How to Use Tongs
A complete beginner’s guide to using tongs for cooking, gripping, fire handling, and campcraft. Learn safe techniques, outdoor uses, and expert tips.
What Tongs Are
Tongs are gripping tools used to grab, lift, flip, turn, and move hot objects without burning your hands. They act like an extension of your fingers, giving you reach, precision, and control around heat, fire, and food.
Grim Workshop’s compact tongs pack flat, assemble fast, and fit into wallets, Altoids tins, or ultralight cooking kits. They’re lightweight, stainless steel, and tough enough for real cooking — not gimmick tools.
Even if you’ve never used tongs before, this guide will teach you everything you need to know.
Why Tongs Matter (Especially Outdoors)
Keep Your Hands Safe
Hot pans, coals, foil packs, skewers, and food are impossible to handle safely without a tool that creates distance.
More Control Than a Spatula or Fork
Tongs don’t tear food or flop it around.
They grip firmly and move exactly what you want.
Essential for Camp Cooking
Perfect for:
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Turning meat
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Flipping vegetables
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Lifting foil meals
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Managing coals
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Handling hot rocks
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Moving pots and pans
Safer Than Fingers or Sticks
Improvised sticks break.
Tongs don’t.
How to Assemble Grim Folding or Flatpack Tongs
Step 1: Remove Both Tong Halves
Take them out of your Survival Card or micro kit.
Step 2: Cross the Two Pieces
Form an “X” with the tops of the arms arms.
Step 3: Slide Together at the Slot
The interlocking slot holds both halves firmly.
Step 4: Test the Grip
Squeeze gently.
The arms should move together like full-size tongs.
If you want more rigidity, wrap the “X” point with:
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Cord
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Tape
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Wire
How to Use Tongs for Basic Cooking
Flipping Food
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Squeeze tongs gently around the food
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Lift without twisting
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Turn in one smooth motion
Great for:
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Burgers
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Fish
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Bacon
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Sausages
Turning Vegetables
Use tongs to:
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Rotate vegetables on a grill
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Turn skewers
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Lift roasted peppers
Picking Up Hot Items
Tongs are perfect for:
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Pot lids
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Foil packets
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Charcoal briquettes
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Hot rocks
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Pan handles
Stirring Food
Use the tips to mix contents in:
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Pots
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Pans
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Griddles
Coal Management
Grip coals on the edge and move them for:
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Heat adjustment
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Fire building
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Dutch oven balancing
Campcraft Uses Beyond Cooking
Tongs are surprisingly versatile. They can:
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Move burning logs
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Turn hot stones for warming beds
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Retrieve items from fire pits
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Hold materials while cutting
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Grip thorns and cactus
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Pick up trash safely
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Handle fish or game without touching raw meat
They’re basically “heat-proof hands.”
Improvised Tongs
If you lose your tongs, you can improvise.
Good Improvised Options
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Two sticks held together
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Split green branch
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Tent stakes crossed into a clamp
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Carved wooden tongs
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Hatchet + stick clamp method
Safety Tips
Always Approach Heat Slowly
Let the tool warm before gripping something heavy.
Do Not Squeeze Too Hard
Crushing food makes it fall apart.
Keep Hands Behind the Joint
Avoid pinching your skin in the hinge area.
Don’t Use Bent or Damaged Tongs
Weak joints can slip or fold.
Stay Clear of Steam
Steam burns are worse than dry heat.
Do Not Leave Tongs in the Fire
Metal heats extremely fast.
FAQ
Q: Can compact tongs really lift heavier foods?
A: Yes. Stainless steel Grim tongs handle burgers, vegetables, and even small pots.
Q: Are tongs better than a fork for cooking?
A: Yes. Forks puncture food and dry it out. Tongs grab without damage.
Q: Can I use tongs to manage coals?
A: Absolutely. Just avoid leaving them in direct flame for too long.
Q: Do tongs work well on a pan or griddle?
A: Yes. They’re precise, safe, and prevent scratching.
Q: Can tongs replace a spatula?
A: Often, yes. For flipping or turning food, tongs are easier for beginners.
Q: Are tongs safe in the dishwasher?
A: Grim’s stainless tongs are corrosion resistant and easy to clean by hand or in the field.
Q: Do folding/flatpack tongs feel weak?
A: No. Once assembled, the crossed arms create excellent leverage.
Q: Can I use tongs to lift lids or pans?
A: Yes, but grip from the side, not the top.
Q: What if the tongs slip?
A: Adjust pressure and grip angle. Slipping usually means too little pressure or a slick surface.
Q: Can the edges of the tong arms cut me?
A: No — they’re smooth, but always grip below the pivot point.
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