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Vollrath
Out of Stock
Commercial Utility Grip Tongs | Blue Handle Serving Tongs | 16 Inch Length | Vollrath FE476
£34.19
/ exc vat
£41.03/ inc vat
Out of Stock, but not for long
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- 20-Gauge Stainless Steel
- Springless Design
- All-Natural Antimicrobial Handle
- Colour-Coded Blue Handle
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Product Overview
Getting a grip on kitchen hygiene and efficiency just got a whole lot easier. These are the Vollrath FE476 Commercial Utility Grip Tongs, a proper workhorse for any professional food environment. At a generous 16 inches long, they’re designed to keep your hands safe while offering precise control, whether you're turning sizzling items on the grill or arranging delicate salads on a buffet line.
Specifically created for busy caterers, hotel kitchens, and delis, these tongs are more than just a tool; they’re part of your food safety system. The distinctive blue handle isn't just for looks – it's a key part of a colour-coded scheme to prevent cross-contamination, a must-have for any kitchen serious about its HACCP plan. Combined with durable stainless steel and a clever springless design, they’re built to withstand the rigours of a commercial kitchen, day in and day out.
If you’re looking to upgrade your service tools with something that’s reliable, hygienic, and designed with the professional in mind, these Vollrath blue utility tongs 16 inch are an absolutely brilliant choice. They make safe food handling simple, so your team can focus on creating fantastic food without a second thought.
Key Features and Benefits
- 20-Gauge Stainless Steel: Built tough to handle daily use without bending.
- Springless Design: Eliminates tricky-to-clean gaps where food can get trapped.
- All-Natural Antimicrobial Handle: Actively helps to guard against the growth of bacteria.
- Colour-Coded Blue Handle: Makes your HACCP food safety plan simple and visual.
- Permanently Bonded Insulation: The comfortable grip won’t slip, peel, or come off.
- Generous 16-Inch Length: Keeps your hands safely away from hot surfaces.
- Scalloped Edges: Provides a secure grip on all kinds of food.
- Incredibly Versatile: Perfect for everything from cooking on the line to serving.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Vollrath
- SKU: FE476
- Material: 20-Gauge Stainless Steel
- Handle Colour: Blue
- Length: 16" / 406mm
- Dimensions: 36 x 141 x 406 mm
- Weight: 0.2 kg
- Handle Features: Insulated, Antimicrobial, Permanently Bonded
- Design: Springless
Expert Review and Insights
You can feel the quality of these Vollrath tongs the moment you pick them up. They have a reassuring weight without being clumsy, and the springless design is a huge plus for hygiene – no hidden nasties. For any kitchen implementing a colour-coded system, these are a straightforward, effective solution that staff will actually use.
Sophie Brooks – Chef Tools View Profile →
- The Upside: The permanently bonded handle feels incredibly secure and robust in your hand.
- A Thought: Their 16-inch length is great for grills but may feel cumbersome for delicate plating.
Case Study: Real Business, Real Results
The Fish Plaice, a popular seafood takeaway in Whitby, needed to tighten up its food handling processes to better manage allergens. They replaced their mismatched collection of generic tongs with a full set of Vollrath's colour-coded commercial blue handle tongs and other colours in the range.
"The team picked up the new system instantly. The blue tongs are for raw fish, red for meat – it's simple and visual. There’s no more second-guessing, which is a relief during a busy Friday night service. They’re sturdy, easy to clean, and just make everything run smoother."
Robert Miller – Owner
The change resulted in a 5-star food hygiene rating on their next inspection and a noticeable reduction in service errors.
Installation and Maintenance Guide
Setting It Up
- Give them a thorough wash in hot, soapy water or a dishwasher cycle before their first use.
- Formally assign this blue colour to a specific food group (like raw fish) within your kitchen's HACCP plan.
- Make sure all kitchen staff understand that blue means fish (or your chosen food type) and nothing else!
- Store them on a dedicated hook or in a container to keep them separate and ready for action.
Keeping It Going
- These tongs are fully dishwasher safe, making daily sanitation quick and easy.
- The springless joint is a dream to clean, but always give it a quick visual check for any residue.
- To keep the handle in top condition, avoid using harsh wire wool or abrasive scouring pads on it.
- As with any tool, give them a once-over periodically to ensure the handle bond is still solid and secure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are these Vollrath tongs dishwasher safe?
A: Yes, absolutely. They are designed for commercial kitchens and can be safely cleaned in a commercial dishwasher.
Q: What is the purpose of the blue handle?
A: The blue handle is for colour-coding as part of a HACCP food safety plan. In the UK, blue is most commonly used to designate equipment for handling raw fish.
Q: Is the handle heat-resistant?
A: The handle is insulated to protect your hands from heat conducted through the metal. However, it is not designed for direct contact with flames or to be left in an oven.
Q: What does a 'springless design' mean for me?
A: It means there's no coiled spring at the hinge. This makes the tongs much easier to clean, with no hidden crevices for food and bacteria to get trapped in, and removes a common point of failure.
Q: How long are these tongs exactly?
A: They are 16 inches long, which is approximately 406mm, ideal for keeping a safe distance from hot surfaces.
Q: Can I use these on my non-stick pans?
A: It's not recommended. The metal edges of the stainless steel tongs can scratch and damage non-stick coatings. You're better off using silicone-tipped tongs for those pans.
Q: How effective is the antimicrobial handle?
A: The all-natural antimicrobial properties are integrated into the handle material to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, adding an extra layer of food safety.
Q: Will the blue handle cover start to peel or slip off?
A: No, the insulated handle is permanently bonded to the stainless steel tongs to prevent it from slipping, twisting, or peeling off, even with heavy use.
The Vollrath Standard: Reliability in Hand
When you choose Vollrath, you're investing in more than just a piece of equipment; you're investing in peace of mind. For over a century, Vollrath has been a cornerstone of professional kitchens, known for engineering products that solve real-world problems. These Vollrath utility tongs for catering are a perfect example. They aren't just bent metal; they're a thoughtfully designed solution to the daily challenges of food safety, efficiency, and durability. The true value emerges over time: fewer replacements, smoother workflows, and the quiet confidence that comes from using tools that won't let you down. By making food safety intuitive with colour-coding and building them to last, Vollrath helps protect your reputation and your bottom line, one perfectly gripped ingredient at a time.
Explore more from VollrathHow Colour-Coding Prevents Kitchen Nightmares
Ever worried about cross-contamination? That's where a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) programme comes in, and these tongs are a star player. Think of colour-coding as a traffic light system for your kitchen. Different colours are assigned to different food types to stop harmful bacteria or allergens from spreading.
For example, blue is almost universally used for raw fish in professional kitchens. By using these commercial blue handle tongs exclusively for fish, and a different colour (like red) for raw meat, you create a simple, visual barrier. It means your staff, even when under pressure during a busy service, can't accidentally use the same tongs that touched raw salmon to serve a vegetarian stir-fry. It’s a simple, low-tech way to make your kitchen significantly safer, reduce risk, and demonstrate your commitment to food safety to any inspector.
Who Should Buy This?
- Restaurants & Pubs: For line cooks needing reliable, heat-safe tongs for turning and plating hot food items quickly.
- Event Caterers: Essential for buffet lines to clearly separate tools for different dishes, especially fish or allergens.
- School & Hospital Canteens: A must-have for enforcing strict cross-contamination rules and keeping vulnerable diners safe.
- Delis & Salad Bars: Perfect for hygienically handling different ingredients and maintaining food safety standards in customer-facing areas.
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