, since the set goes up to 14 inches. The scalloped silicone tips are rated to 550°F, higher than most silicone tongs.
- Softest, widest grip of any pair here
- Highest heat rating among the silicone-tipped tongs
- Sold in sets up to 14 inch if you want a longer pair
- The 9 inch pair is short for deep pots
- Silicone handle picks up grease and needs a proper wash
Edlund 4412HDL 12-Inch Heavy-Duty Locking Tongs
These are the tongs you see hanging in restaurant kitchens. Heavy stainless arms, a patented lock, and a spring you can replace instead of throwing the tongs away. America’s Test Kitchen rates them highly recommended, right behind the OXO. There is no silicone, no soft grip, just a tool that lasts.
- Stiffer and stronger than any consumer pair here
- Replaceable spring means decades of use
- Works for frying, grilling and buffet service
- Bare steel handles get warm over a grill
- Spring tension is firmer than the OXO, so it takes more squeeze
OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Stainless Steel Tongs
Same scalloped head and soft grips as the 12 inch, stretched to 16 inches so your knuckles stay well away from the coals. These are the top steak tong pick on the list: long enough for an open grill, stiff enough to turn a thick ribeye without the arms twisting. The hanging loop keeps them on the grill cart.
- Reach for grilling, deep fryers and big stockpots
- Same light spring and grip as the 12 inch
- Scalloped edges grip corn and chicken legs securely
- Too long for a skillet on the stovetop
- Takes up drawer space, so hang it
COOCLAN Precision Serrated Cooking Tongs (11.5 and 13.5 Inch, 2 Set)
One bent piece of 18/8 stainless, no spring, no hinge, no silicone. That is why these are rated to 600°F and why they are the pick for tongs for hot food. The three-sided serrated tips make these the best pointed tongs here: cooking tongs with sharp tips that pick up a single shrimp or a sliced garlic clove,
The longer pair keeps your hand out of a hot wok or deep fryer.
- Nothing to melt, rust in the joint or trap water
- Thin, skinny tips for precise work and plating
- Two lengths cover stovetop and high-heat cooking
- No lock, so they sit open in the drawer
- Serrated steel is not for nonstick pans
Winco 12-Inch Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Utility Tongs
Winco supplies restaurant kitchens, and this is the plain steel pair that ends up in most of them: the best metal cooking tongs for the money, and the best locking cooking tongs with no silicone.
Thick 0.9 mm stainless, scalloped edges and a locking clip, for less than the price of a coffee and a muffin. No soft grip and no silicone, which is exactly what some cooks want.
- Cheapest tongs on the list that still feel heavy-duty
- Nothing to wear out or melt
- Buy a 12 pack for a catering setup
- Bare steel handles, so no cushion for long sessions
- Few Amazon ratings so far, though the model is a foodservice standard
HOTEC 12-Inch Stainless Steel Cooking Tweezer Tongs (2 Pack)
Tweezer tongs (chefs tongs, if you like) are the skinny tongs for cooking and plating that chefs reach for, and these are the pair to start with. You get one pointed tip for placing herbs and turning a single prawn and one round tip for flipping steaks and fish. The ribbed matte grip stays steady with oily fingers.
- Far more precise than scissor-style tongs
- 12 inches of reach for grilling and frying
- Two tip shapes for two kinds of jobs
- Need more squeeze than a spring pair, which can tire your hand
- Not meant for tossing a big salad or lifting heavy roasts
HINMAY 7-Inch Mini Tongs with Silicone Tips (Set of 3)
Seven inch tongs look like a toy until you use them. These are the pair for serving salad, cheese, olives and taco toppings, pulling toast from the toaster, or turning sausages in a small pan. Thick stainless arms, a ring-pull lock and silicone tips rated to 480°F.
- Three in the box, so one for the stove, one for the table, one for the drawer
- Highest rating on the list at 4.8
- Comes in a dozen colours and a stainless-head version
- Too short for deep pots and grills
- Small tips cannot lift a whole chicken breast easily
Boxiki Kitchen 3-in-1 Walnut Tongs and Pasta Server (12 Inch)
A pasta server and a pair of tongs in one piece of walnut. The slotted forked end grabs spaghetti and linguine without dropping strands, and the flat end scoops and plates.
It doubles as tongs used for tossing salad, and wood never scratches an enamel pot or a nonstick pan. It is the best looking tool here, and the one that gets gifted.
- Wood is safe on every pan surface
- Replaces pasta fork, salad tongs and serving spoon
- Light and nicely balanced
- Hand wash only, and oil the wood now and then
- Fewer ratings than the big brands, and the priciest pair here
Tongs for Hot Food: Heat Ratings Explained
Heat resistant tongs are not one thing. The tip material sets the limit, and the handle decides whether you can hold them over a burner for long.
The OXO, Edlund, Winco, COOCLAN and HOTEC pairs are steel at the business end, so they can sit in a deep fryer or on a hot grill grate. The COOCLAN one-piece tongs are rated to 600°F because there is no spring or hinge to worry about.
Steel handles do conduct heat. The longer the pair, the better: that is what makes grill tongs heat resistant enough for charcoal.
