Ice tongs seem too simple to get wrong, and then a cube shoots across the bar. The difference between good tongs and bad ones comes down to the grip at the end, the length, and how much your hand has to work. A row of teeth, a bird’s-foot claw and a tip made for spheres each do a slightly different job.
Tongs also keep hands out of the ice, which is why a restaurant kitchen treats them as basic gear. This guide sorts eight pairs from Barfly, Outset, True, Adcraft, NAISU, Winco and HINMAY by grip, length and care, so you can match them to the ice you actually make and the bucket you own.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications, makers’ statements and the independent sources we name. We have not used these products ourselves.
Quick verdict: which ice tongs to buy
The best ice tongs for most homes are the Barfly Ice Tong: one-piece 18/8 stainless, toothed ends and a length that suits most buckets. Choose the Outset for a deep bucket, the Barfly Talon for large cubes, and the NAISU if you freeze spheres.
Five bar tongs at a glance
The five that cover most home bars. All eight are reviewed below.
| Tongs | Length | Grip | Standout | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Barfly Ice Tong, Stainless, 7.1 InchBest overall
|
7.1 in | Teeth | One-piece 18/8 steel | View on Amazon |
Outset Stainless Steel Ice Tongs, 8 InchBest for deep buckets
|
8 in | Teeth | Longest reach | View on Amazon |
True Ice Tongs, Stainless Steel, 6 InchBest compact
|
6 in | Teeth | Compact | View on Amazon |
Barfly Talon Ice Tong, Antique BrassBest for large cubes
|
Not stated | Claw | Antique brass | View on Amazon |
NAISU Clear Ice Tongs, 7.2 InchBest for ice spheres
|
7.2 in | Etched tips | 65mm spheres | View on Amazon |
Our picks for the best ice tongs
The list runs from the safest choice to the more specialized ones. Two of the brands here, NAISU and HINMAY, appear to sell mainly on Amazon, and we flag that on each. All of the specifications come from the listings; where a listing is silent, the table says so.
1. Barfly Ice Tong, Stainless, 7.1 Inch – One-Piece Steel That Bites Ice
Ice is slippery, and most cheap tongs let you know it. What you want is a set of teeth that hold and a spring that doesn’t tire your hand, in a size that fits on the rim of a bucket. The Barfly checks those boxes on paper better than anything else we found. It is made in one piece from 18/8 stainless steel, with toothed ends and a stated ergonomic shape, at a little over seven inches.
Barfly is a barware line sold to working bartenders and home enthusiasts, and this is a plain tool from its range, which is what you want. Barfly suggests hand washing with mild soap and warm water for the longest life, but says all its stainless products are dishwasher safe, and to avoid detergents with bleach or heavy chlorine. Amazon was the seller when we checked.
Why we like it
- One-piece construction, so no rivet or hinge to work loose
- 18/8 stainless steel, per the maker
- Toothed ends grip without slipping, per the maker
- A size that suits an ice bucket
Key specifications
| Model | M37164 |
|---|---|
| Material | 18/8 stainless steel |
| Length | 7.1 in |
| Grip end | Toothed |
| Construction | One piece |
| Dishwasher | Yes, though hand washing is advised |
| Stated uses | Ice bucket, cocktails |
| Care | Mild soap; avoid bleach |
Why we recommend it
This is the safe choice for almost anyone with an ice bucket, whether it’s for a party or a home bar.
Skip it if you use big clear cubes or spheres, because a claw or sphere tong holds those more securely.
Pros and cons
Pros
- One-piece build
- Food-grade stainless grade stated
- From an established barware line
Cons
- No locking mechanism
- Teeth are not designed for large spheres
2. Outset Stainless Steel Ice Tongs, 8 Inch – Extra Reach for a Deep Bucket
An inch makes a difference at the bottom of a deep bucket, because it keeps your knuckles out of the meltwater. Outset’s tongs run eight inches, the longest ones here along with the Adcraft, and have grip teeth at the ends. The listing calls them easy to use with one hand, and says they double for charcuterie, cheese plates and appetizers.
They are stainless steel and dishwasher safe, according to Outset, which makes cleanup after a party a non-event. The listing does not give the steel grade, and it doesn’t say whether they are made in one piece or two, so you’re taking a little more on trust than with the Barfly. Amazon was the seller when we checked.
