Locking tongs that are operable to lock in a closed position and unlock to an open position with the use of one hand. The tongs include a first arm and a second arm connected at a pivot point and extend out from each other in an open position. A tension spring positioned at the pivot point holds the first and second arm in the open position. A locking mechanism includes: (i) a locking member having an elongated body and forms a stop at an end, the locking member positioned on an inner portion of the first arm and extends towards the second arm, and (ii) a receiving aperture defined on the second arm sized and shaped to receive the stop of the locking member. The locking member engages the second arm when the stop passes through the receiving aperture and thereby holds the pair of tongs in a closed position.

A grilling tool may include tongs having arms and a hinge that pivotally connects proximal ends of the arms to each other. The arms may be configured to be moved between a closed position wherein distal ends of the arms are in close proximity, and an open position wherein the distal ends of the arms are spaced apart from each other. In addition, a flashlight may be mounted to an interior of the tongs. The flashlight may have an electrical switch that is configured to be accessed from an exterior of the tongs and actuated between on and off positions. The flashlight may include a body with a body axis, a head at a distal end of the body, and the head has a head axis that is not co-axial with the body axis. The distal ends of the arms may be located adjacent fringes of a light beam.

A cooking system includes a kitchen utensil and a cooking hob, wherein the kitchen utensil is provided with one or more sensors arranged on the kitchen utensil. The sensors include acceleration sensors, gyroscopic sensors, and inclination sensors. The cooking appliance is provided with a control unit configured to receive data from the sensors and to elaborate information on how the kitchen utensil is being used, and to control the cooking appliance accordingly.

A hand-held ergonomic utensil for securely holding and maneuvering food during preparation, peeling and/or cutting is disclosed. The utensil includes four long ratchet tines, positioned two by two in different parallel planes, made of stainless steel material that is safe for penetrating food. The utensil includes a body portion that joins proximal ends of the tines together and two small tines each small tine being positioned in a common plane of a respective pair of long ratchet tines substantially centrally therebetween and projecting from the body portion. The utensil includes a shaft that extends from the center of the body portion in a proximal direction and a handle that is attached at a proximal end of the shaft, and has a surface made of frictional material.

A disposal food handling finger tongs have finger pockets for grasping food. The pockets are connected by at least one. connecting tab. At least one functional finger/thumb accommodation area is presented and at least one finger/thumb stability is optionally provided. The disposable tongs provide a triple protection to the user by providing soft irregular peripheral edges help prevent paper cuts. Also the central connecting tab between the two jaw pockets can be torn to separate the tongs into two tongs, so that the two food contact sides of the respective pockets can be folded against each other. Third, if both the front and back of pockets are messy, the clean central tab can be torn, and folded over the back and/or front of the messy pockets, thereby keeping the hands, fingers and/or thumb of the user clean during disposal.

Utensils, including forks, with movable components, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative utensil includes a first tool carried by and movable relative to a first arm portion, a second tool carried by and movable relative to a second arm portion, and a hinge coupling the first and second arm portions. A guide structure is coupled to the first and second arm portions to guide motion of at least one of the first and second tools relative to the other.

A tong with a lock that can be actuated using one hand without changing a grip on the tong and without having to change an orientation of the tong. The lock can be engaged and disengaged. by squeezing arms of the tong together. The lock can have a latch on one arm and a strike on the other arm. When the arms are squeezed together the strike engages the latch into a locked configuration. From the locked configuration, when the arms are squeezed again, the latch releases the strike.

Provided herein are utensils. Also provided herein are methods of using the utensils provided herein. Also provided herein are articles of manufacture comprising the utensils provided herein.

A reconfigurable tool for use in barbequing and related grilling activities. Multiple components, such as forks, knives, spatulas and tongs, may be housed in separable handle halves that can be secured to one another to define a unitary structural whole. In one form, a first handle includes numerous recesses into which one or more of the components may be foldably disposed, while a second handle terminates with a pair of tongs. The first handle may further be made up of two separable portions each pivotally cooperative with one or more of the components. In a particular form, the handles define an interlockingly cooperative relationship with one another such that together they define a substantial entirety of the tool's gripping surface. The foldable nature of the components is such that they may be retracted into the recesses formed in the first handle to give the tool a compact outer profile.

A tool generally includes a food holding region and a handle region. The food holding section generally includes two opposing and pivotally engaged pairs of holding arms. Each pair of holding arms forms a side of the food cage, so that when the tool is in the closed position and food of appropriate dimension is inserted therein, the cage holds the food about its outer surfaces. The holding section includes a center-facing end toward the pivot structure and/or portion, and a distal end that is blunted or rounded, formed by the bent shape of the holding arms. The handle section includes handle section legs extending from the pivot structure and/or portion each to a distal end configured and dimensioned for holding and manipulating the tool.