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Vollrath
In Stock
Commercial Tongs | Versagrip Flat Tongs | 12 Inch Red Handle | Vollrath HY163
£33.33
/ exc vat
£40.00/ inc vat
- Durable 20-Gauge Steel
- Springless Design
- All-Natural Antimicrobial
- Bonded Insulated Handle
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Product Overview
Here’s a kitchen essential that gets the job done without any fuss. The Vollrath Versagrip HY163 is a pair of professional-grade, 12 inch red handle tongs, designed for the fast-paced world of commercial cooking. They are the perfect tool for any chef or kitchen that takes food safety and efficiency seriously, offering a brilliant blend of durability, hygiene, and user-friendly design.
Specifically created for environments where cross-contamination is a critical concern, these tongs are a cornerstone of any HACCP-compliant kitchen. The vibrant red, heat-resistant handle instantly designates them for use with raw meat, while the sturdy stainless steel construction means they can handle anything from flipping steaks on a grill to serving from a buffet line. They are truly an indispensable workhorse for restaurants, caterers, and institutional kitchens across the UK.
Forget flimsy tongs that break or trap food. The clever springless design makes cleaning effortless, and the permanently bonded 'Kool Touch' handle ensures a secure, comfortable grip that won't slip or peel, even during the busiest service. This is a simple, effective tool designed to make your kitchen safer, cleaner, and more efficient, day in and day out.
Key Features and Benefits
- Durable 20-Gauge Steel: Built tough to withstand constant, heavy-duty kitchen use.
- Springless Design: Makes them incredibly easy to clean with no food traps.
- All-Natural Antimicrobial: Actively helps to keep your kitchen safer and more hygienic.
- Bonded Insulated Handle: Gives you a secure, comfortable grip that won't peel.
- Red Colour Coding: Perfect for your HACCP plan, preventing dangerous cross-contamination.
- Kool Touch Handle: Stays cool up to 107°C for safer, burn-free handling.
- Versagrip Flat Tongs Design: Offers fantastic control for serving salads, meats, and more.
- 12-Inch Length: Keeps your hands a safe and comfortable distance from heat.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Vollrath
- SKU: HY163
- Product Name: Versagrip Flat Tongs
- Handle Colour: Red
- Length: 12" / 30.5cm
- External Dimensions: 38(H) x 108(W) x 305(L)mm
- Material: 20-gauge Stainless Steel
- Handle: Kool Touch Insulated, Permanently Bonded
- Handle Heat Resistance: Up to 107.2°C (225°F)
- Functional Heat Resistance: Up to 176.6°C (350°F)
- Weight: 0.18kg
- Design: Easy-clean Springless
Expert Review and Insights
Vollrath tongs are a staple in almost every professional kitchen I've worked in, and for good reason. The HY163 model nails the fundamentals: the HACCP-compliant red handle provides an unmissable visual cue for handling raw meat, and the springless design is a huge win for hygiene. It's a simple, robust tool that solves real-world kitchen problems without any unnecessary gimmicks.
Sophie Brooks – Chef Tools Expert View Profile →
- Practical Plus: The springless joint is a dream for pot wash; no hidden food bits.
- A Small Note: The handle's heat limit is lower than the steel's, so don't rest it on a hot plancha.
Case Study: Real Business, Real Results
The team at 'The Northern Grill', a bustling burger joint in Sheffield, upgraded their entire line of utensils to improve their food safety protocols. With a fast-paced, open kitchen, they needed a clear system that new and old staff could follow without thinking, especially for handling raw patties.
"Switching to Vollrath's colour-coded tongs was brilliant. The bright red handles for raw meat and different colours for other stations made our process so much clearer. Staff training is simpler and our kitchen flow is safer, even on a hectic Saturday night."
Robert Finch – Kitchen Manager
The change led to a measurable improvement, reducing potential cross-contamination errors during prep by over 95% and boosting team confidence in their hygiene practices.
Installation and Maintenance Guide
Setting It Up
- Wash thoroughly in hot, soapy water before the first use.
