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A cold drink, good company, and an open grill make for a great cookout. But if you don’t have the right tools to manage your grill, you could end up with poorly cooked food that’s mostly stuck to the grate. Opting for regular kitchen tongs at the grill can also lead to injury.
This is because tongs designed for grilling are longer than the average kitchen tongs—using short tongs on a large grill could burn the cook. Well-designed grill tongs are sturdy yet easy to maneuver and keep your hands safe from the heat.
Read up on these barbecue accessories and top picks to find the best grill tongs for your outdoor cooking needs.
- BEST OVERALL:OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Grilling Tongs
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:Broil King Baron Tong
- UPGRADE PICK: Rösle Premium Barbecue Grill Tongs
- BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Shark BBQ 17-Inch BBQ Grilling Tongs
- BEST HYBRID: GrillPro 40730 2-in-1 Chrome Plated Turner/Tong
- BEST WITH SILICONE TIPS: Riveira Tongs for Cooking With Silicone Tips
- BEST FOR TAILGATING:YouTheFan 18-Inch NFL Grill-A-Tongs
- ALSO CONSIDER: Allwin-Houseware W 304 Stainless Steel Tongs
How We Chose the Best Grill Tongs
To ensure that this list of grill tongs included a balanced selection of top products, we drew on our foundation of grilling experience and undertook extensive product research. We considered the length, material, style or type, and any unique features that made a product stand out from similar options. The length was necessary for determining the appropriate grill size for the grill tongs, while the material indicated whether a set of tongs was useful in high-heat situations or if they were better suited for sensitive surfaces, like nonstick and enameled cast iron.
This top list includes standard grill tongs, hybrid grill tongs, and higher-end models. We selected products that would give users more choices while highlighting the benefits of each grill tool. However, products with special features were given some preference, like those with built-in hanging hooks or custom designs.
Our Top Picks
This list of top grill tongs has been selected with a focus on the type, material, length, and overall quality of each product in order to help you find the best grill tongs for your next get-together.
BEST OVERALL
OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Grilling Tongs
Product Specs
- Length: 16 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
The OXO brand is known for high-quality products, and its 16-inch grilling tongs are no exception. Constructed with high-heat-resistant stainless steel, these tongs have scalloped edges that help grillers grip their meats, seafood, and vegetables securely. Soft, nonslip handles provide users with a comfortable grip and superior control.
And they’re not only easy to grill with; they’re simple to store. The tongs lock closed to reduce their footprint. Hang them from a hook or tuck them into a drawer.
Get the OXO grill tongs at Amazon, Walmart, Williams Sonoma, orOXO.
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK
Broil King Baron Tong
Product Specs
- Length: 16 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
The Broil King Baron tongs allow users to flip everything on the grill with ease, from large cuts of meat to tender asparagus stalks. One edge is scalloped, offering a more solid grip, while the other edge is flat, which helps when scooping food up and off the grill. The locking mechanism doubles as a hanging loop for easy storage.
Some buyers note that it can be difficult to clean the handle (the interior of which is open). However, messes are no match for a scrub brush or sink sprayer.
Get the Broil King grill tongs at Amazon, Lowe’s, BBQGrills.com, or Broil King.
UPGRADE PICK
Rösle Premium Barbecue Grill Tongs
3. UPGRADE PICK: Rösle Premium Barbecue Grill Tongs
Product Specs
- Length: 15.7 inches
- Material: Stainless steel 18-10
These Rösle barbecue grill tongs feature a sleek, ergonomic design. The most useful upgrade to these premium tongs is the patented coupling mechanism, which allows users to lock and release the tongs with one hand. Most tongs only lock and unlock with the use of both hands. Cleanup is a cinch as they’re safe to throw in the dishwasher. You can be sure that they’ll hold up to years of use thanks to their durable, rust-resistant stainless steel.
Get the Rösle grill tongs at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Rösle.
