What's the most practical tool in your kitchen? A spoon? Unlikely. A knife? Close, but don't forget, those durable kitchen utensils that can handle so many tasks: tongs.
"I can't live without tongs!" says chef and culinary educator Erica Wides, of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. "A chef's tongs are an extension of their arm — we use them for all kinds of things."
From handling hot items to extending your reach, tongs have a multitude of uses. Here is just a sampling:
Additionally, the Food & Drug Administration model food code prohibits restaurant staff from handling ready-to-eat foods with bare hands. Tongs and gloves help you stay in compliance.
With all these uses, you want to make sure you have the right tongs to meet your needs. After all, they may look similar, but not all tongs are created equal. Select these workhorse food prep utensils carefully to ensure functionality and durability.
Standard multipurpose tongs are the most popular and cost efficient. But there are specialty tongs for everything from asparagus to spaghetti. You might also consider a slotted tong, which provides grabbing and draining abilities at the same time.
It doesn't take much to keep your tongs in good working order. During a shift, they should be treated like knives: wiped down frequently and sanitized as necessary. You don't want greasy tongs — they're more likely to slip out of your hand.
"If you buy a good-quality stainless steel tong, they can be run through a dishwasher with ease," says Horst. Review manufacturers' care instructions carefully, and learn your area's food service regulations to make sure you care for tongs and other cooking utensils appropriately.
Armed with this information, you're ready to select the best tongs to add to your inventory of must-have kitchen utensils.