The 4 Finest Skewers of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

Most Choices Have been Pointless

Not solely may additional choices take up worthwhile skewering home, many had been solely mildly helpful at best—and a hindrance at worst. As I mentioned, the Williams Sonoma skewers had heavy, overstated handles that made them cumbersome and unbalanced when gripped with tongs. As an alternative of a straight or looped end, the Barebones Cowboy Grill Steel Skewers was shaped like a shepherd’s hook. Their open ends merely caught onto grill grates whereas turning. Huge twists, identical to the one on the LANNEY skewers, had been primarily decorative as they’d break up one thing I tried to slide over them. As in contrast, the OXO skewers had unembellished stems. Their handles had been prolonged nevertheless flat, which provided a spot to hold them securely with tongs or my arms.

The Gefu Stainless Steel Barbecue Skewers and Williams Sonoma fashions every had meals pushers, designed to help de-skewer meals after cooking. They labored as meant, merely pushing the meals off of the stem. Sadly, they’d been moreover robust to wash and had been frequently sliding spherical whereas I was getting ready and cooking with the skewers. Since I wanted to stay up for the skewers to sit back barely sooner than using the pushers anyway, it turned out merely as easy to utilize a fork, tongs, or (shocker) my fingers to push the meals off. 

One different problematic perform of the Gefu skewers: double prongs. They’d been properly fitted to larger objects (like whole shrimp), nevertheless not loads else. As a result of the prongs had been spaced about an inch apart, it made threading bite-sized objects of rooster and peach (moreover about an inch giant) awkward. I each wanted to push the thin prongs collectively to string the parts onto every (shredding the fragile objects of peach throughout the course of) or alternate sides, making a wobbly imbalance. Single-pronged skewers had been significantly further versatile, and can merely be doubled up for additional help when needed.

The Requirements: What to Seek for in a Set of Skewers

The right skewers had been merely designed. For bamboo, seek for skewers which could be sturdy and cheap. Stay away from unneeded choices on stainless-steel skewers like meals pushers, dramatic twists, and outsized spherical handles. Metal fashions with flat stems had been greater at stabilizing parts on the skewer, barely than letting them slide or rotate whereas cooking. Regardless of the supplies, the skewers must have a sharp tip for piercing by way of meals. Fashions that had been between 10 and 14 inches in measurement provided the best administration all through cooking whereas nonetheless having a great deal of skewering home.

Our Favorite Skewers

What we favored: The Good Cook dinner dinner Bamboo Skewers had been great examples of simplicity completed properly. They stood out from the opponents because of they’d been further cheap than the HOPELF ones, sturdier than the DecorRack, and had further usable home than the Weber. With their medium measurement and thin dowel, they’re as ready for up to date fruit skewers as Lebanese kofta. Since bamboo provides additional friction between the meals and the skewer, parts had been a lot much less inclined to slipping off the tip or spinning as I turned them. 

What we didn’t like: Even when soaked with water, bamboo skewers can nonetheless burn on the grill. The Good Cook dinner dinner Bamboo Skewers did char further slowly than the thinner DecorRack ones throughout the rooster check out, nevertheless nonetheless had their uncovered ends catch fire and fall off in the middle of the shrimp check out.

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 100
• Supplies: Bamboo
• Full measurement: 11.75 inches
• Skewerable measurement: 10 inches
• Width: 3.9 millimeters
• Care instructions: Soak in water for not lower than one hour sooner than use; disposable after use

What we favored: A number of the skewers I examined had handles of varied varieties, nevertheless the OXO had been the one ones that had been notably useful. They provided a great deal of room to hold the skewer common whereas threading meals on; plus they could be grabbed with tongs to point out the skewer whereas cooking. Because of the handles’ measurement, it moreover helped stabilize the skewer when it was turned on its side. The tip was sharp ample to slide into meat and fruit with out splitting the chunks. At 13 inches in complete measurement, the skewers had been prolonged ample to hold a serving or two whereas nonetheless being manageable on and off the grill.