Silicone kitchen tongs have a stated ceiling. Culinary Couture is rated to 428°F, HINMAY to 480°F, and Gorilla Grip to 550°F. All three are fine for frying, air frying and grilling. Just do not rest the tips on a glowing grate or in an empty cast iron pan.
For tongs on stovetop duty, 9 to 12 inches keeps your hand clear of a skillet. For tongs for high heat cooking over a grill or a deep fryer, go to 16 inches. The OXO 16-Inch and the longer COOCLAN 13.5 inch are the two long pairs here.
Short version: for tongs for hot food (heat tongs, as some listings call them), pick bare steel if you fry or grill a lot, and high-rated silicone (480°F or more) if you mostly cook in nonstick pans.
What Are Kitchen Tongs Called? Every Type Explained
People search for “that metal thing you squeeze to hold food” more often than you would think. The answer is kitchen tongs, and there are more kinds than most drawers admit.
Two arms joined by a spring, with a pull ring that holds them closed. This is the standard kitchen tong. OXO, Edlund, Winco, Culinary Couture, Gorilla Grip and HINMAY are all locking tongs. Serrated or scalloped tips describe the wavy edge that grips food.
Locking tongs with silicone heads. Safe on nonstick, enamel and ceramic pans. If you search for tongs with silicone tips or rubber vs steel tongs, this is the category.
Skinny one-piece steel tongs with no spring. Thin stainless steel cooking tongs like the HOTEC pair are for plating, garnishing and turning small items. Some people call them Chinese tweezer tongs.
Seven inch tongs for the table: salad tongs, cheese tongs, sandwich tongs, toast tongs. The HINMAY set covers all of those. Wooden toaster tongs are the same idea in wood.
Forked or slotted tips that hold noodles. The Boxiki 3-in-1 is a pasta tong, a salad tong and a flat server in one.
Long tongs, 16 inches and up, for cooking over open heat. Big tongs for the grill are also the best steak tongs. A steak rake is a different tool, a flat spike used to flip meat; most cooks find long tongs easier.
A tong with one flat, spatula-shaped jaw for eggs and pancakes. The alternative to a turner tong is simply a thin fish spatula plus any 9 inch tong, which is what most of the picks above pair well with.
How to Choose Cooking Tongs
Six things worth checking before you buy any kitchen tongs, in the order that matters.
What is the best material for kitchen tongs?
Stainless steel lasts longest and handles the most heat. Silicone tips protect nonstick and enamel pans. Wood never scratches anything but needs hand washing. If you want tongs that do not give off any plastic, go all steel: Edlund, Winco, COOCLAN or HOTEC.
Match the length to the pan
7 inch for serving and the toaster. 9 inch for a skillet. 12 inch is the all-purpose length and the one to buy first. 16 inch for the grill and deep fryer. The longest kitchen tongs sold for home use run 16 to 24 inches.
Scalloped, serrated, round or pointed
Scalloped edges (OXO, Edlund, Winco) grip most food without tearing it. Serrated and pointed tips (COOCLAN, HOTEC) are for precision. Round tipped food tongs are gentler on fish. Silicone tips are the only choice for nonstick.
Locking or not?
A pull-ring lock keeps tongs closed in the drawer and lets you lock them one-handed. Serrated tongs that do not lock, like one-piece tweezer tongs, take less space but sit open. Most people want the lock.
Easy-grip tongs for tired hands
The tongs handle grip and spring tension vary a lot. The OXO spring is light; the Edlund is firm. If grip strength or arthritis is a concern, the Gorilla Grip silicone handle and thumb rest, or the light OXO spring, are the easiest tongs to use.
Dishwasher and storage
Every steel and silicone pair here is dishwasher safe, and every one is sold as cooking tongs on Amazon with Prime shipping. One-piece tongs have no joint to trap water. Hang locking tongs by the ring loop so they do not jam the drawer.
- Nonstick (including T-fal style pans): silicone tips only. Culinary Couture or Gorilla Grip.
- Enamel cast iron and ceramic: silicone or wood. The Boxiki walnut tongs are the safest of all.
- Stainless, cast iron and the grill: any steel pair. Silicone and stainless steel kitchen tongs both work here; steel is simply tougher. OXO 12-Inch for the stove, OXO 16-Inch outside.
Kitchen Tongs FAQs
What are the best kitchen tongs for cooking?▼
The OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Locking Tongs. Light spring, scalloped steel edges, a one-handed lock and a 4.8 rating from 14,000 owners. For nonstick pans, the Culinary Couture silicone set is the better buy.
What are the best tongs for hot food and high heat cooking?▼
One-piece stainless tongs like the COOCLAN set, rated to 600°F. With no spring or hinge, nothing melts or loosens. For the grill, the OXO 16-Inch keeps your hand well back from the heat.
Are silicone tongs safe for high heat?▼
Yes, up to their rating. Silicone-tipped kitchen tongs are rated between 428°F and 550°F, which covers frying, roasting, air frying and grilling. Do not rest the silicone on a hot grate or in an empty cast iron pan.