Why we like it
- Eight-inch length reaches deep buckets
- Dishwasher safe, per the maker
- Grip teeth at the ends
- Doubles as a small serving tong, per the maker
Key specifications
| Model | B242 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel; grade not stated |
| Length | 8 in |
| Grip end | Toothed |
| Construction | Not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes |
| Stated uses | Ice, charcuterie, appetizers |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Buy these for a tall ice bucket or a party tub where short tongs don’t reach.
Skip it if you want to know the exact steel grade before you buy, since the listing doesn’t give it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Longer reach
- Dishwasher safe
- Works as a serving tool too
Cons
- Steel grade not stated
- Construction not stated
3. True Ice Tongs, Stainless Steel, 6 Inch – Small, Simple and Dishwasher Safe
True is a barware and entertaining brand, and these are its everyday tongs: six inches long, stainless, with teeth. That makes them the shortest here. They fit easily in a small bucket and in a drawer, and are a good choice if your ice bucket is modest or you mostly set ice out for guests to serve themselves.
The listing suggests using them at an ice station at a party so guests refill their own drinks and keep the ice clean, and says they work for cheese boards, taco toppings and desserts as well. They are stated to be dishwasher safe. The seller was True’s own storefront. Our ice bucket guide has True’s beverage tub, if you are setting up for a crowd.
Why we like it
- Small enough for a tabletop bucket
- Stated dishwasher safe
- Toothed design holds slippery ice, per the maker
- Also suggested for taco toppings
Key specifications
| Model | 5281 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel; grade not stated |
| Length | 6 in |
| Grip end | Toothed |
| Construction | Not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes |
| Stated uses | Ice, taco toppings, cheese, desserts |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
This is the pick for a small bucket or a guest ice station, and it does a second job at taco night.
Skip it if your bucket is deep, since six inches leaves your fingers close to the ice.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Compact
- Dishwasher safe
- Useful for toppings too
Cons
- Short reach
- Steel grade not stated
4. Adcraft TBL-7 Claw-Style Ice Tongs, 8 Inch – Restaurant-Supply Claws
Adcraft sells to restaurants, and these look it. The ends are claws shaped like birds’ feet, embossed, on a straight eight-inch tong. A claw works differently from a row of teeth: instead of pinching a cube from two sides, it wraps around it, which suits irregular or larger pieces.
The listing says it is stainless steel that resists rust, corrosion and bending, and that it can be washed and wiped clean, without saying whether it can go in a dishwasher. It’s a single tong, not a case pack, so it makes sense for a home kitchen. Nothing about it is decorative. The seller was GrandProducts, a third party, when we looked.
Why we like it
- Claw ends wrap around a cube
- Eight-inch length
- From a restaurant-supply brand
- Sold as a single, not a case
Key specifications
| Model | TBL-7 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel; grade not stated |
| Length | 8 in |
| Grip end | Claw |
| Construction | Not stated |
| Dishwasher | Not stated |
| Stated uses | Ice cubes |
| Care | Wash and wipe clean |
Why we recommend it
This suits anyone who likes a claw and doesn’t need it to look fancy.
Skip it if you want a pretty tool on the bar, since this one is plainly a working restaurant item.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Claw grip
- Good reach
- Plain and functional
Cons
- Dishwasher use not stated
- Third-party seller
- Plain look
5. Barfly Talon Ice Tong, Antique Brass – Claws for Bigger Cubes
If you’ve moved up to big cocktail cubes, a claw is often the better tool. Barfly says the finely detailed claw ends of the Talon firmly hold ice and allow use with larger ice cubes. The body is described as extra heavy-duty stainless steel with an antique brass plating, so it looks at home on a bar cart with vintage glassware.
This is the fancy one, and it asks for more care. Barfly recommends hand washing with mild soap and warm water, and to avoid bleach and heavy chlorination, and unlike its plain steel tong the listing doesn’t state that this plated one is safe for the dishwasher. We’d keep it out, since plating is easier to wear than bare steel. The listing doesn’t give a length. Amazon was the seller when we checked.
