If you cook at home more than a few times a week, tongs are the tool you reach for constantly and probably never think twice about — until you grab a flimsy pair that bends under the weight of a chicken breast or slides off a nonstick pan leaving a scratch across the surface. The OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Tongs set addresses both problems directly: two functional sizes, sturdy stainless steel, and nylon heads that won't destroy your expensive cookware.
Quick verdict
The 12-inch and 9-inch pair from OXO covers every common kitchen task well, from turning a skillet full of vegetables to plating a delicate piece of fish. The scalloped edges grip securely, the locking mechanism works reliably, and at roughly $20 for two tongs it's a fair deal — not a steal, but fair. If you want one set that does it all without taking up much drawer space, this is it.
Who is this for?
Home cooks who want two distinct tools without buying them separately. The 12-inch pair handles high-heat jobs — reaching into a hot oven tray, turning a cast iron skillet, tossing a large salad bowl — where extra reach matters. The 9-inch pair is the daily driver for stovetop work: flipping thin meats, tossing pasta, stirring a sauce without a spoon. Anyone who already owns quality nonstick cookware will appreciate that these nylon heads go where metal can't.
Key features
Two sizes, one set
The 12-inch and 9-inch lengths aren't arbitrary — they correspond to real cooking scenarios. The 12-inch gives you reach and leverage for oven work and large pans. The 9-inch gives you precision and control for stove-top tasks. Having both in one purchase at one price is genuinely convenient.
Brushed stainless steel construction
The steel body flexes under pressure but doesn't permanently deform. After two months of daily use, neither pair shows wobble at the hinge joint. The brushed finish hides minor scratches that would show immediately on polished steel.
Scalloped edges
The scalloped gripping surface is the functional highlight. Smooth tongs slip off round foods — scallops catch the curvature. We tested against a plain pair from a dollar store and the difference on a cherry tomato and a piece of salmon fillet was obvious. The OXO tongs held; the cheap tongs didn't.
Locking mechanism
A thumb slide at the hinge locks both pairs closed for storage. The lock on the 9-inch pair engages crisply. The lock on the 12-inch pair takes slightly more pressure to engage fully — not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if you have hand grip issues.
Soft non-slip grips
The rubberized thumb rest and handle section genuinely stay gripped with wet or oily hands. During testing with greasy marinade hands mid-recipe, the OXO tongs didn't rotate or slide in grip — a small thing that matters when you're holding a hot pan near an open flame.
Real-world performance
The 9-inch pair lives on the stovetop hook. Tossing spaghetti with tomato sauce, flipping boneless chicken breasts, stirring a risotto — all smooth. The scalloped edges grip a single ravioli as well as they grip a handful of greens, which speaks to the versatility of the jaw geometry.
The 12-inch pair handles the oven tasks that require distance and leverage. Grabbing a rimmed baking sheet from a 375°F oven, turning a rack of ribs on a grill, tossing a large batch of roasted Brussels sprouts in a wide skillet — all doable without singeing your knuckles or losing your grip on the food.
The nylon heads performed at temperatures up to about 400°F without warping or discoloration. Beyond that — searing at high heat, direct flame contact — the heads began to soften slightly. For typical home cooking, they hold up fine. For serious high-heat wok work, you'd want a different tool.
Cleaning is dishwasher safe, and both pairs come out clean and dry. Hand washing is equally easy since the gap between the hinge and the nylon head doesn't trap food debris.
Pros and cons
See the structured pros/cons in the right rail.
Verdict & price check
OXO's Good Grips 2-Piece set earns its space in the kitchen drawer. Two sizes cover nearly every cooking task, the scalloped edges grip better than flat-jaw competitors, and the non-slip grip works as intended. The locking mechanism on the longer pair could be smoother, and the nylon heads have a practical heat ceiling — but neither is a real-world problem for typical home cooking. Check the latest price for the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Tongs set on Amazon.