10 Best Kitchen Tongs UK 2024 | Brabantia, OXO Good Grips and More
From everyday stainless steel and silicone to precise tweezers and locking versions for easy storage, the world of kitchen tongs is as vast as it is affordable. Our guide will help you find your match whatever your culinary style, plus we’ll provide some inspiration with our ten best buys. We’ve included pairs from OXO Good Grips, Joseph Joseph and Joe Wicks so you’re sure to snap up a set worth holding on to.
Quick List - Top Kitchen Tongs
Cuisipro
Sturdy, Simple, and Commercial Kitchen-Approved
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How to Choose Kitchen Tongs in the UK – Buying Guide
Tongs Are Usually Designed for Specific Uses, so First Determine the Design
First off, think about what you’d like to use them for – hot or cold food, serving or cooking, or maybe a pair that can handle just about anything. You can always go for a couple of different kinds if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen!
Choose Between Scalloped or Flat Cooking Tongs for Their Many Uses, but Especially for Individual Food Items
You’ll have a choice between scalloped pincers or a flatter edge similar to a spatula. Scalloped designs will be better at grabbing and keeping hold of items much like if you were using your hands – just be aware that if the edges are too jagged they may tear delicate items such as flaky fish or soft cakes.
On the other hand, flat-ended pincers are great for getting right underneath items without damaging them or their coating: think breaded chicken or vegetables, or dishes sitting in a sticky sauce or marinade that you want to scrape up every last drop of before serving. They can be a bit hit or miss when picking up smaller items, though.
Serving and Salad Tongs Are Better for Cold Foods, and Can Be Plastic or Metal
There are many types of serving tongs out there, but the most common are “fork and spoon” tongs or those with curved ends. We recommend these designs particularly as they’re perfect for securing handfuls of food without too much liquid, such as salads or vegetables, as well as being able to pick up small, rounded items like pastries or bread rolls.
Serving tongs can be made of steel, but also of plastic as they’re not really intended for cooking. Metal tongs are durable, won’t absorb any odours or food stains, and can be used hot or cold, whereas plastic may crack or melt with heat, but will still be sufficient for cold foods.
Precision Tongs or Tweezers Are Made for Garnishing, Plating, or Flipping Small Items
You will have the option of curved/offset or straight, the choice of which is yours. Offset designs can be better at plating multiple items, as you have better reach without moving or damaging items you’ve already set on the plate.
Tweezer tongs can also be doubled up as cooking tongs, and although they won’t be much use for turning heavier items, they can be useful for flipping smaller foods in a pan or on the grill. Either way, it is best to look for those with enhanced grip to stop them slipping.
Consider the Length: Longer Tongs Have a Better Reach, Short Offer Better Control
Shorter tongs, however, will give you better control over the preparing or serving of food, and will be fine if you’re only cooking for a couple of people as you may only ever serve up from smaller bowls.
In general, tongs of 8 inches are considered short, while your typical mid-sized pair will measure 9 or 10 inches. Those looking for longer tongs suitable for most uses can go for 12 inches, or all the way up to to 16 inches for an extra-long pair.
Silicone Tips and Handles Prevent Burnt Hands and Damage to Non-Stick Pans
Tongs with silicone tips are also a good choice if you don’t want to scratch your non-stick pots and frying pans. Additionally, they're gentler at handling delicate items and can get a better grip on slippery foods, so you can extract your lovingly made-ravioli from their vat of water without going into a chef-style meltdown.
Locking Mechanisms and Hooks Make for Easier Storage
If you usually hook your utensils on a kitchen rail for storage, it’s also worth checking if the tongs have a ring for hanging them up.