Why we like it
- Claw ends suit larger cubes, per the maker
- Extra heavy-duty stainless under the plating, per the maker
- Antique brass finish for a bar cart
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | M37066 |
|---|---|
| Material | Brass-plated stainless steel |
| Length | Not stated |
| Grip end | Claw |
| Construction | Not stated |
| Dishwasher | Not stated; hand wash advised |
| Stated uses | Ice bucket, larger cubes |
| Care | Hand wash; avoid bleach |
Why we recommend it
Buy this if you make big cubes for sipping drinks and you care how the bar looks.
Skip it if you want to throw your tools in the dishwasher, because the maker recommends hand washing this one.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Built for larger cubes
- Heavy-duty, per the maker
- Good-looking finish
Cons
- Hand washing recommended
- Plating may wear over time
- Length not stated
6. NAISU Clear Ice Tongs, 7.2 Inch – Made for Ice Spheres
An ice sphere is the hardest thing to pick up with an ordinary pair of tongs. NAISU’s are built for that one job, with precision-etched tips that the listing says hold 65mm clear ice spheres securely. They also say the tongs handle cubes, diamonds, garnishes or small bites. At 7.2 inches, they’re about the same length as the Barfly.
NAISU appears to be a brand sold mainly on Amazon, so there’s less behind it than the others here, and we can’t speak to how they’d hold up. The steel is 430 stainless, which the maker calls rust resistant, but it’s a different grade from the 18/8 in the Barfly, and it isn’t what we’d pick for a tool that sits in water all evening without drying. They’re stated to be dishwasher safe. Pair them with our ice ball mold guide if you are starting from scratch.
Why we like it
- Tips made to hold 65mm spheres, per the maker
- Dishwasher safe, per the maker
- Length suits a rocks glass or a bucket
- Handles cubes and garnishes too, per the maker
Key specifications
| Model | NSITS |
|---|---|
| Material | 430 stainless steel |
| Length | 7.2 in (18 cm) |
| Grip end | Etched precision tips |
| Construction | Not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes |
| Stated uses | Spheres, cubes, garnish |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
This is the one for people who already freeze spheres or big clear ice and are tired of chasing them round the tray.
Skip it if you mainly serve ordinary cubes from a bucket, since a toothed tong does that job well.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Purpose-built tip
- Stated dishwasher safe
- Works beyond spheres, per the maker
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- 430 steel rather than 18/8
- Niche use
7. Winco Ice Tong, Stainless Steel, 7 Inch – A Plain Food-Service Basic
Winco is a large food-service supplier, and this is about as basic as a tong can be. The listing is only a line long: an ice tong, stainless steel, seven inches, model IT-7. We include it because the brand is an established restaurant-supply name, and because a simple stainless tong from that world is a reasonable buy for a home bar.
We have to be straight about how little the listing tells you. It doesn’t give the grip style, the steel grade or the dishwasher status, so check the photo and don’t assume. Other Winco ice tongs were listed with a stated number of prongs, but those were scarce when we checked. The seller was Monterey Bay Restaurant Equipment rather than Amazon.
Why we like it
- Established food-service brand
- Seven-inch length
- Sold as a single tong
- Simple stainless construction
Key specifications
| Model | IT-7 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel; grade not stated |
| Length | 7 in |
| Grip end | Not stated |
| Construction | Not stated |
| Dishwasher | Not stated |
| Stated uses | Ice |
| Care | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a buyer who likes restaurant-supply tools and doesn’t need a detailed spec sheet.
Skip it if you want to know exactly what you’re getting, because the listing gives almost no detail.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Food-service maker
- Middle-of-the-road length
Cons
- Very little listing detail
- Grip style not stated
- Third-party seller
8. HINMAY Ice Tongs, 6 3/4 Inch – 18/8 Steel in a Small Size
This is the small tong to look at if you want the steel grade stated. HINMAY says these are 18/8, which it also calls 304, stainless steel, with sawtooth ends for gripping a wet cube. At 6 3/4 inches, they sit between the True and the Barfly in length and would suit a small bucket on a side table.
