Toss Your Toxic Grilling Tools — Get These Instead

Over the past year, people have begun to move away from black plastic utensils due to a study that found that 85% of plastic products tested contained toxic flame retardants. The distressing truth is that when plastic utensils are used in cooking, they can leach those chemicals into your food. But the threat isn’t only in the kitchen — unfortunately, I’ve personally witnessed way too many people using potentially toxic utensils on the grill.

Grilling involves cooking over high-heat flames that can often reach well over 600°F, and when you’re using black plastic spatulas, turners, and tongs that are only certified safe up to 350°F or even 450°F, your food may wind up with some unwanted chemicals in it. Luckily, this can be avoided by using safe stainless steel and cast iron grilling tools, since kitchen-grade metals are non-reactive and don’t have chemical coatings. Read on for the best ways to avoid accidentally ingesting melted plastic the next time you cook smash burgers, chicken wings, seared salmon, or your “famous” ribs.

Best Stainless Steel and Cast Iron Grilling Tools

• Winco Stainless Steel Fish Spatula$9
• OXO Good Grips Grilling Tools Set$18, originally $23
• Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Metal Spatula$19, originally $22
• Lodge 6.25-Inch Cast Iron Burger Press$16, originally $20
• New Star Foodservice 12.5-Inch Grill Spatula$10, originally $15
• Homi Extra Wide Spatula with Beveled Edges$17
• Hotec 16-Inch Grilling Tongs$10, originally $13

Winco Stainless Steel Fish Spatula

If you’re only using one spatula, I highly recommend this one. I use this at home, and I know professional chefs who prefer it as well — it’s perfect for delicately flipping or picking up steaks, fish fillets, burgers, veggies, and much more. I love how thin and nimble the stainless steel blade is. After all, using a clunky, plastic spatula is the fastest way to rip some delicate fish skin or accidentally knock your veggies between the grates, not to mention the fact that the plastic is toxic. Skip all that for just $9.

OXO Good Grips Grilling Tools Set

This set contains a more classic, sturdy spatula model and OXO’s excellent scalloped tongs, which are ideal for picking up food off the grill. Over 7,000 shoppers bought this set in the past month, with one sharing that they were “impressed by their thoughtful design and construction.” They went on to say that “their exceptional quality, functionality, and durability make them a must-have addition to any griller’s toolkit.”

Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Metal Spatula

This is a super traditional, no-frills spatula. It has an ergonomic handle and a slotted blade, and its 14.8-inch length lets you stay safely away from the fire. The stainless steel spatula has over 9,600 five-star ratings at Amazon.

Lodge 6.25-Inch Cast Iron Burger Press

I’ve seen so many people use plastic spatulas to smash their burgers over high heat, and all I can think of is the chemicals they might be smashing into their food. Using a cast iron press is not only safer, but it’s way more efficient, since you’re using a weighted tool to achieve a deep, even press that leaves your burgers’ edges ready for the crispy caramelization that smash burger lovers crave.

New Star Foodservice 12.5-Inch Grill Spatula

When I worked the flat-top grill in a restaurant, this was the spatula I used. It’s incredibly sturdy and has thin edges that allow you to scrape up food easily without harming it or your grill. The tough, wooden handle is easy to manipulate to get the perfect angles, and the spatula itself is 12.5 inches long, meaning you’ll have plenty of surface area to pick up whatever you’re cooking. Plus, using a couple of these makes you look and feel like you’re the chef of a diner or a hibachi grill. Grab one while it’s only $10.

Homi Extra Wide Spatula with Beveled Edges

I love huge cooking spatulas, like this one with a 5- x 6-inch base. I own one from a major grilling brand that costs three times as much as this one but looks almost identical — I wish I had snagged this one from Homi instead. One shopper said they bought this to “flip pancakes, large cuts of meat, and groups of vegetables” and that it’s been “worth every penny.” They added that the beveled edges help to avoid making a mess when flipping delicate items like pancakes, stating that it has become “one of the three grilling tools I can’t live without.”

Hotec 16-Inch Grilling Tongs

I recently went to a barbecue festival where I saw a ton of grilling pros using really long, scalloped steel tongs like these to help them maintain a strong grip on their food from a safe distance. The tongs’ non-slip grip and hanging rings for easy storage make the pair even more worthwhile. $10 is an awesome price for tongs like this, so don’t hesitate to dive in if you need a new pair.