Rösle Stainless Steel Lock and Release Click Tongs, 17-inch

I normally do not take the time to do product reviews but the Rosle tongs are so exceptional I want to do a review. I love cooking and love using quality cookware and tools. These tongs are a good weight stainless steel, unlike some that feel look and feel like thin metal. These tongs are the perfect weight and balance, grip anything I use them on, and open very easily for one handed use. Point down and press together to open, point up and press together to close. These tongs are more expensive but you get what you pay for, which is quality. If I could afford it I would purchase Rosle tongs in every size!!! Seriously, well worth the money!

If you really BBQ, these are the BEST TONGS EVER. Sturdy stainless steel, balanced weight, right thickness, dishwasher safe. Self-locking. Flick them Down = "auto-unlocks so you can grab food one-handed like a pro" Flick them Up = "auto-locks to hold onto the food with your cocktail in the other hand like the studmuffin you tell your wife you are. Once you get the hang of them, you'll love them forever. I have two pair. First one is now 6 years old, still looks and works like new & I use them all the time. 17" reach is awesome, particularly if you like to keep your arm hair and eyebrows when using a Santa Maria grille with wood or charcoal making steaks in the fire like your inner caveman insists.

The Rösle Stainless Steel 9-inch One-Handed Locking Tongs are a premium addition to any kitchen. Crafted from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel, they are not only attractive but also intuitive to use. The smart locking mechanism is a standout feature, allowing for easy operation with just one hand. Simply tilt the tongs down and squeeze to open, and tilt up to lock – it's that simple and well designed. These tongs are versatile, ideal for turning steaks, sausages, and vegetables on the grill, as well as for grabbing items from the oven such as buns or potatoes. The lifetime guarantee provided by Rösle underscores their confidence in the product's durability and reliability, making it a worthwhile purchase for any home cook. Cleaning is a breeze with these tongs, and their sturdy construction ensures they will withstand regular use. Overall, they are a pleasure to use and a valuable tool in the kitchen.

As others have pointed out, these are built solidly with excellent quality material, as is common with high end German products from reputable companies that are now manufactured in China for the lower cost. Some commenters prefer tongs that are locked and unlocked with a tab that is pushed in or pulled out at the end where the 2 arms are joined, but that requires using a second hand to move the tab. I prefer these because they can be locked/unlocked one handed. The mechanism is excellent. Bringing the tongs horizontal unlocks the arms. If unlocked, tilting the tips up only about 10-15 degrees above horizontal engages the lock. The maneuver is very easy to do once you know how it works. I wash these in a dishwasher, and occasionally after that the mechanism sticks. Perhaps this is caused by a subtle residue on the part that moves to control the lock/unlock action. So far this has been corrected easily by squeezing the tips of the arms together (in the lock position they are separated by a few mm) and shaking the tongs for a second or 2. Immediately the tongs work perfectly. It is only because of this minor, infrequent problem that I give the locking mechanism 4 stars, but overall rating is 5 stars. Update: I realized that these do NOT need to be washed in a dishwasher, at least the way I use them, because only the tips touch food. I clean those with a sponge. Since not going into the dishwasher, the minor sticking of the closure mechanism never occurs. I now rate the mechanism as 5 stars. Also, this saves room in the dishwasher.

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about buying these because of some of the comments about the lock feature, more specifically that the tongs would spring open by themselves with enough force to create a mess. I have been using them for about two weeks now, and they have stayed closed wherever I put them (stored in the crock, laying in a plate, in the drying rack, or simply on the counter). Even if they were to pop open on their own, I can't imagine too much mess, as the spring doesn't seem to hold a great deal of force. It did take a little bit to get used to locking feature. Even now I have to think about it, but if they don't open the first way I hold them, either up or down, I simply turn them the opposite direction and no problems. When cooking, I really like the point they come to. I wasn't sure I would at first because I thought they wouldn't get into the corners (I was used to tongs with silicone edges that I could smash into corners) but these get everywhere. I can even pick up a single leaf of spinach! To be fair, I do cook with cast iron so I don't have to worry about scratching the surface. The other thing I was concerned about was how hot they would get while using them; I did not want to need to use a potholder especially since I need to keep my eye on the cast iron itself. No problems there either, they stay nice and cool. My only wish would be that the tongs would open a bit wider than they do. I'm used to tongs that open a bit wider than my hand. These stop just short of my hand. So, instead of being able to grab the amount I'm used to with one swipe, I need to go back a second time. For me, a minor adjustment, but I do wish it were different. These tongs clean easily, feel sturdy so they should last a long time, and are a beautiful addition to my kitchen. Despite the cost, I'm very pleased with them and I highly recommend them!!

Terrible. Bought these to replace an old pair of self locking tongs we had for about 15 years. Bought this pair because they were highly rated but they are terrible. They won't lock closed and when they do they often pop back open in the drawer. Stay far away from these.

These work exactly as described. But they are kind of heavy and my hand gets tired using them. A slightly smaller version would be nice, as it may fit my hands better.

Are you looking for the best? These are the way to go! Beautifully crafted and extremely functional. Thick 18/10 stainless steel material with brushed chrome handles and bright chrome scalloped "claws". They scream quality. They are very sturdy, tough and will not twist or warp one bit when you squeeze tightly to hold a heavy object. They are precise when picking up very small or thin items. I find them to be preferable to the silicone tipped model because the extra thickness of the silicone interferes with the precise pick up ability of thin items. You will not cut or pinch your fingers because of the way they are designed and the edges have been smoothed. I really like the secure grip these have when picking up anything that is paper thin to items that are heavy or bulky. The one hand locking/unlocking operation is magnificent! From the locked position simply tilt the tongs down and squeeze and release to open. To lock tilt up and squeeze. The 12" length is the perfect size for versatility and most cooking applications. I was worried they would be a little too long for easy operation but I was wrong. At first I was looking at the 9" length but decided to try the 12". After using the 12" I found them not to be too bulky at all and realized the 9" would have been less versatile and too small for most cooking applications. They would not open wide enough to pick up large items and your hand would be too close to hot items and the fire when cooking. The only con I have with these tongs is that I would like them to open 1/2" to 1" wider. The other night I went to pick up a very large artichoke from my pressure cooker and had difficulty fitting the tongs around it. A normal size artichoke would have been fine for the width the tongs will open. If you look at the picture what you see is the tongs fully opened. These tongs may be slightly difficult for arthritic hands to operate because they are spring loaded to hold them open and require a little bit of grip pressure/strength to operate. For the average person it will be no problem what so ever. I think I would like to try the Rosle 16" tongs for the BBQ with their extended reach over a hot fire yet with the same distinguished attributes as the 12". They may also open slightly wider so I could more easily grab hold of that extra large artichoke! I highly recommend these 12" Rosle Locking Tongs to people looking for the highest quality, magnificent one hand operation, precision functionality and those of average hand strength to operate them easily.