Clongs: A Better Pair Of Tongs?

Tongs are among our most multi-tasking kitchen tools. We already own multiple pairs, but should we make room for one more?

A post at The Food Section alerted us to a new and improved tong design from Australian company Dreamfarm. Known as Clongs, they have a couple of unique features including a bent handle that keeps them sitting up and off surfaces, plus a click-lock button mechanism that makes them easy to open and close with one hand. (We've been known to open and close tongs with our teeth, so this is intriguing!) The arms are stainless steel and the silicone tips are heat resistant to 500°F. Here's a video of the Clongs in action:

We're not sure how we feel about the tips; we're accustomed to more elongated tips and these have a smaller, shorter surface area. In addition, Clongs only come in 9- and 12-inch lengths, which might be a bit short for grilling. But the other features are certainly attractive. What do you think? Have you used Clongs?

• Learn more: Dreamfarm Clongs ($14.95-19.95)

Via The Food Section

Related: Hot or Not? Fingertongs

(Image: Dreamfarm)

Comments (12)

Those look dreamy! I keep roasting clementines and lemons for vinegrette and with regular tongs it's pretty hard to squeeze the hot fruit and get a good grip - these would work well I think.

BTW, as far as locking/unlocking tongs with one hand: make sure that you get ones that have a tab at the hinge end that is locked when extended (this seems to be the most common config). That way, to unlock them with one hand (do you ever need to lock them with one hand?) you can just pop the hinge end against your leg, the counter, whatever. Don't buy ones that are locked when the tab is already depressed.

ugh. no. i've tried tongs (not clongs, though) that had silicone tips, and they are not nearly as grippy as all-metal tongs. the bent handle seems clever and practical, but i'm fine just using a small plate as a resting spot.

There are plenty of one-hand locking/unlocking tongs. I have at least two pair from Rosle that I love dearly. It's the ability to set them down without the tips touching the counter that really makes me happy! None of my tongs fit nicely in my spoon rest and always end up flipping over and spattering food everywhere. Yay for innovation :)

OH. MY. GOODNESS! Those are amazing. I want a pair now!

I have a pair of tongs I use for a number of things in the kitchen. I must be missing something though: why would you want them to lock? I can't imagine a situation where I would need them to lock (except maybe for having them take up less space when being stored).

I totally agree with vanessa.vichitvadakan about silicone tips. I have yet to find something that they are good at gripping. I mean, think about it, the idea is that nothing will stick to silicone, so that means anything you try to pick up with them you will likely drop. Ugh. Sorry, lots of frustration with those things.

I've been thinking about buying silicone tipped tongs to replace a metal pair for use with enameled cast iron (I'm trying not to scratch the enamel and prefer not to get nylon). These look really interesting, but comments from vanessa.vichitvadakan and tamingthetart are making me wary. Hmm. Decisions.

I second the love for Rosle tongs!

I abhor silicon, and although the bend is intriguing, I'm sticking with my Rosle.

I don't care much about the tongs not touching the counter, but I wonder if the bend might line up right to allow the tongs to be propped on the edge of a pot so they could drip into it instead? I have some utensils that do that, but all the tongs I see are straight. If I try to prop them up, they fall over and make a mess.
Interesting.

The tongs remind me I'm due for a pap smear...

@ Green Cat... Yeah I think it's mostly helpful for storage. :)
KrapArtist, you're hilarious.