The maker lists all sorts of other jobs: sugar cubes, lemon slices, olives, pickles and more, which is fair for a tong this size. HINMAY is an Amazon-first brand, with little behind it beyond the listing, so we wouldn’t start here, and the listing doesn’t state dishwasher safety. There is one tong in this pack; a two-pack is sold separately.
Why we like it
- 18/8 (304) stainless, per the maker
- Sawtooth ends for a wet cube
- Small size for a side table
- Also handles lemon slices and olives
Key specifications
| Model | 8541915673 |
|---|---|
| Material | 18/8 (304) stainless steel |
| Length | 6 3/4 in |
| Grip end | Toothed |
| Construction | Not stated |
| Dishwasher | Not stated |
| Stated uses | Ice, sugar cubes, garnish |
| Care | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This is a fair choice if you want a small tong and care about the grade of steel more than the name on it.
Skip it if you would rather buy from a known barware maker, because the Barfly gives you the same steel grade from an established line.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Steel grade stated
- Compact
- Grips garnish as well as ice, per the maker
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- Dishwasher use not stated
- Construction not stated
How to choose ice tongs
Match the grip to the ice. Teeth pinch ordinary cubes well, and most tongs have them. Claws wrap around a cube, and Barfly says its Talon suits larger ones. Spheres call for a specific tip, which is what the NAISU is sold for.
Measure against your bucket. Six inches is fine for a small tabletop bucket. Eight inches helps in a deep one or in a party tub. A tong that’s too short means wet knuckles, and one that’s too long is awkward over a glass.
Look at the steel. Tongs spend their working life wet. Barfly and HINMAY state 18/8, and NAISU states 430. Others just say stainless. Plated finishes, like the brass Talon, need gentler washing.
Decide how you’ll wash them. Barfly says its stainless tools can go in the dishwasher but suggests hand washing for longevity. Outset, True and NAISU all say dishwasher safe. Adcraft and Winco don’t state it on their listings.
Consider the second job. Small tongs are handy for lime wedges, olives and taco toppings. True’s listing suggests exactly that, so one tool can do a couple of jobs on a party table.
Keeping ice clean at a party
A tong only helps if people use it. Leave it on a small plate or hooked over the bucket, not buried in the ice, so nobody has to reach in for it. In a restaurant kitchen, the rule is simple: never scoop ice with a glass, because a chip of glass in the ice is impossible to find. That’s worth keeping in mind at home too. Our ice bucket guide covers the buckets to go with these, and our cocktail tool set guide covers what else is handy on a home bar.
How we chose these eight tongs
We compared in-stock ice tongs on Amazon and read each listing for material, length, grip, and care, and checked the seller. We also looked for independent reviews and found only roundup sites we didn’t trust and shop pages, so we don’t lean on them, and the picks rest on the listings and makers’ statements. We could not open Cocktail Kingdom’s page, and its Amazon listing for the Talon Tongs gives no details, so we left it out. We have not used these tongs ourselves. Prices move, so we leave them out.
Ice tong questions, answered
What are the best bar tongs for ice?
For ordinary cubes, a pair with teeth about seven inches long, such as the Barfly. For larger cubes, look at a claw. Long reach matters if your bucket is deep.
Are ice tongs better than a scoop?
They do different jobs. A scoop moves a lot of ice fast, which is why a bar has one in the well. Tongs place single cubes, and they work better for guests serving themselves from a bucket.
Do ice tongs go in the dishwasher?
Many do. Outset, True and NAISU say so, and Barfly says its stainless products are dishwasher safe but advises hand washing. Keep plated tongs like the Talon out unless the maker says otherwise.
Can I use regular kitchen tongs for ice?
You can, but they are usually long and made for bigger pieces of food, so they are clumsy with a single cube. Our kitchen tongs guide covers those.
What’s the difference between a claw and toothed tongs?
Teeth pinch from two sides, and claws wrap around. Toothed tongs do most jobs, and a claw like the Barfly Talon or the Adcraft is an option if you often handle larger pieces.
Our final pick for the bucket
Start with the Barfly Ice Tong, because one-piece 18/8 steel with toothed ends is hard to fault on paper. Move up to the Talon or NAISU only if your ice has moved up too. For the full setup, see our home margarita bar guide. And if you would rather let someone else handle the ice, Julia’s is on Highway 6 in Houston: call to order.