BEST HEAVY-DUTY
Shark BBQ 17-Inch BBQ Grilling Tongs
4. BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Shark BBQ 17-Inch BBQ Grilling Tongs
Product Specs
- Length: 17.5 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
The Shark BBQ grilling tongs take the act of grilling from hobby to passion. The rust-resistant stainless steel tongs feature two distinct heads that can grab almost anything that’s thrown on the grill. One side is flat like a spatula with a sharpened edge that slides between or under the food. The other side has two serrated edges and a notched tip for cutting and gripping all types of food, from soft fish to heavy briskets.
The 17.5-inch tongs with unique scissor-style handles keep the user’s hand farther from the flame than traditional tongs. The PVC coating makes for a comfortable grip. While there’s no loop for hanging and locking, these tongs stay closed on their own. Drop them in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Get the Shark BBQ grill tongs at Amazon or Shark BBQ.
BEST HYBRID
GrillPro 40730 2-in-1 Chrome Plated Turner/Tong
5. BEST HYBRID: GrillPro 40730 2-in-1 Chrome Plated Turner/Tong
Product Specs
- Length: 16 inches
- Material: Stainless steel tips and rubber handles
If the goal is to streamline the home grilling arsenal, the GrillPro 2-in-1 tongs are a worthy option. This pair of grill tongs features a triangular tong on one side and a flat spatula on the other, so users can flip burgers just as easily as they turn hot dogs. The 16-inch length makes them great for any size grill.
These chrome-plated hybrid grill tongs with soft rubber grips are dishwasher-safe for hassle-free cleanup. They’ll stay closed on their own, and they hang by the handle.
Get the GrillPro grill tongs at Amazon or The Home Depot.
BEST WITH SILICONE TIPS
Riveira Tongs for Cooking With Silicone Tips
6. BEST WITH SILICONE TIPS: Riveira Tongs for Cooking With Silicone Tips
Product Specs
- Length: 9 inches and 12 inches
- Material: Silicone tips and silicone-coated stainless steel handles
The Riveira grill tongs have heat-resistant silicone tips and rust-resistant stainless steel handles, though the handles are coated in soft-grip silicone that remains cool to the touch. This two-pack includes a 9-inch and a 12-inch set of standard grill tongs, which are suitable for small- to medium-size grills. Unfortunately, the length is too short to recommend using these grill tongs with larger grills.
The heat-resistant silicone is capable of withstanding temperatures up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, so these tongs are an excellent option for grilling food on a nonstick or enameled cast-iron surface. Both sets of grill tongs are equipped with a hanging hook that can be pulled out to lock the handles for convenient storage.
Get the Riviera grill tongs at Amazon or Riviera.
BEST FOR TAILGATING
YouTheFan 18-Inch NFL Grill-A-Tongs
7. BEST FOR TAILGATING:YouTheFan 18-Inch NFL Grill-A-Tongs
Product Specs
- Length: 18 inches
- Material: Stainless steel tips and wood handles
Show off team spirit at tailgate parties with YouTheFan NFL Grill-A-Tongs. They come laser cut with the logo for one of 10 American football teams and the team’s name emblazoned on the maple handles.
These tongs are wide and flat enough to flip burgers, while the curved, saw-toothed edge gives users a handle on hot dogs, steaks, or kebabs. At 18 inches long, they’ll keep the user’s hands safely away from the flame. When you’re finished grilling, the built-in bottle opener can be used to open beverages for the party.
Get the YouTheFan grill tongs at Amazon.
ALSO CONSIDER
Allwin-Houseware W 304 Stainless Steel Tongs
Product Specs
- Length: 9 inches and 12 inches
- Material: Stainless steel tips and silicone-coated stainless steel handles
This affordable two-pack gives users two pairs of tongs. Get one 9-inch and one 12-inch pair for the price of most single tongs. The shorter tongs are suitable for kitchen tasks, while the longer ones are safe for use on the grill. The Allwin-Houseware W tongs are incredibly durable and made of stainless steel with a brushed-steel finish. Choose the best match for the kitchen and grill with handles available in seven colors.
With the scalloped metal ends, users can easily grab food as they cook. The ergonomic nonstick grip allows for hours of comfortable grilling. After the meal is finished, these tongs can go right in the dishwasher. Use the large loop on the end to lock them closed for storage, or hang them from the grill.