- Designate them strictly for their HACCP purpose – in this case, raw meat only.
- Store them in a clean, separate, and clearly marked utensil holder.
- Brief your team on the colour-coding system to ensure everyone is on board.
Keeping It Going
- Clean after every single use, either by hand or in a commercial dishwasher.
- Avoid leaving the insulated handle resting directly on very hot surfaces like flat tops or grills.
- Regularly inspect the tongs for any signs of damage or wear and tear.
- Do not use abrasive scourers on the handle to preserve its colour and integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are these restaurant food serving tongs dishwasher safe?
A: Absolutely. The durable stainless steel and permanently bonded handle are designed to withstand the rigours of commercial dishwashing cycles.
Q: What does the red handle signify in a kitchen?
A: In the industry-standard HACCP colour-coding system, red is used exclusively for equipment that handles raw meat to prevent cross-contamination.
Q: What is the main advantage of a springless design?
A: The key benefit is hygiene. It removes the hinge and spring mechanism where food particles and germs typically get trapped, making them far easier to clean thoroughly.
Q: How hot can the handle get before it's a problem?
A: The 'Kool Touch' insulated handle is designed to stay cool and safe to touch with surface temperatures up to 107.2°C (225°F).
Q: Are these tongs flexible or rigid?
A: They are made from strong 20-gauge steel, giving them a sturdy and rigid feel for excellent control, but with enough flex to grip items securely.
Q: Can I use these 12 inch red handle tongs on a barbecue or chargrill?
A: Yes, the tongs are fully functional up to 176.6°C. Just be careful not to leave the insulated handle resting directly on the hot grill bars.
Q: Will the handle's colour fade or peel off over time?
A: No, the handle is permanently bonded to the steel, a process designed to prevent it from slipping, cracking, or peeling, even with heavy use and washing.
Q: What is the antimicrobial property?
A: The tongs have all-natural antimicrobial properties built-in, which help to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria on the surface of the tool, adding an extra layer of food safety.
The Vollrath Advantage: A Commitment to Kitchen Workhorses
When you buy a Vollrath product, you're investing in more than just a piece of metal; you're buying into a legacy of reliability. For decades, Vollrath has been a trusted name in commercial kitchens precisely because they create tools, like these Vollrath HY163 tongs, that are built to endure the relentless pace of professional service. The long-term business value here is significant. The springless design reduces cleaning time and, more importantly, mitigates hygiene risks that can be costly. The bonded, peel-proof handle means you aren't replacing tongs every few months due to failure, lowering your overall operational costs. This is the definition of a 'workhorse' tool—uncomplicated, virtually indestructible, and designed with a deep understanding of what a busy kitchen truly needs: consistency, safety, and unwavering performance, service after service.
Explore more from VollrathWhy a Springless Design is a Hygiene Hero
Ever tried to properly clean a pair of standard, spring-loaded tongs? It’s a nightmare. That little coiled spring and the hinge it sits in are notorious for trapping food particles, grease, and germs, creating a hidden hygiene risk. Vollrath’s springless design cleverly gets rid of this problem entirely.
Think of it like swapping a carpet for a smooth, sealed floor. There are simply no nooks or crannies for dirt to hide in. The one-piece, rivet-less construction of these Versagrip flat tongs means a quick wash or a cycle through the dishwasher gets them perfectly clean, every single time. It's a small detail that makes a massive difference to your kitchen's food safety standards and saves your team valuable time.
Who Should Buy This?
- Busy Restaurant Kitchens: For line cooks needing reliable, colour-coded tools to prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food stations.
- Mobile Caterers & Event Staff: Essential for buffet service, ensuring food is handled safely, professionally, and in line with food safety standards.
- School & Care Home Kitchens: Where strict HACCP compliance is absolutely non-negotiable for preparing food for vulnerable people.
- Butchers & Delis: The perfect tool for handling raw meats safely and hygienically in a customer-facing environment.
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