Most people own a pair of tongs. Whether for barbecuing in the summer, or just for everyday cooking in the kitchen, these simple instruments are essential. But, do any companies manufacture kitchen tongs in the USA? Well, that’s what I’ll be looking at in this article.
Which Brands Sell Tongs Made in the USA? (The Short Answer)
After an extensive search for American made tongs, I found 5 companies that produce them. They are Bor-B-Q, Bear Paws, Edlund Co, Lamson, and Vermont Country Store.
American Made Tongs (Here’s What I Found)
Now that we know which companies offer tongs made in the USA, let’s take a look at each one in more detail.
Bor-B-Q
Bor-B-Q is a truly American company that focuses on classic American BBQs. It is a family owned and operated business that produces tongs and spatulas for those self-proclaimed cooks out there.
According to its website, Bor-B-Q’s tongs have a unique design that allows you to easily move all types of food across a grill. From sausages and chicken to baked potatoes and corn cobs, there’s not much that Bor-B-Q’s tongs can’t handle!
As for its manufacturing location, according to the company’s FAQ section, it manufactures all of its products by hand at a facility located in Illinois.
If you are itching to get your hands on a pair of the company’s tongs then I’ve got you covered. Take a look at these.
Bear Paws
I wasn’t able to find an official website for Bear Paws so all of the information for this one comes from the company’s official Amazon store. Bear Paws has been manufacturing its specialty kitchen utensils in the USA since it was founded in 1993.
These aren’t tongs in the conventional sense. Instead they are, like the company’s namesake, bear paws. They are designed to be worn around your hands and they give you a bear-like grip which allows you to pick up and move things over a grill or BBQ.
Its bear paws are heat resistant up to 475 degrees making them the perfect choice for rotating your foods while they cook. They are also great for shredding and pulling meats with ease. Overall, they are the perfect BBQ tool.
Bear Paws’ products are 100% made in the USA. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out where exactly they are made, but they are definitely made in the USA as you can see in the image below.
For those wanting to take a look at what Bear Paws has to offer, here’s a link to the company’s official Amazon store.
Edlund Co
Edlund Co offers a wide array of professional kitchen appliances and utensils. The company’s products are mainly geared toward industrial use, but it does also offer a handful of American made tongs that are perfect for regular consumer use.
The company manufactures over 90% of its products within the USA. Specifically, it operates a large state of the art production facility in Vermont.
While the image above doesn’t specifically name its tongs as being American made, if you read the product descriptions under each of its tong lines, they all clearly have a label that states ‘Made in the USA.’
Here are some links to Edlund Co’s American made tongs.
Lamson
Lamson was founded in 1837. It is a BBQ tool specialist that designs and produces high quality tool sets for BBQ enthusiasts everywhere. Its products have won numerous awards and have even been featured in People Magazine.
Something that sets Lamson apart from many of its competitors is its lifetime guarantee on its knives and tools. So, if you ever have any issues then Lamson will replace your tools free of charge, forever.
As for its manufacturing locations, the company operates two facilities in Massachusetts. One is in Westfield and the other is in Shelburne Falls. It is at these facilities that most of the company’s tongs are manufactured.
Here are a couple of Lamson’s American made tongs for you to take a look at.
Vermont Country Store
Vermont Country Store offers a wide array of American made products from clothing to candy and everything in between. It also manufactures a couple of lines of kitchen and BBQ tongs.
The company was founded in 1946. It began life as a store that offered items that were hard to get in the Vermont region at the time. Fast forward to today and its ever-expanding selection of products has made it a one-stop shop for people in and around the area.
It is important to note that while the company does conduct some of its manufacturing locally, it does also rely on overseas production for a number of its products. Unfortunately, this is the case for some of its tongs. So, while some of its tongs are American made, others are made in China.
Luckily, its American made tongs are clearly labeled. Here are some links to all of its American made tongs.
Honorable Mention
I came across one company that may manufacture some of its tongs in the USA. However, I could not find enough concrete proof so it gets an honorable mention. Here’s what I found.
Vollrath
Vollrath is a very well known kitchen appliance and utensil company that was founded in 1874 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Over the years the company has cemented itself as a reliable company when it comes to all things kitchen-related.
Unfortunately, not all of Vallrath’s products are made in the USA. According to the company’s official website, more than 85% of its product line is manufactured and assembled in the USA. As a whole, the company operates 10 facilities spread between the US, Europe, and China.
So, while statistically, if you buy from Vollrath, then you will probably receive an American made product, there’s no guarantee. So, I dug a little deeper. Unfortunately, things got a little contradictory as some sites have the company down as an American tong manufacturer yet numerous customer reviews state that its tongs are made in China.
I could not find a definitive answer for where its tongs are made, so it gets an honorable mention.
According to numerous Amazon reviews, its tongs are made in China despite being labeled as American made.
But, if you look at a website like Webstaurant Store, it clearly states that some of Vallrath’s tongs are made in the USA.
So, if you are interested in buying a pair of tongs from Vollrath, then I’d recommend reaching out to the company and asking which, if any of the company’s tongs are made in the USA. Here’s a link to Vollrath’s tong product page and here’s another link to its contact page.