Get the Allwin-Houseware W grill tongs at Amazon or Walmart.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing Grill Tongs
Find a great set of grill tongs to prepare food for the family by taking the time to learn about the most important product factors, like the length, material, type, and any additional features that make the tongs stand out from similar options.
Standard vs. Hybrid
Grill tongs come in two main types, including the standard grill tongs and hybrid grill tongs.
- Standard grill tongs typically have two sides with matching heads that come together to grasp the food on the grill, allowing the user to pick up the food and move it around the grill surface. The heads usually have a scalloped shape, though some products may have simple triangular-shaped heads that can be difficult to use.
- Hybrid grill tongs combine the ability of tongs to grab and pick up an item with the scooping and flipping ability of a grill spatula. This convenient function is achieved by replacing one of the tong heads with a flat spatula head while keeping the other head the same. Just keep in mind that the flat spatula head makes it more difficult to grab and pick up an item with a hybrid set of tongs than it would be with a standard set of grilling tongs.
Material
When it comes to the material used to make grill tongs, users will want to consider the handle material, the tip material, and the grill grate material in order to select the best set for their grill.
The handle is typically made out of lightweight metal, but soft-grip handles may have silicone grips that are easier to hold and stay cool to the touch. Without the silicone, a metal handle can quickly become too hot to hold without protective gloves. However, metal is easier to clean than silicone. Wood is also an option for some grill tongs because it is more durable than silicone and more heat-resistant than metal, though wood is vulnerable to drying and cracking.
Metal is a good choice for the tips of grill tongs because it can be used at very high temperatures and is able to pierce and cut through food. Silicone tips may be the better option, though, if you’re grilling on a nonstick surface or enameled cast iron because the soft material won’t chip or scratch the surface.
Length
The length of a set of grill tongs is a key measurement that determines whether the tongs are suitable for the grill. If the grill tongs are too short, then the user will be forced to place their hand over scorching flames in order to reach the food that is at the back of the grill. Alternatively, extra-long grill tongs may be unnecessary and can make it more difficult to grip and maneuver food.
Consider the depth of the grill and the amount of access that the user has to the grill. For instance, a circular grill with a removable lid doesn’t need a set of grilling tongs that extends across the entire surface, but a rectangular grill with a hinged lid does require a set of grill tongs that can reach the back of the grill without putting the user’s hand at risk.
Additional Features
While grill tongs are relatively simple grill tools, manufacturers have developed some additional features to improve the functionality of these essential outdoor kitchen tools, including a convenient locking mechanism, hanging loops, and grilling accessory sets.
- Locking mechanisms are designed to lock the handles of the tongs in the closed position, making it easier to store the tongs when not in use. Locking tongs are also better for those who are managing multiple utensils on a narrow grill side table.
- Hanging loops are another feature that help improve the storage capabilities and convenience of a set of grill tongs. The loop is typically installed on the back of the grill tongs, and it’s used to hang the grill tongs on the grill for easy storage and retrieval.
- Grilling accessory sets are less a specific function and more an affordable bundle of useful grilling tools and grilling accessories. Grill cleaner, grill tongs, grill brushes, and more can be included in these sets, so don’t pass up the chance to replace your worn grill tools with one of these bundles.
FAQs
Grill tongs are relatively simple to use, but there’s always more you can learn. To ensure that you’re using the best grill tongs for your grill, take a look at the following answers to some of the most popular questions about grill tongs.
Typically, the best barbecue tongs will be long enough to reach the back of the grill without requiring the user to place their hands over the heat.
No, plastic tongs are not meant to be used on a grill because the high temperatures will rapidly begin to melt the plastic. Keep these utensils for use with pots and pans in the kitchen.
Grill tongs with silicone tips are relatively safe for use on a grill, though they do not have the same durability and fire resistance as metal grill tongs. Therefore, it’s better to use silicone tips at temperatures below 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Switch to metal tongs for high-heat grilling.
The necessary utensils depend on what food you usually grill. If your grill is limited to burgers and hot dogs, then a set of BBQ grill tongs, a grill brush, and a grill spatula are all you really need. But for a wider variety of meals, consider adding a grill fork, grill gloves, a knife, a basting brush, and a grill thermometer.