Grill tongs: A “handy” matter

Grill tongs are one of the practical helpers that you really need. But there is a large selection and choosing the right model is not always easy. How do they differ and which selection criteria are really important?

A rough selection or differentiation arises first of all from the intended use: is it about spreading the glowing charcoal as painlessly as possible, turning the steak without burns, or more difficult work such as moving shrimps on the grill? After that, individual criteria determine the further selection. Because just as everyone has their favorite knife for trimming meat, chopping vegetables and mincing herbs, the demands on barbecue tongs are just as individual. Basically, barbecue tongs should not be too heavy, but should be maneuverable, easy to open and close precisely, and their gripping surface should not injure the food being grilled. These factors are usually assessed differently by each individual, as they are related to the size and strength of one's own hand. What use is a long handle, for example, which allows me to keep myself far enough away from the heat source to not risk sunken forearm hairs, if I can't grip the tongs properly and can't get a proper feeling for whether I really have a firm grip on the food being grilled. What can happen if the tongs don't have a very subtle weight, the handles are too big or the transmission ratio of the force is not optimized. It is therefore worth trying out the grill tongs you are considering before buying them or at least holding them in your hand once for "dry runs".
Expensive equals good? A clear "yes and no" here. Price is often only a limited indicator of the quality of the material used and the workmanship. In principle, you can assume that the tongs from well-known grill manufacturers are also suitable for grilling and barbecuing. After all, the conditions on the grill are different than in the kitchen on an induction stove, and therefore different properties are required. Another selection criterion is the grill used. If I use a large swivel grill over a campfire, the grill tongs have to be a certain length in order to reach the middle of the grill all the way around, protected from the fire. The same applies to large kettle or ceramic grills or gas grill stations with a certain grill depth. However, the total length of the tongs is not meaningful in this respect; what is important is the measurement from the end of the handle to the tip of the gripper.

Grill tongs made entirely of stainless steel can be put in the dishwasher after use without any problem, whereas tongs made of coated aluminum or wood are usually less suitable for this. Handles made of wood, rubber or silicone allow the tongs to sit comfortably in the hand even when the handles become greasy and slimy while grilling. Also important: How much force do I need to press the tongs together, how well can the gripping pressure be adjusted precisely and how does the counterpressure behave when the gripping surface is opened? Scissor grill tongs have the advantage that the gripping pressure can be easily controlled and you can grip the food being grilled quite precisely. Grill tongs with a spring in the joint, on the other hand, can be easily grasped with the whole hand, but may require more force to press them together than scissor grill tongs. Some tongs are equipped with a locking mechanism so that they can be stored in a space-saving manner. In practice, this can prove to be a bit tricky after a certain amount of time due to wear and tear, which impairs good handling. A hanging device such as an eyelet or something similar is practical so that the tongs are always hanging on the grill within easy reach - when things get hot during grilling, storage space on and around the device is usually a bit scarce anyway.

Special gadgets
Some grill tongs have a needle integrated as a temperature sensor, which indicates visually or acoustically when the meat is cooked. However, it should be foldable or removable in some other way so that it does not pierce the meat every time it is used, thus causing some of the valuable meat juice to be lost. After all, this is precisely the reason why you use grill tongs and not a meat fork... For grilling in the evening, grill tongs with integrated lighting or a removable flashlight are designed to illuminate the grill surface in the dark.

1. Everdure grill tongs
The grill tongs are made of brushed and rust-proof steel and have a serrated gripping surface for good grip properties, which should ensure that the grilled food can be moved safely. The hanging loop also serves as a bottle opener. Total length 26.3 cm, www.everdurebyheston.de

2. Pure grill tweezers from Landmann
The stainless steel grill tweezers allow you to precisely grip small grilled items such as shrimps, but they can also be used to position and arrange plates. Length: 30 cm, www.landmann.com

3. Petromax grill and coal tongs
Tongs made of brushed stainless steel with a wooden handle. The tongs head is curved so that charcoal and briquettes as well as the food can be easily and precisely gripped. With locking mechanism, available in two sizes (41 and 54 cm long). www.petromax.de

4. Tonglite grill tongs
Pliers with a special spring mechanism to minimize the effort required, ergonomically shaped plastic handle for comfortable handling, total length 45 cm. The LED flashlight is removable, so the pliers can also be put in the dishwasher. www.tonglite.de

5. Moesta V-Tong Grill Tongs
Tongs made of stainless steel and powder-coated aluminum with scissor mechanism. With a large span for large grilled items, optionally available with meat turning mandrel. The tongs are grooved on the sides for rolling sausages, a bottle opener is integrated. Available in 43 and 51 cm lengths.
www.moesta-bbq.com

6. Thüros grill tongs
It is no surprise to anyone who knows Thüros that not only the grills are made of durable stainless steel. The grill tongs are also made of stainless steel and are a classic example of scissor tongs. They have no other frills and instead score points with good handling and quality at a low price. Length: 40 cm; www.thueros.de

Would you like to win a pair of Everdure grill tongs? Then take part in our competition on Facebook or Instagram until September 29th, 2021!