What we didn’t like: It was helpful to have the power to grab the broad handles of the OXO skewers with tongs (notably when the grill was crowded), nevertheless I had to make sure I had a protected preserve or they’d slip out of the tongs’ grip. This set may also be a bit expensive, notably considering it solely comes with six skewers. Once you’re an avid skewer-er, it is your determination two items so that you just don’t ought to empty and refill them between batches. Whereas the handles do nest for storage, nothing really holds them in place. You’ll nonetheless wish to make use of a rubber band or twine to take care of them collectively.

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 6
• Supplies: Stainless-steel
• Full measurement: 13 inches
• Skewerable measurement: 8.75 inches
• Width: 5.8 millimeters
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe; a stainless-steel cleaner (like Bar Keepers Buddy) might be utilized to scrub off lingering stains or discolorations

What we favored: Once you’re in quest of a elementary set of skewers which will get the job completed with out grievance, proper right here they’re. Since they’d been prolonged and could be loaded all the way in which through which as a lot as their looped handles, that they’d the largest share of actually skewerable measurement of the lineup. Their skinny and flat kind meant they could preserve onto cubes of rooster and peaches with out splitting them or letting them rotate whereas turning.

What we didn’t like: Because of the flat stem of the Norpro skewer was so slim, they could be troublesome to hold securely whereas threading parts on, notably when trying to double up (like throughout the shrimp check out). Meals tended to slide and unfold out considerably alongside its simple measurement after just some turns. The skewers moreover felt a lot much less useful as a result of how prolonged they’d been. They could be unwieldy to point out and switch with tongs, notably on my small grill. I could be further extra prone to get the 12-inch mannequin for normal use.

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 6
• Supplies: Stainless-steel
• Full measurement: 14 inches
• Skewerable measurement: 12.5 inches
• Width: 3.9 millimeters
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe

What we favored: These really worth just some {{dollars}} higher than the other stainless-steel items, nevertheless hear me out: they arrive in a pack of 30, so that they’re really much more cheap per skewer. It’s cheaper than purchasing for two items of each the Norpro or the OXO, and likewise you get rather more skewers, anyway. I preferred how mild (nevertheless sturdy) these skewers had been, and they also had the sharpest solutions of the lineup. As a result of the skewer itself was so skinny, it was a breeze to slide chunks of rooster, mild peaches, and lacy prosciutto slices on and off. As well as they labored properly when utilized in pairs in the middle of the shrimp check out in order so as to add additional help to delicate objects with out making large holes. At barely beneath 12 inches prolonged, they’d been painless to maneuver on and off the grill.

What we didn’t like: These skewers had rounded stems in its place of flat ones. I didn’t experience meals spinning or slipping off all through my testing, nevertheless the cylindrical type of these skewers would make that moderately extra in all probability (notably for mild fruits or greens and flooring meat). As I mentioned, the knowledge had been moreover great sharp; I poked my finger pretty onerous when inserting shrimp on one amongst them. Merely use warning and maintain your digits out of the way in which through which of the sharp end (which inserts for all of the skewers talked about!).

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 30
• Supplies: Stainless-steel
• Full measurement: 11.75 inches
• Skewerable measurement: 10 inches
• Width: 2.3 millimeters
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe

