We’ve all been there and grabbed our freshly cooked toast out of the toaster, only to accidentally burn ourselves on the steam or sheer heat of the bread, but thankfully, toaster tongs are the solution to this problem! Often made out of wood, this nifty utensil is great for reaching into the machine, as they don't conduct heat or electricity and can slot around your food with ease.
No matter what toaster you have (whether it's a smart toaster, toasting oven or a two-slot one), a pair of toast tongs will always come in handy. Apart from extracting toasted goods, tongs can be used for all sorts of jobs in the kitchen, including flipping meat, plating up salad or serving baked goods to your family and friends.
Best toaster tongs at a glance
•Best for a multipack: laboos Magnetic Bamboo Toaster Tongs - view offer on Amazon
•Best for novelty utensils: Zeal Silicone toast tongs - view offer on Amazon
•Best for durability: John Lewis ANYDAY Magnetic Beech Wood Toast Tongs - view offer on John Lewis
•Best for a budget: Lakeland Magnetic Wooden Toast Tongs - view offer on Lakeland
So, if you're looking for a pair of toaster tongs to add to your utensil drawer, you've come to the right place, as we've rounded up the very best options below.
The best toaster tongs
Best for a multipack
This pack of two toaster tongs will be a welcome addition to any kitchen. They are long and their ergonomic shape makes them easy to grip. We like that they are magnetic, meaning you can attach them to the front of your fridge or side of your toaster.
A happy reviewer said: "These work perfectly. I bought them specifically to extract bagels from my toaster without burning or electrocuting myself. Easy to use and little round magnet in the handle makes it easy to secure it to the toaster between uses so it doesn’t suddenly grow legs and become hard to find."
Pros
- Magnetic design
- Easy to use
Cons
- Quite large
Best for novelty utensils
Shaped like a duck, these toast tongs from Zeal are absolutely "quacking" if you ask us. They have a heat-resistant silicone beak and a nicely shaped base for you to grip onto. As well as being easy to use, they are also easy to clean too.
A reviewer said: "The quality is great and has a ceramic feel with a rubber tip for heat resistance. The tongues themselves are a little small but that doesn't affect the overall use of the product and durability. It's adorable and worth the money by far."
Pros
- Available in other colourways
- Anti-slip silicone grips
Cons
- Thick shape
Best for durability
www.johnlewis.com
Made from beechwood, the ANYDAY Magnetic Toast Tongs from John Lewis have been designed with durability in mind. The rounded ends are the perfect shape for flipping foods in a pan, as well as clasping things that are inside a toaster.
One reviewer said: "I bought these as stocking fillers at Christmas and kept one for myself. I love it. No more burnt fingers with toasted bread and especially good for safely extracting smaller items such as tea cakes, bread for bruschetta etc.. A 5 star product if it were a little shorter so that it stored more easily. A good price too."
Pros
- Affordable price
- Rounded edges
Cons
- Hand wash only
Best for a budget
www.lakeland.co.uk
If you're shopping on a budget, you'll love these Lakeland wooden toast tongs. They allow you to retrieve slices of bread, bagels, crumpets and other toasted goods with ease. They cost less than a fiver, plus they come with a three-year guarantee - bargain!
A reviewer put: "No more burnt fingers, or trying to fish my toast out with a knife - dangerous I know, and as my husband repeatedly tells me! It’s also very useful for hooking out the toasty bags from the toaster, they can get very hot. I can then slide the contents directly on to a plate without touching the hot bag. Genius!"
Pros
- Thin
- Three-year guarantee
Cons
- A few reviewers would like the magnet to be stronger
Best for personalisation
www.etsy.com
Handmade with care, these PrecisionMemory toaster tongs from Etsy would make a lovely gift idea for a toast connoisseur. We love that you can customise them with whatever text you like - you can even choose what font it's written in!
Clancie, a reviewer said: "This was beautiful. We bought this as a Christmas gift for my daughters piano teacher, and she loved it. I put the teachers name on one side and the year and my daughters name on the other."
Pros
- Anti-slip design
- Can add up to 256 characters
Cons
- No magnet on the side
Best for gifting
The OTOTO Bernie Bunny Toaster Tongs are both practical and cute, adding some quirkiness to your kitchen. Whether you're plating up salad, serving canapes or fishing a pitta bread out of the toaster, they will certainly come in handy.
One reviewer put: "Too silly not to have! The ears are great for going after English muffins that insist on sitting too low in a roster to grab with you fingers. Safer than using a fork or knife. Wood is well finished so no splinters. Ototo makes wonderful, silly things. Love the Nessies too."
Pros
- Able to stand up on their own
- Wood is heat-resistant
Cons
- Some say theirs aren't smooth
Can you use any tongs to remove toast from the toaster?
Ideally, you should use toaster tongs when you're trying to take things out of your toaster. Avoid using your regular kitchen tongs, as they may be too wide to effectively grab the food and never use metal tongs as this is dangerous and could cause electrocution (although they can be used on most sandwich toasters).
Things to consider when purchasing toaster tongs
Material - First and foremost you need to select an option that is both heat-resistant and electricity-conducting for safety purposes. A durable wood (such as beechwood or bamboo) or silicone is a great option.
Length - You want your toasting tongs to be far enough away from your toaster so that the steam doesn't burn your hands. However, if the tongs are too long, you may lose some control over what you're doing.
Shape - Too big and your tongs may not fit into your toaster, too small and they may be tricky to clasp. Some tongs are wider at the top, allowing you to hold them with ease.
Grip - To prevent condensation or greasy foods from slipping out of the tongs, a lot of them have grips or ridged paddles which allow you to hold onto your food without accidentally dropping it.
Style - Many brands offer a variety of options in exciting colours and shapes. As well as being practical, it's also a nice idea to go for a pair which complements the interior of your kitchen. This is important if you're purchasing some as a gift too, as you want the recipient to like the look of the tongs.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother & Baby and Yours. She enjoys reading, creative writing, spending time with her pets and cooking for her friends and family.