A true pitmaster knows that having the best grill tongs in their toolbelt is crucial for precise control, effortless flipping, and ultimate grip while working the fiery grates.
In this post, we review the top grill tongs on the market. We break down each tong’s design, materials, and features to help you choose the ones that are worth your hard-earned dollar. And don’t forget to click your tongs twice before starting. 😉
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Our Top Picks for the Best Grill Tongs
In a rush? Check out our top 7 grill tongs! Keep reading to learn more about each of our hand-picked selections:
- Best Overall: Smoke Kitchen 18-Inch Grill Tongs
- Runner-Up: OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
- Best Value: Grillhogs 16-Inch Soft Grip BBQ Tongs
- Easy-To-Use: Cuisinart Locking Grill Tongs
- Best Heavy-Duty: Weber Original Stainless Steel Tongs
- Best Design: Rösle Stainless Steel 12-Inch Lock and Release Tongs
- Best Wooden Handle: Traeger Pellet BBQ Grilling Tongs
Our Reviews of the Best Grill Tongs
Best Overall Grill Tongs: Smoke Kitchen 18-Inch Grill Tongs
For unbeatable rubber grip and security in picking up your grilled items, you can’t go wrong with Smoke Kitchen.
Pros
- Created by pitmasters for other pitmasters
- Grippy handle to ensure confidence in use
- Scalloped edge to provide precision
Cons
- More expensive than other tong options
These tongs are a whopping 18 inches long, allowing you to reach things in the far corners of your grill. They also have no issue picking up and flipping meat and veggies on the grill and onto a plate.
There is a secure rubber handle on the tongs, making it easy to keep the tongs in your hands at all times. Unlike wood and plastic handles, the rubber stays in one place at your fingertips.
You’ll also find a flat head on the end of the tongs, keeping food secure when you pick something up. It’s easy to slide under the food with the flat end, then scoop it up with the scalloped edge. Then, all it takes is one pull to lock everything in place.
Runner-Up: OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
We love this product because of the soft rubber grip, making it easy to grab ahold of your meat products from a safe distance.
Pros
- Rubber handles that remain cool
- Easy-to-grab construction
- Scalloped pinchers for a full grasp
Cons
- Required pulling motion to lock
The OXO tongs are a go-to for many home chefs thanks to the soft grip and easy locking mechanism. The rubber keeps your hands safe, and the ring attached to the end of the locking mechanism makes it simple to hang on the side of your grill.
The tongs are also sixteen inches to keep your hands a safe distance away from juices and other items splattering while you cook. The tips are scalloped, allowing a firm grip on smaller food that would otherwise fall out of the metal grip.
All it takes is a quick push to extend the tongs. However, you have to manually pull it back up to lock the tongs in place, which can be a hassle for some cooks.
Best Value: Grillhogs 16-Inch Soft Grip BBQ Tongs
We love the soft handle this Grillhogs tong offers, along with one of the most comfortable grips on the market.
Pros
- Longer tip heads than usual for the most secure, soft grip on food
- Silicone grip for added comfort
Cons
- Steam vent design may need additional testing before it’s perfect
This pair of Grillhogs Tongs are an awesome choice if you’re worried about picking up your food with a firm, yet gentle, grip. The long head makes it simple to pick up what you need without slicing through the food or missing it. There are also vents on the metal to let steam out, though this area needs a little more testing.
The 16-inch length makes it possible to keep your hands a safe distance away from the food, so you don’t have to worry about getting close to the product. There are also comfortable silicone grips to make sure your hands don’t get uncomfortable while you cook.
The locking mechanism works perfectly and there is a hanging hook attached to the top for simple storage. Plus, they’re dishwasher safe to make it super easy to clean on your end.
You can’t beat the price for everything you get with this product. It’s under $20 and offers incredible value for your grilling needs.
Easy-To-Use: Cuisinart Locking Grill Tongs
This pair of tongs has a simple locking mechanism and a classic design to make it easy to use.
Pros
- Comfortable in the hand while in use
- Scalloped tips to create precise movements on the grill
Cons
- Pulling motion is necessary to lock the tongs in place
These sturdy tongs are some of the easiest to use on the market. Even amid a hot grill, they remained cool and comfortable in the hand. It’s long enough to keep your hands safe and sturdy to keep the food tight at the end of the product.
We love how simple the locking mechanism is on the Cuisinart locking Grill Tongs. All you need to do is press the button to open the system, then pull it back to lock. It only takes a moment for everything to snap back in place.
If you want something cheap and simple to use, this product is your best friend. They aren’t dishwasher safe, but they’re simple to wash and are effective at transferring and flipping meat and other food on the grill.
Best Heavy-Duty: Weber Original Stainless Steel Tongs
Want a pair of tongs strong enough to flip over a massive steak? The Weber Original Stainless Steel Tongs are the solution for you.
Pros
- An additional inch of length for further distance from the food
- A cool grip that doesn’t become overpowering when cooking
Cons
- Pinchers can be too strong and pierce through the food
These Weber tongs are the best if you need a heavy-duty pair for your grill. They measure 17 inches, a solid inch more than most of the long options on the market.
This length is awesome if you have a massive grilling area or are working with multiple products at once.
The handle also has a significant portion of rubber near the top, designed to keep the handle cool. You don’t need to worry about burning yourself here.
It’s easy to pick up small and large items on your grill with these precise tongs. Although it’s possible to pierce through food if you’re not careful, the risk is worth it for the power and precision offered by the Weber tongs.
