OXO holds a wide lead for kitchen tongs used in handling, flipping, and serving hot food. Overall comparisons show no single brand taking precedence across every cooking task.
The OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Tongs (and their silicone-tipped counterparts) are widely rated by culinary experts and testers as the best overall kitchen tongs for everyday cooking, serving, and high-heat tasks.[](https://www.seriouseats.com/the-best-kitchen-tongs-equipment-review)
Highly favored for their sturdy, unlined stainless steel design, comfortable non-slip grips, and reliable pull-ring lock mechanism. The 12-inch length provides ample reach for standard stovetop cooking without feeling unwieldy.
The ideal choice if you frequently cook with delicate nonstick pans or enameled cookware. They feature heat-resistant silicone heads (safe up to 600°F on select high-heat models) that protect specialized coatings from scratching while maintaining a firm grip on food.
The gold standard for outdoor charcoal or gas grills. The extra-long reach keeps your hands safely away from open flare-ups and intense radiant heat while turning large cuts of meat.
A heavy-duty, multi-functional option designed specifically for grilling enthusiasts. Features a tapered, sharpened front edge that doubles as a mini spatula and a built-in spoon rest to keep counters clean.[](https://www.seriouseats.com/the-best-kitchen-tongs-equipment-review)[2][3]
If you want one pair that does almost everything, I’d go with the OXO Good Grips 12-inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs. They’re currently about $16–18 and were also Food Network’s top overall pick after testing 17 models.
For flipping steaks, turning vegetables on the grill, handling hot chicken, and serving food from a skillet, OXO Good Grips tongs are my top overall recommendation. They combine a comfortable nonslip grip, secure scalloped tips, and a practical locking mechanism. Food Network's September 2026 testing also named the 12-inch stainless-steel model its best overall pick.
The best choice depends on whether you prioritize high-heat grilling, everyday cooking, or protecting nonstick cookware.
Best kitchen tongs to buy
(Best overall)
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
$16–$23
Typical listed price; varies by retailer.
Excellent for everyday frying, sautéing, flipping meat, and serving. The scalloped steel tips grip food securely, while the cushioned handles and locking tab make them comfortable and easy to store.
Best for: one versatile pair for most kitchen tasks.
The extra length gives you more distance from hot grates and flare-ups without sacrificing too much control. They're sturdy enough for ribs and chicken but precise enough for asparagus and other vegetables. America's Test Kitchen recommends this model for grilling.
Best for: outdoor grilling, barbecue, and larger cuts of meat.
Nylon tips are gentler on nonstick pans than bare stainless steel, and they remain firm enough to turn and lift most foods. The trade-off is a lower maximum heat tolerance of 400°F, so these aren't my first choice for high-heat grilling.
Best for: eggs, fish, chicken, and coated skillets.
A good alternative when you want soft, pan-friendly tips for cooking and serving. Silicone helps protect coated cookware from scratches while gripping food securely. Check the specific model's heat rating before using it over a grill or very hot pan.
Best for: nonstick cookware and general stovetop cooking.
A budget-friendly grill-specific option with stainless-steel construction and a locking design. A sensible pick if your tongs will live beside the barbecue rather than in your everyday cookware drawer.
Best for: occasional grilling without spending much.
For general buying advice, the key differences are grip, spring tension, tip alignment, heat resistance, and whether the tongs are comfortable to squeeze repeatedly.
My final recommendation
If you want to buy just one pair, get the OXO Good Grips 12-inch stainless-steel locking tongs. If you regularly cook over an outdoor grill, add the 16-inch version. If you use nonstick pans frequently, choose nylon- or silicone-tipped tongs for those pans instead.
One important tip: don't use bare metal tongs on delicate nonstick coatings, and don't assume silicone or nylon tips can withstand direct grill flames just because the handles are metal.
For hot food on a grill and inside cookware, I’d prioritize 12–16 inches of reach, stainless-steel construction, a comfortable locking mechanism, and silicone/nylon tips if you use nonstick cookware. Food Network’s 2026 testing also found 12 inches to be the sweet spot for everyday cooking, while 16 inches is preferable for grilling.
1. OXO Good Grips 12-inch Stainless Steel — Best overall
My default recommendation. The scalloped stainless tips give excellent grip on steaks, vegetables and slippery foods, while the non-slip handle and locking mechanism make them comfortable and easy to store. Food Network named these its best overall kitchen tongs in 2026. www.foodnetwork.com Best for: general cooking, stainless/cast-iron cookware, occasional grilling. Caveat: bare stainless tips can scratch nonstick coatings.
2. OXO 12-inch Nylon-Head — Best for nonstick cookware
The nylon tips provide a nice compromise: more rigid and precise than soft silicone, while remaining suitable for nonstick cookware. Food Network specifically found these effective and durable, although their heat rating is only 400°F, so I wouldn't make them my primary tool for extremely hot grilling.
3. Henckels 12-inch Silicone — Best premium indoor option
A good choice if you want stainless-steel construction with 600°F-rated silicone tips. That makes them particularly versatile for pots, pans and higher-heat cooking while protecting coated cookware.
4. U-Taste 600°F Silicone Set — Best value/multiple sizes
The 7-, 9-, and 12-inch sizes are useful if you want dedicated tongs for different jobs. The silicone tips are rated to 600°F, making these considerably more versatile around hot cookware than lower-temperature nylon options.
5. OXO 16-inch Grilling Tongs — Best specifically for a hot grill
If your main concern is keeping your hands away from a hot grill, I'd choose these over 12-inch tongs. Good Housekeeping's testing picked the OXO 16-inch model as its best overall grill tong, praising the reach, scalloped tips, comfortable grip and easy cleaning.
What I'd buy
One pair for everything:OXO 12-inch stainless steel
One pair for everything including nonstick:Henckels 12-inch silicone or a comparable high-heat silicone model
Lots of grilling:OXO 16-inch
Best inexpensive multi-size setup:U-Taste 7/9/12-inch silicone set
One important distinction: silicone is better for coated/nonstick cookware, whereas bare stainless-steel tips generally give you a firmer grip on heavy foods and high-heat grilling.
The best kitchen tongs for handling hot food on a grill or inside cookware are theOXO Good Grips 12" Tongs for non-stick safety or the Edlund 12-Inch Stainless Steel Tongs for heavy-duty open-flame grilling.
Top-rated options tailored to different cooking styles and needs compare as follows:
Best For: Everyday cooking, general use, and nonstick cookware.
Why it's great: Recommended heavily by Serious Eats , these feature a comfortable, soft silicone grip, an easy-to-squeeze tension that isn't too stiff, and scalloped silicone-coated heads that protect nonstick pans. They also have a reliable pull-tab lock at the back for compact storage.
Best For: High-heat searing, grilling, and robust stainless steel or cast iron cooking.
Why it's great: Built entirely from high-grade stainless steel with precision scalloped edges, these offer incredible strength when handling heavier items like a whole roasted chicken or thick steaks.
Best For: Serving, draining, and multi-purpose kitchen tasks.
Why it's great: A sleek, minimalist upgrade designed by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez. One side is solid while the other is slotted, allowing you to easily scoop up food while letting excess juices or dressings drain away.
Best For: Sleek, seamless, and ultra-hygienic cleaning.
