Tongs

Kitchen tongs are indispensable for turning and lifting food when cooking at high temperatures, particularly on the barbecue or grill. They don't puncture the food, so no juices are lost. You can also use them for fishing things out of boiling water, grabbing baked potatoes from the oven, tossing salads, or arranging food on plates.

There are two types: spring-action and scissor-action. Spring-action tongs have arms that stay open until you press them together. Scissor-action tongs work the opposite way. Which you choose is a matter of personal preference. Chefs favour spring action; they have a positive grip and are easy to use when working at speed.

Look for tongs with a firm spring action, and scalloped edge for easy lifting. Stainless steel is the best material; it's strong, easy to clean and doesn't rust.

Spring-action tongs with long arms and stay-cool grips are a good idea for barbecues. Make sure they are fitted with a closing clip so they stay shut when stored in a drawer.

Scissor-action tongs have pincer-like heads and are handy for turning smaller pieces of food. Some models have curved heads for lifting hot jars from a preserving pan. Look for a pair with plastic-coated finger loops. They are more comfortable than uncoated metal and stay cool for longer.