Kitchen Tongs & Cooking Tongs

Kitchen tongs for the food industry and private households

Every kitchen should have a pair of kitchen tongs. This kitchen utensil can be used in a variety of ways and is a clean, hygienic way of moving food. On this page, you’ll find information on the types of tongs available and what to take into consideration when choosing a pair to purchase. 

What types of kitchen tongs are there?

There are different types of kitchen tongs for different uses and they vary in shape accordingly. Here’s an overview of the main models available. 

Barbecue tongs

These tongs are designed for turning meat and vegetables over when cooking on the barbecue. They can be made from either silicone or stainless steel and must be resistant to very high temperatures. High-quality barbecue tongs can also be used as serving tongs for dishing out barbecued food onto plates. You can tell these tongs apart from the rest thanks to the slight bend which provides leverage for lifting food. 

Pasta or spaghetti tongs

This utensil is immediately recognizable by the prongs which feature at the end of the tongs. Their slightly rounded shovel-like form means you can get a firm grip on spaghetti so it doesn’t slide free. Pasta tongs don’t have to be limited to pasta, they can also be used for things like asparagus too.

Multi-purpose tongs

Multi-purpose tongs feature two scoops at the ends for picking up an array of different foods, with a slot on one side for letting liquid drain off. You can serve food either with or without its juices by choosing which side you leave on the bottom. Their concave design makes it easy to serve out pasta, salad, meat or vegetables without making a mess. 

Pastry tongs

Smaller kitchen tongs are handy for use with pastries, particularly those which feature small scoops at the ends. 

Salad tongs 

These tongs are specially designed so salads can be taken from bowl to plate without making a mess. You can even use these tongs to pick up oily lettuce leaves or soft pieces of tomato and cucumber without spoiling them. They often feature a slot at one end so salad dressing can be drained back off into the bowl. This avoids serving too much dressing with your salad. 

Silicone or stainless steel: which is better? 

Kitchen tongs are often made from either silicone or stainless steel and both versions have their advantages. 

Stainless steel kitchen tongs 

Kitchen tongs made from 18/10 stainless steel are both durable and heat-resistant, keeping their shape even when temperatures get extremely high, like on the barbecue. They can also be cleaned in the dishwasher without a problem. There’s usually an eyelet on the handle for hanging them up on a utensil holder. Sleek and minimal in design, stainless steel kitchen tongs will look the part in your kitchen, but they should only be used in uncoated bowls, pots and pans which are not susceptible to damage. 

Silicone kitchen tongs 

Silicone tongs also boast high levels of durability and are best suited to coated pots and pans. Silicone is resistant to temperatures of up to 220°C and is also dishwasher-safe. The material is flexible and smooth, which prevents food from sticking to the end of the tongs. 

Are you still looking for the perfect pair of kitchen tongs? You can buy them directly from our online store.