Top 10 Best Kitchen Tongs in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | OXO Good Grips 1. OXO Good Grips Locking Tongs | | The Best Multipurpose Tongs for Every Cook | |
2 | Joe Wicks 3. Joe Wicks Elevated Cooking Tongs | | Flat Tongs Boasting Safe Handling and No Counter Drips | |
3 | Cuisipro 2. Cuisipro Commercial Quality Stainless Steel Tongs | | Sturdy, Simple, and Commercial Kitchen-Approved | |
4 | iNeibo 4. iNeibo Kitchen Silicone Tongs, Pack of 2｜Set of 2 | | Practical Silicone-Tipped Tongs | |
5 | Harmiey 5. Global Utility and Serving Tongs｜Set of 2 | | A Great Budget Pair for Serving, BBQ and Kitchen Use | |
6 | Brabantia 6. John Lewis and Partners BBQ Tongs | | The Tong and Tweezer Hybrid | |
7 | May 7. May Steel Kitchen Tweezers | | Long Tweezers for Both Plating and Cooking | |
8 | Joseph Joseph 8. Joseph Joseph Turner Tongs | | Cleverly-Designed Heatproof Tongs | |
9 | KitchenCraft 9. KitchenCraft Serving Tongs | | Simple and Smart Serving Tongs | |
10 | Wüsthof 10. Wüsthof Gourmet Tweezer Tongs｜7726 | | Precise Plating From a Favourite Brand Among Chefs |
OXO Good Grips1. OXO Good Grips Locking Tongs
The Best Multipurpose Tongs for Every Cook
They’re also dishwasher safe and very easy to either store or hang. From what is fast becoming one of the most reliable names in cookware, this is an excellent-quality buy to keep in your kitchen for years of use.
Joe Wicks3. Joe Wicks Elevated Cooking Tongs
Flat Tongs Boasting Safe Handling and No Counter Drips
The tips are deft at flipping and grabbing slippery foods, and they’re also lockable and able to be hung on a rail. There’s a whole range of matching utensils with the same features too, if you fancy kitting out your kitchen with the fitness guru's other items.
Cuisipro2. Cuisipro Commercial Quality Stainless Steel Tongs
Sturdy, Simple, and Commercial Kitchen-Approved
They’re long enough for safe frying or barbecuing even without silicone handles, but their top trump is their ability to be opened and closed easily with one hand whilst still offering a tight hold on whatever you’re gripping.
iNeibo4. iNeibo Kitchen Silicone Tongs, Pack of 2 ｜ Set of 2
Practical Silicone-Tipped Tongs
They’ll keep your hands and your pans safe, and the edges of the tips aren’t too jagged so they won’t tear fragile foods. The larger pair would even fare well when barbecue season rolls around. To top it off, there’s a locking mechanism and a hooking loop for storage.
Harmiey5. Global Utility and Serving Tongs ｜ Set of 2
A Great Budget Pair for Serving, BBQ and Kitchen Use
They're comfortable to use too, with an easy ring-pull locking mechanism and a ridged silicone grip. However, you will have to be mindful of the fact that the silicone does not extend to the tips, so they may be a bit rough on delicate items or precious pans.
Brabantia 6. John Lewis and Partners BBQ Tongs
The Tong and Tweezer Hybrid
They're also made not from steel or silicone but from heat-resistant nylon, so they're able to be used for stir fries, baking, and deep frying alike. Though sadly not lockable, they do have a hole for hanging.
Long Tweezers for Both Plating and Cooking
Whilst they do have added grip on the ends and handle, they’re not suitable for larger scale cooking. However, they’d make a good addition to the utensil drawer if you entertain or experiment in the kitchen.
Joseph Joseph8. Joseph Joseph Turner Tongs
Cleverly-Designed Heatproof Tongs
While these cheery tongs are great at sliding under flatter and more delicate items without damaging them, some users found the design was not so great at holding onto chunkier foods like sausages.
KitchenCraft 9. KitchenCraft Serving Tongs
Simple and Smart Serving Tongs
Their length and material makes them adept at gripping large items in hot pans too, although they are not ideal for serving smaller, delicate items. Just be mindful of the handles if you’re using them in (or resting them on) hot pans!
Wüsthof 10. Wüsthof Gourmet Tweezer Tongs ｜ 7726
Precise Plating From a Favourite Brand Among Chefs
They’re easy to get a firm hold on, and the insides of the tongs have enhanced grip to ensure foods don’t slip off and ruin your masterpiece. You may find them a little short for cooking, but if dressing plates is your only goal then these are your pick.
More Essential Utensils
You can buy all the high-tech culinary gadgets under the sun, but the trusty old essentials will always be the most useful items in the kitchen! With your tongs sorted, why not check out some of our other recommendations?
Summary
Author: Natasha Dziubajlo
Top 5 Kitchen Tongs
No. 1: OXO Good Grips｜1. OXO Good Grips Locking Tongs
No. 2: Joe Wicks｜3. Joe Wicks Elevated Cooking Tongs
No. 3: Cuisipro｜2. Cuisipro Commercial Quality Stainless Steel Tongs
No. 4: iNeibo｜4. iNeibo Kitchen Silicone Tongs, Pack of 2｜Set of 2
No. 5: Harmiey｜5. Global Utility and Serving Tongs｜Set of 2
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