What are the best tongs for nonstick pans?▼
Silicone-tipped tongs. Culinary Couture or Gorilla Grip will not scratch a nonstick frying pan, a T-fal pan or an enamel pot. Bare steel tongs can leave marks if you drag them.
Are locking kitchen tongs better?▼
For most kitchens, yes. Stainless steel locking tongs store flat, hang by the ring and can be locked with one hand. One-piece tongs that do not lock are lighter and more precise but sit open in the drawer.
What length tongs are best, and what is the longest kitchen tongs you can buy?▼
12 inches for everyday cooking. Use 7 inch for serving, 9 inch for small skillets and 16 inch for grilling and deep frying. The longest kitchen tongs commonly sold run to 24 inches for open grills.
What tongs do restaurants and chefs use?▼
Plain scalloped stainless locking tongs. Edlund and Winco are the two foodservice brands here. Professional cooking tongs skip silicone grips because they are washed hundreds of times a week. Chefs also keep tweezer tongs like the HOTEC pair for plating.
What are the best tongs for steak and grilling?▼
The OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs. Long enough for an open grill, stiff enough to turn a thick steak. A steak rake is a flat spike that does the same job; most cooks find long grill tongs easier to control.
What are the best tongs for tossing pasta, salad and stir fry?▼
The Boxiki 3-in-1 walnut tongs for pasta and salad; the COOCLAN or OXO 12-Inch for stir fry. The best type of tongs for making stir fry is a steel pair with thin tips. The forked end holds spaghetti and the wood will not scratch the pot. For salad, any silicone-tipped pair, or the HINMAY minis at the table.
What are the easiest tongs to grip if you have arthritis?▼
Gorilla Grip silicone-handled tongs. The whole handle is cushioned and there is a thumb rest to ease pressure on fingers. The OXO 12-Inch also has a very light spring, which helps with grip and strain.
Tongs with silicone tips or tweezer tongs: which is better for cooking?▼
Silicone tongs for everyday cooking, tweezer tongs for precision. Silicone-tipped locking tongs lift, toss and flip without scratching pans. Tweezer tongs like the HOTEC set are better for plating, turning a single prawn or placing garnish.
What is the thing you squeeze to pick up and serve food called?▼
Kitchen tongs, or cooking tongs. The spring-loaded ones are locking tongs or scissor tongs. The skinny one-piece ones are tweezer tongs. The small ones for the table are serving tongs or mini tongs.
Long-handled kitchen tongs or potato tongs for frying french fries?▼
Long kitchen tongs. A 12 or 16 inch steel pair pulls fries from hot oil without the splash. Potato tongs are mostly for turning baked potatoes and are too short for a deep fryer.
Kitchen tongs stainless steel or silicone: which should I buy?▼
Stainless steel for heat and durability, silicone for nonstick pans. Kitchen tongs cooking rubber vs steel comes down to your pans. Kitchen tongs stainless steel pairs like the OXO and Edlund last decades and take any temperature. Silicone-tipped tongs cost less and protect coated cookware. Many cooks keep one of each.
How should a tong fit in your hand?▼
Closed with a light squeeze, open on its own, and balanced at the hinge. If you have to force it shut, the spring is too stiff. If it flops open in the drawer, you want a lock. The OXO spring is the easiest; the Edlund is the firmest.
Should I buy a kitchen tongs set or a single pair?▼
A set, if you cook most nights. The Culinary Couture 7, 9 and 12 inch set costs about the same as one OXO pair and covers serving, stovetop and grill. If you only want one, buy the OXO 12-Inch.
What is the best material if I want tongs with no plastic?▼
All-stainless or wood. Edlund, Winco, COOCLAN and HOTEC are bare steel with no silicone or plastic. The Boxiki tongs are walnut.
What do you use 7 inch stainless steel tongs for?▼
Serving and small jobs. Mini tongs handle salad, cheese, appetizers, toast and sandwich fillings, and they fit a small pan for turning sausages. The HINMAY 7-inch set is the pick here.
The Bottom Line
Want the best tongs for cooking without reading all ten cards? Here is the short version.
- Best overall: OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Locking Tongs. The pair reviewers and home cooks keep choosing.
- Best silicone set: Culinary Couture 7, 9 and 12 Inch Set. Nonstick safe, three sizes, about ten dollars.
- Easiest to grip: Gorilla Grip Silicone Tongs. Cushioned handle, 550°F tips.
- Restaurant quality: Edlund 4412HDL, or save with the Winco 12-Inch.
- Best for grilling and steak: OXO Good Grips 16-Inch.
- Best for hot food: COOCLAN Serrated Tongs, one-piece steel to 600°F.
- Best for plating: HOTEC Tweezer Tongs. Best for serving: HINMAY 7-Inch Mini Set.
- Best for pasta: Boxiki 3-in-1 Walnut Tongs.
These are the best tongs on the market right now for kitchen use, and any of them will outlast the flimsy pair from your first apartment. There is a tong for cooking every kind of dinner here, and tongs for the cook who only wants one. Pick the length and tip material that match your pans, and you are done.
