OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs Review: Still the Gold Standard?
America's Test Kitchen has crowned the OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs their top pick through multiple rounds of testing — and over 14,000 Amazon customers at 4.8 stars apparently agree. For a $15 kitchen tool, these tongs have an unusual amount of evidence behind them. Here's what they do well, where they fall short, and whether you should grab the all-stainless version or one of the tip variants instead.
Product Overview
The OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Locking Tongs (model 28581) are a one-piece brushed stainless steel design with OXO's signature soft, non-slip rubber handle. A pull-tab on the handle locks the tongs closed for storage and doubles as a hang loop. The pincers are uncoated stainless steel with a scalloped edge — the same basic tip you'd find in a restaurant kitchen.
OXO offers several variants around this platform that are worth comparing before you buy:
| Variant | Tip Material | Heat Resistance | Non-stick Safe | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless (B00004OCK1) | Bare stainless steel | Very high | ❌ No | ~$14.99 |
| Silicone Head (B003L0OYK8) | Silicone | 600°F | ✅ Yes | ~$17.99 |
| Nylon Head (B0000CCY1L) | Nylon | 400°F | ✅ Yes | ~$12.99 |
| 9-Inch (B0000CDVD8) | Bare stainless | Very high | ❌ No | ~$11.99 |
The all-stainless version reviewed here is the flagship — and the one ATK tested. It's designed for metal cookware, grilling, and high-heat work. For non-stick pans, buy the silicone or nylon head variant instead.
Performance & Real-World Use
The pincers are where OXO earns its reputation. The scalloped edge grabs food from multiple contact points, and ATK engineers measured the opening tension at 0.55 lb — firm enough to hold a pot roast, light enough not to tire out your hand during a 20-minute pasta drain. Testers across multiple ATK rounds described the tongs as feeling "like a natural extension of our hands," which is a specific kind of praise that reflects calibrated spring tension rather than marketing.
In practice, the 12-inch length hits the sweet spot for stovetop and oven work — close enough for control, long enough to keep your wrist out of the heat. The rubber grip stays secure even when your hands are wet or greasy, which matters when you're pulling a roast or managing a sauté with oil spattering. The locking mechanism clicks shut with one hand and stores flat in a drawer or hung on a hook.
Where the all-stainless tips show their limits: they won't grip smooth ceramic surfaces cleanly — ATK noted this specifically when transferring ramekins. They're also a risk on nonstick surfaces, where the hard steel edge can scratch a coated pan over time. Both limitations are solved by switching to the silicone or nylon tip variants, but those come at a small price premium.
- America's Test Kitchen's top pick — through multiple independent testing rounds — not a one-time nod
- Scalloped stainless pincers — grip precisely without mashing food, tested on everything from pasta to roasts to slippery raw chicken
- Non-slip rubber handle — stays secure wet or dry, and the tension is calibrated to avoid hand fatigue
- Locking tab — is intuitive, stores flat, and doubles as a hang loop
- Dishwasher safe — the rubber handle is made from material designed to withstand repeated dishwasher cycles
- 14,000+ Amazon reviews at 4.8 stars — over 15+ years; countless users report these lasting a decade or more
- Versatile across cooking methods — stovetop, oven, grill, and serving
- All-stainless tips scratch non-stick coatings — if you cook primarily in nonstick, this is the wrong variant; buy the silicone head version
- Locking tab can slip accidentally — when tongs are held vertically (pointing upward); the tab can slide partially closed
- Rubber handle discolors over time — with heavy use — functionality isn't affected, but the grip develops visible wear marks
- Tips don't grip smooth ceramics well — ramekins, small bowls, and smooth-sided vessels require more care than grippy metal or rough-textured food
- Made in China — worth noting for shoppers who prioritize manufacturing origin
- Slightly heavier than restaurant-grade metal tongs — (like Winco or Vollrath), which some cooks prefer for their lighter, all-metal feel
The OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs are exactly as good as the volume of evidence behind them suggests. ATK's endorsement over multiple test rounds isn't marketing copy — it reflects measured spring tension, grip precision, and durability tested under actual cooking conditions. At ~$15 with a proven 10-plus-year track record, these are one of the rare kitchen tools where the right answer is simply "yes, buy these" — provided you're picking the right tip variant for your cookware. **4.5/5** — would be a perfect score if the locking tab were more reliable when held vertically.
Sources
- America's Test Kitchen — The Best Kitchen Tongs
- OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Locking Tongs — Amazon product page
- Food Network — 6 Best Kitchen Tongs of 2026, Tested and Reviewed
- Reviewed.com — 8 Best Grill and Kitchen Tongs of 2026
- The Peak Dream — 8 Best Kitchen Tongs: Silicone vs. Stainless Steel (October 2024)
- Fante's Kitchen Shop — OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Locking Tongs, 12 in.
- OXO Official Product Page — 12" Tongs