Why Both Tongs And Tweezers Deserve A Place In Your Grilling Toolkit

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Grilling is a culinary art form, and like any great artist, a grill master needs the right tools. While tongs are a familiar sight at the grill, their sleeker cousin, the tweezer, deserves a place in every grilling toolkit, too. Tongs are ideal for their strength and control, which makes them useful for gripping and flipping larger foods on the grill, such as steaks and corn on the cob. Meanwhile, tweezers offer precision for more delicate foods, like shrimp and vegetables. According to Brandon Hurtado, chef and author of Barbacoa: The Heart of Tex-Mex Barbecue, both of these tools make the grilling process simpler, and you can't go wrong keeping them on hand all the time. "Grilling tweezers are great for yakitori-style grilling, but there's something about a pair of traditional tongs (you've gotta click them three times for good luck) that can't be beat," explains Hurtado. 

Hurtado does have one additional note, though: While the full grilling experience is aided by having both tools, you still don't want to use either when smoking meats. Instead, he advises wearing a pair of cloth heat-resistant gloves with nitrile gloves over them, as this is a far more effective method to grill with efficiency. This glove-on-glove technique offers better control when smoking meat, letting you directly handle large cuts like pork shoulder or brisket without puncturing the meat with grill tools or losing precious juices, which enhance flavor.

Together, tongs and tweezers offer you finesse and efficiency, making grilling more enjoyable and giving you greater control of the cooking process. But if you're new to grilling or looking to upgrade your current toolkit, you might be wondering which tweezers and tongs will take your grilling to the next level. Hurtado says there isn't a specific brand he recommends, but you should consider what you're using the tool for before purchasing. "For tweezers, I prefer something 10-12 inches since I'm up close and personal with a smaller grill," he says. Short tweezers allow you to maneuver delicate food like fish, which can be difficult to manage on a grill.

Meanwhile, Hurtado recommends getting larger tongs. "When using tongs, I like to use something longer like a 17-inch pair, which is perfect for a Santa Maria-style grill (my preferred method of grilling)." Longer tongs keep your hands at a safer distance from the open flames. Of course, it's best to choose tweezers and tongs that are both good quality and safe to use. Consider tools made of sturdy stainless steel that are easy to grip to help you handle food with care. Once you have the right tools and have a few tips and tricks under your belt, you'll elevate your entire grilling experience.