You're halfway through searing a batch of chicken thighs when you need to flip them. The pasta you just drained needs a quick toss with olive oil. And you need to pull a tray of cookies from a hot oven without reaching for a second tool. Every cook needs a reliable pair of tongs that handles these moments without fumbling. After six weeks of daily use—flipping proteins, tossing salads, fishing things out of boiling water—here's what the OXO Good Grips 9-inch locking tongs actually deliver.
Quick verdict
The OXO Good Grips 9-inch locking tongs are the best everyday kitchen tongs you can buy under $20. They lock cleanly, grip food securely, and the non-slip handles make long cooking sessions comfortable. The 9-inch length feels too short for some tasks—reaching into a deep Dutch oven or pulling items from the back of an oven rack requires more arm extension than a 12-inch pair would. If you cook mostly at stovetop level, these are the tongs to get.
Who is this for?
These tongs work best for home cooks who spend most of their time at the stovetop—sauteing vegetables, flipping proteins, tossing pasta. They're ideal for anyone who finds 12-inch tongs unwieldy and wants something more precise for stovetop work. If you regularly pull roasting pans from hot ovens or work with large cuts of meat, the short reach will frustrate you. For small kitchens, renters with limited storage, or anyone who wants a reliable second pair of tongs, this size hits the sweet spot.
Key features
Locking mechanism
A thumb push at the handle base extends and retracts the tong arms with one hand. The lock snaps into place with a satisfying click—not too stiff, not too loose. After six weeks of daily use, the mechanism still works smoothly without any stickiness or play.
Scalloped edges
The tips of each arm have shallow scallops that grip smooth foods like chicken breasts,paragus spears, and fish fillets without tearing the skin. For pasta, the scallops let you grab a portion and drain directly without a separate colander step. They work less well on very small items like cherry tomatoes, where the scallops can crush if you're not careful.
Non-slip Good Grips handle
OXO's signature soft-grip material wraps the upper handle area and includes a textured thumb rest. Even with wet hands or when gripping a greasy chicken thigh, the handle stayed secure. After six weeks, the grip material shows no signs of peeling or degrading.
Brushed stainless steel construction
The tongs are fully constructed from stainless steel with a brushed finish that hides minor scratches and won't flake or corrode. The steel is thick enough to feel sturdy without being heavy—the tongs weigh 5.6 ounces, lighter than most cast iron options but heavier than cheap aluminum pairs.
Dishwasher safe
Top rack dishwasher safe with no special care required. We ran them through dozens of cycles and saw no discoloration or rust forming at the joints.
Real-world performance
Over six weeks, these tongs appeared on the counter for nearly every meal. Flipping skin-on chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet, the scalloped tips gripped the meat firmly without piercing the skin. Tossing spaghetti with olive oil and garlic took one quick grab-and-shake motion without pasta flying everywhere. Pulling chicken wings from a pot of boiling water for a party dip was the real test—the 9-inch length meant reaching down and angling the pot toward me to get a secure grip, which worked but required two hands instead of one. The locking mechanism made post-cooking storage easy; the folded tongs fit flat in a utensil drawer without taking up much space. One minor annoyance: the tongs don't stand up on their own when open, so setting them down mid-cook means either laying them across the pan or finding a spot on the counter.
Pros and cons
See the structured pros and cons below for the full breakdown.
Verdict & price check
If you want one pair of tongs that handles 90% of kitchen tasks without breaking the bank, these are it. The locking mechanism is the best in this price range, the Good Grips handle earns its name, and the brushed stainless holds up to daily use. The 9-inch reach limits some tasks, so know whether your cooking style needs stovetop precision or oven-level reach. Check the latest price for the OXO Good Grips 9-Inch Locking Tongs on Amazon.