OXO 12 Inch Tongs: Nearly perfect tongs.
Written: Apr 26 '05 (Updated Sep 27 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Comfortable grip, durable, grips well.
Cons: Punctures sausage skins easily, not for Teflon.
The Bottom Line: A comfortable and durable pair of tongs that proudly bear the OXO name.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: Oxo 12" Stainless Steel Locking Tongs |
Why I got it
I needed a pair of tongs for cooking and I love the OXO brand. I felt the grip was good and I liked the locking mechanism. I had another pair of tongs that were flimsy and did not work well and spatulas did not have the control that I wanted when I flipped chicken breast or other foods that require controlled flipping. So I got this pair of tongs and it fit the bill perfectly.
How it works.
It is a simple set of tongs with a locking mechanism. The locking feature locks the tongs in the closed position. The tongs lock by pushing on a sliding mechanism at the top of the tongs. In order to release the tongs you pull out the sliding mechanism. This causes the tongs to spread out to their maximum dimensions. The mechanism offers little resistance but also has not released the tongs inadvertently on me either. A very well engineered design.
The tongs themselves work like any other set of tongs in that it clamps onto the food by having the user apply pressure on the sides of the tool. There is no special gimmick here, just a pair of good tongs. Also, there is not a spongy feel when pressure is applied which leads to good control over your food.
The clamp parts (the tips that grab the food) are ribboned and a tad sharp. Not sharp enough to cut steak but sharp enough to puncture sausage skin. You will not have any fear of food being advertently released from it's grasp (except by user error). I have another pair of grilling tongs that are not very secure and are pretty useless because they are too flexible, so needless to say these are the only tongs I use on a grill.
In addition, you can hang the tool using the hole on the top of the tool. OXO make a rack that holds tools like this on a wall and it is a very convenient option.
The grip and ergonomics
This does not have the soft rubber/plastic handles that other OXO products have, and I am glad for that because it really doesn't need it. A soft, squishy handle would give the user less control. But there is rubber area where you grasp the tool and it is molded to that there is an indentation for the thumb. But the mold is not perfect and I would like to see OXO R&D department improve upon it some more.
What are its uses?
I use it for turning meats and vegetables on the grill or when I am frying meats/vegetables in a pan. If it is a non-stick pan then I generally use a plastic or other non-stick friendly tool. But it is my go to tool for the grill and my Kirkland cookware.
My only real complaint about this version is that it is not as long as I would like. I have had oil splat on my hand from time to time and a longer handle would have eliminated a lot of that. OXO does make a longer 16 inch handle version and a BBQ version if you are interested. I probably will buy the 16 inch version some day.
A word about the blades
What I am talking about is the grasping end of the tongs. They really aren’t blades but sometime they can cut act like a dull knife. The end of the tongs (the part the grasps foods) is a little too sharp for some more delicate foods. For delicate foods you would use a spatula or the nylon coated OXO tongs. Do not let my comments of sharpness scare you, they are not blades nor could anyone use them as a weapon. They just do not work well on delicate foods or thin sausage skins. But if you are careful you can use these on delicate foods, I just want you to know that they are not the best option.
Cleaning it
I always clean this in the dishwasher. It always comes out clean and the tool shows no signs of damage.
It cleans fairly well with a sponge too but that takes work and I’m usually too lazy to clean by hand.
Durability
Durability of this product is great. There is no noticeable damage, no rust, and the whole unit still works perfectly. The locking mechanism has not locked up on me nor has it loosened on me accidentally. It also has not shown any wear and tear from being thrown in the dishwasher almost twice a week for the past 2 years. I expect this tool to last another 5 years before I need to replace it. By then I am sure there will be something even better that I can write about.
Examples of usability
Round objects like ears of corn, zucchini spears, asparagus, etc are easily grasped and the tongs only leave minor marks.
Steaks and chicken pieces are easy to use and are undamaged by the unit, unless the chicken has skin then you need to be careful to keep the chicken skin intact. Baked potatoes can have a similar problem depending on the species of potatoes. The only issue with either object is that you can leave marks if you are not gentle.
Mushrooms, sliced zucchini, etc are a little more difficult because they are small. These types of foods are flexible so it will be difficult to leave marks on the food unless you deliberate manhandle them. I am more inclined to flip these types of foods with a spatula or flip them in the pan with no tool like a profession chef (but my form leaves a lot to be desired and food occasionally goes flying about. Not something my wife appreciates.)
A word about Teflon
They are metal and will scratch Teflon. So buy the Nylon version if all your cookware is Teflon or other easily scratched surface.
Would I buy it again? What do I recommend looking for?
Absolutely. I go straight for this tool when grilling or pan-frying every time. It is comfortable and easy to use. I am able to grab food and hold onto it with no problems. Just what you want out of a pair of tongs. Few things worse than having a juicy steak fall on your dirty patio.
The one thing I feel can be improved upon is the grip, but not by much. So I would look at that aspect third if I was to buy a second pair. The second thing I would look for is an all-purpose tip (the Nylon grips might work or a different head design.) But the first thing I would look for is durability, and it appears that the OXO tongs have that down pat with their tongs.
My general experiences with OXO
I like the brand but their tools are far from perfect. One problem I have had is with the handles of some of their soft handled tools. The handles start to break away from the whole unit. It is first noticeable with water getting deposited inside the handle and when you take it out of the dishwasher you have water running out of the handle. Out of my 5 soft handle tools 3 have done this. Also because it is a soft grip, it will melt easily if you put it too close to the burner. I destroyed a strainer by doing this (to some of you this is no surprise).
The good things about OXO is the grips are very comfortable, the tools are easy to use (especially for people with medical issues in the hands), and they do relatively well in the dishwasher. I definitely buy OXO when comfort is an issue with a tool. What OXO does is makes great, comfortable tools for the average consumer. If you want professional grade equipment and do not have any medical conditions, then maybe you should find a professional chef shop and get your stuff there. But ultimately my good experiences with OXO outweighs my bad experiences and I will definitely buy more of their tools in the future. (including that strainer I need to replace then review)
Problems
The main problem I have with the tongs is they can puncture certain foods very easily (as I previously mentioned). If you flip sausages then you need to be very gently otherwise you will puncture the skin and cause the sausages to dry out. You also will have trouble turning delicate foods such as fish. The tongs also are not that big so you will not be able to pick up anything larger than a large Cornish game hen or a very small chicken.
Dimensions and weight
Weight: 5 and 7/8 ounces
Total length: 13.5 inches
Length of just the arms and tip: 12 inches
Greatest width of the arms when compact: 2 inches
Width of the tips: 1.5 inches
Length of the tips: 3.5 inches
Diameter of the hanging hole: 11/16th inch
Summary
This is by far my favorite tongs to use for grilling or pan-frying. They are comfortable, easy to use, and allow the user greater control of the food when in use. They lock into place when in storage to reduce the amount of space they take up in the kitchen drawer. If you have a hanger then you can hang them easily. I have had no problems with durability of these tongs for the past two years. Definitely worth the 5 star rating.
Other OXO products.
OXO stainless steel spatula
OXO can opener
OXO vegetable peeler
OXO ice cream scoop
OXO pizza cutter
Recommended:
Yes
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