Tongs (Equipment Overview)
- Courtney Slutz
- Apr 26, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 27, 2023
Tongs are an essential tool for any kitchen for two reasons. One, tongs act as an extension of a Home Chef’s hand, allowing one to manipulate food without burning one’s self. And, two, they are a versatile tool that can perform a variety of functions. With a great pair of tongs, a Home Chef can toss pasta in a sauce, mix ingredients in a pan, flip steaks on a grill, take fish out of frying oil, or transfer a roast from a pan to a plate. Is there another tool in your kitchen that allows you to do all of those actions?
SHOPPING FOR A PAIR OF TONGS
If you are looking for a new pair of tongs, here are a couple things to keep in mind.
Length: Longer tongs are useful for higher heat cooking when you don’t want to burn the hair off of your knuckles. Shorter tongs allow for greater control of the food when cooking with lower heat. Purchasing tongs that are between 8” to 10” in length is a great starting point. From there, a Home Chef will be able to determine if they want a pair that’s shorter or longer.
Silicone or Stainless Steel: Both of these are great for higher heat applications, especially metal. Silicone is best for enameled cookware, or anything that might scratch, but at extremely high heat, like with grills, they can melt. Stainless steel tongs will not melt but they can damage ceramic coatings, teflon, and aluminum in addition to possibly damaging softer pieces of food. Nylon, plastic, or anything else that might melt should be avoided.
Spring Strength: The strength of the spring in the tongs affects how hard one needs to squeeze to pick food up and how easy it is to let go. Stronger springs will last a little longer, and are more responsive, but require a little more hand strength to clamp down. Weaker springs require less hand strength, but are not as responsive and sometimes stick to food when attempting to release it.
Handle Width: Wider handles are more stable and are better able to pick up heavy pieces of food. Thinner handles accommodate smaller hands, and can do finesse movements better, but they risk twisting when holding heavier pieces of food. This is especially true with longer handled tongs. Some tongs are designed with a more triangular shaped handle that is able to support more weight.
Paddle Shape: Flatter paddles can be more gentle and prevent cutting into more delicate foods, but you'll find that the food will often slip. This requires a Home Chef to squeeze the tongs too tightly, which can damage the food. Tongs with scalloped edges that point in towards the food, on the other hand, provide a little extra grip.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS
Here are a few recommendations if you are in the market for a new pair of tongs.*
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