OXO · Non-Stick Kitchen Gadgets & Utensils
OXO Good Grips 9" Tongs with Silicone Heads
Lower concern. Silicone and stainless steel are PFAS-unlikely.
OXO Good Grips tongs use stainless steel and silicone, both inherently low-PFAS materials. No PFAS disclosure from brand, but materials present minimal chemical risk for typical kitchen use.
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Material
Stainless steel handles, silicone heads
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The OXO Good Grips 9" Tongs combine stainless steel handles with silicone heads. Stainless steel is chemically inert and does not leach under normal use; silicone is a synthetic polymer that resists degradation at typical cooking temperatures (up to 400-450F for most food-grade silicone). The silicone heads are the contact surface, so their composition is the primary concern for food safety.
The brand's record and disclosure
OXO does not publicly disclose detailed material certifications or PFAS testing for this product. The company has no widely documented safety recalls specific to the Good Grips tongs line. OXO markets their cookware and tools as kitchen-focused products but does not emphasize third-party material testing or heavy metal screening on their product pages.
How it compares in its category
Silicone-headed tongs are safer than wooden or nylon alternatives (which can shed fibers and harbor bacteria) and do not pose the Teflon-type coating fume or aluminum leaching risks of non-stick or bare metal cookware. OXO's stainless steel construction is standard in the mid-market kitchen-tool segment and comparable to brands like Winco and Edlund. Silicone heads are preferable to rubber for heat stability and non-reactivity.
If you buy it
Hand wash with warm soapy water; avoid prolonged dishwasher cycles, which can degrade silicone over time. Do not expose to direct flame or temperatures above 450F for sustained periods. Inspect the silicone heads periodically for cracks, discoloration, or deterioration; replace if silicone begins to separate from the metal or shows visible wear. Store in a dry location to prevent moisture retention in the silicone.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Silicone degradation and particulate shedding
Food-grade silicone is stable under normal cooking conditions but may shed microparticles if scratched, compressed, or exposed to prolonged heat above 450F. No recalls have been documented for OXO tongs, but visible wear or cracks should trigger replacement.
Heavy metals in silicone pigments or fillers
OXO does not publicly test for or disclose heavy metal content in silicone components. Food-contact silicone in Western brands typically meets FDA guidelines, but independent verification is not available for this specific product.
Bacterial colonization of silicone surface
Silicone has slightly porous microstructure that can harbor bacteria if not cleaned thoroughly or if dishwasher-dried improperly. This is a hygiene concern rather than a chemical hazard and is manageable with hand-washing and air-drying.
Stainless steel leaching (nickel, chromium)
Stainless steel handles do not come into contact with food and do not leach into cooking surfaces. Handles are not exposed to acidic or prolonged high-temperature stress typical of cookware pots and pans.
Coating or adhesive failure over time
The bond between stainless steel handle and silicone head may weaken with repeated dishwasher cycles or thermal stress. No widespread failure reports exist for OXO Good Grips, but separation of silicone from metal would render the tool unusable and should prompt replacement.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Non-Stick Kitchen Gadgets & Utensils
GreenPan
Platinum Silicone Tongs
silicone, stainless steel handle
Silicone tongs lower PFAS concern, but verify specific batch claims independently
⚠Risky category by default
GreenPan
Williams Sonoma Greenpan Premiere Collection Wide Tongs
stainless steel with silicone handle
Stainless steel tongs with PFAS-free claim; lower concern for non-coated utensil.
⚠Risky category by default
T-fal
Tefal Ingenio K2060714 Steel Food Tongs
stainless steel, bare uncoated
Bare stainless steel tongs, no coating risk for PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
More non-stick kitchen gadgets & utensils grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.