Best Design: Rösle Stainless Steel 12-Inch Lock and Release Tongs
The Rösle tongs are simple to use with only one free hand, opening up options on grilling night.
Pros
- Excellent for cooking in high temperatures
- Simple to use, even with a single hand
- Long enough to keep you safe from the heat
Cons
- Awkward shaped paddle may bend after extensive heat exposure
Stainless steel tongs are one of the best options for working with high heat, but they also work well for mundane kitchen tasks if you need to take them elsewhere after cooking on the grill. The locking mechanism on the end is simple to pull, even with only one hand free.
The simplicity is what we love about this product. It has an excellent design, perfect for grilling or doing something as small as tossing a salad. You can’t go wrong with the appearance of the Rösle tongs for your cooking needs.
There is a slight curve in the paddles of the tongs, allowing you to pick up items with a slight curvature, like sausages and patties. Unfortunately, the heat will alter the paddles over time. However, if you take good care of them, this shift should only be slight.
Best Wood: Traeger Pellet BBQ Grilling Tongs
The iconic Traeger brand has come up with one of the best wooden-handled tong options for your grilling needs.
Pros
- Heavy-duty composition for quality use
- Two types of perforation on the head
- Durable leather end loop for hanging
Cons
- More challenging to squeeze than other tongs
Traeger is well-known for producing quality equipment, from their grills to other practical tools. These tongs are an excellent example of their high-class craft. The design has different perforations on either side, allowing you to pick how you grab your food.
We also love how affordable the Traeger Pellet BBQ Grilling Tongs are for their quality. For under $30, you have access to a comfortable wood handle and metal paddles with various teeth so no food escapes from its grasp.
It is critical to note that these grill tongs are a little trickier to squeeze than other products, so you should be strong if you want to make the most of your Traeger products. If you don’t have as strong of a grasp, you might be better off with another pair for your grilling experience.
Related >> BEST Pellet Smokers and Grills for BBQ Mastery
How To Pick The Best Grill Tongs
When you pick a pair of grill tongs, you don’t want to waste time returning poor investments and searching for a new one. You can get it right on the first try by considering the following factors:
Length
First, consider the size of the grill tongs. You are working with fire, so you should be aware of how close or far you will be from the flame.
The longer, the better with grill tongs. With a long-handled option, your hands and arms will stay safer from the flames, and you will avoid burns while cooking. This protection is especially true if you’re working with a massive grilling surface.
However, long isn’t always better. Stay within the 12-18 inch range to ensure you still have control over the tongs. If they are too heavy, they might be flimsy, tricky to move, and wildly uncomfortable in your hands.
It’s always a good idea to test various lengths to determine the most comfortable. The more confident you feel, the better your grilling will be.
Handle Comfort
Consider the handle material and comfort of the tongs. Metal isn’t the only thing that matters. If you can’t grab it comfortably, you won’t be able to flip and maneuver meat and other foods without harming yourself.
There are a ton of options. In fact, there are three traditional materials handles are made out of on the market:
- Silicone
- Metal
- Wood
Silicone is one of the most popular. It’s cool, even after exposure to heat, and provides a comfortable grip for your hand around the flames.
Metal is another choice, but this material can get hot after sitting around an open flame for a long time. It can also become slippery if you’re working with grease or other liquid food items.
Wood is the final option. Wooden handles are the second-best choice, as they stay cool, when around flames. However, they will fall apart much faster and could char if they get too close to the fire.
Tip Material
The tip impacts how well you can use the tongs on your grill. There are typically two options for grill tong tips, each with a different purpose.
Metal tips are one of the most popular choices for tongs. They are durable and will do well on hot surfaces for long periods. However, they are more likely to pierce through food if too much pressure is applied.
The other option is silicone. These are much gentler on food, but there are setbacks. They won’t last as long as the metal and will fall apart in the heat much sooner if you don’t remove them immediately after cooking.
Special Features
Think about the special features attached to each of the tongs. These make storage, cleaning, and more much easier. There are a few common special features.
Think about storage. Is there a storage ring on the tongs? How will you hang them up when they aren’t in use?
Are there scalloped edges to help with the precision? What details on the paddles make it simpler to pick things up?
Is there a built-in lighting system to make it easier to see the food when it gets dark? Is it possible to grill when the sun goes down?
Do the paddles have vents in them to allow steam to flow out? Is there any escape for the food to slightly cool as it moves?
Locking Mechanism
The locking mechanism is another helpful addition to a pair of tongs. If the product has a quality locking mechanism, it will become compact and go in a drawer or similar container for storage.
Some tongs have an easy locking mechanism, while others require more work to push back in place. Consider how much work you want to put into the locking system before putting your tongs away.
Also, some tongs can open and shut with assistance from one hand. If you think you’ll have full hands while cooking, a one-handed locking mechanism can be a lifesaver.
Price
Of course, price is a must when looking at a pair of grilling tongs. Some people might not care about how much they spend on the product, but others might want to keep it under a certain amount to save money.
If you want to spend less money, ensure you don’t sacrifice quality to save money. Think about the features you prioritize and save money on the other additions to the tongs.
Weight and Ease of Use
Finally, think about the weight of the tongs and the ease of use. The lighter the tongs, the easier to move them around the grill and flip products to your heart’s content.
Ease of use also includes locking mechanisms, closability, grip, and more. Anything that impacts the way you maneuver the product should be in the back of your mind.
Consider a few questions:
- How much strength do you have to press a firm pair of tongs shut?
- How much weight are you willing to carry, especially if you’re grilling for an hour at a time?
- How much effort do you want to put into pressing a locking mechanism into place every time you use the tongs?