The Rivals

• HOPELF Pure Bamboo Skewers: These had been indistinguishable from the Good Cook dinner dinner skewers and carried out merely as properly. The one distinction was the worth tag, which was practically double.
• Weber Genuine Bamboo Skewers: The Weber skewers had sq. stems, which stopped parts from rotating or sliding spherical whereas cooking. Sadly, they’d been the shortest of the lineup and had broad paddle-style handles that took up a great deal of their measurement. All through grilling, that big a part of uncovered bamboo dried out and charred faster than it took the crowded skewered meals to arrange dinner.
• Barebones Cowboy Grill Steel Skewers: These expensive skewers had been a tad prolonged and had a rounded sq. kind that allowed meals to unfold out alongside its measurement. Primarily essentially the most inconvenient facet, though, was the open shepherd’s hook take care of on each one that was prone to looping onto grill grates whereas turning.
• LANNEY Kebab Skewers: I appreciated that these bought right here with a drawstring bag for storage, nevertheless the skewers themselves had been lacking. That they’d boring elements that tore up peaches and outsized twists beneath the take care of that rendered practically half of the scale unusable. A phrase proper right here: whereas I solely labored with the first 17-inch skewers, the set moreover bought right here with two bonus 14-inch ones of the an identical vogue.
• DecorRack Pure Bamboo Skewer Sticks: The DecorRack skewers bought right here in a whopping 400-pack and had been essentially the most value efficient selection per skewer of the lineup. They’d been thinner than the other bamboo selections, though, so that they felt flimsy, splintered less complicated, and burned faster (even when soaked for the same time period).
• Gefu Stainless Steel Barbecue Skewers: The double prongs made threading parts onto the skewers finicky and grilling meals on all 4 sides virtually not doable. Combined with the loosely sliding meals pusher that normally obtained in the way in which through which, these expensive skewers had been onerous to prep, put together dinner with, and clear. 
• Williams Sonoma Stainless Steel Skewers: At over $12 per skewer ($50 for a pack of 4), the Williams Sonoma skewers had been the priciest of the lineup. That they’d prolonged, heavy handles that held onto the heat and made flipping them with grill tongs unwieldy (which was solely compounded by the skewers’ 17.5-inch lengths). The meals pusher obtained in the way in which through which all through threading and was robust to wash. The skewer itself was practically 10 millimeters giant and ripped up smaller objects of rooster and peach.

FAQs

What are skewers?

Skewers are prolonged, sharpened rods (typically fabricated from metallic or bamboo) that may be utilized to hold objects of meals collectively. They’re normally used to arrange dinner meat and/or greens on a grill, over a fire, or above scorching coals.

How prolonged do you soak skewers?

Since dry bamboo or picket will burn when uncovered to hearth, skewers fabricated from these provides have to be soaked in water for not lower than half-hour sooner than cooking with them. Soaking for an hour or in a single day is even greater. Even when saturated with water, bamboo skewers which could be too skinny or are used over extreme heat can nonetheless dry and char; the ends may even burn up or break off. It’s okay if this happens, nevertheless it’s going to in all probability make the de-skewering course of a tad extra sturdy.

Are you able to place picket skewers throughout the oven?

Certain, you need to use each stainless-steel or bamboo skewers throughout the oven. Merely you need to undoubtedly soak bamboo skewers for not lower than half-hour to an hour sooner than starting, and maintain an in depth eye on them all through cooking. You probably can trim off the ends of the bamboo skewers or wrap them in aluminum foil to forestall charring. For broiling or prolonged put together dinner cases, we advocate using stainless-steel.

Are you able to place skewers in an air fryer?

Certain! Every stainless-steel and bamboo skewers might be utilized in air fryers. If using bamboo skewers, you need to undoubtedly soak them in water for not lower than half-hour (an hour is finest) to take care of them from burning. Trim any further measurement and/or cowl the ends with aluminum foil for a further layer of security whereas using bamboo skewers. For prime heats or prolonged put together dinner cases, we advocate discovering fast stainless-steel skewers (6- to 8-inch ones must match most conventional air fryers, nevertheless measure your model’s basket first to make sure).

Can you roast marshmallows on a skewer?

Skewers aren’t an excellent selection for roasting marshmallows. Most are too fast to achieve a fire or grill from a comfy distance. Plus, the metallic handles on some skewers will get extraordinarily in style quickly. A two-pronged marshmallow roasting stick will do the job greater.

Why We’re the Consultants

• Ashlee Redger is a freelancer writer for Extreme Eats, who has written fairly a couple of critiques for the situation.
• Ashlee studied Culinary Weight loss plan and Evaluation & Development at Johnson & Wales School, and was an intern at America’s Test Kitchen.
• For this textual content, Ashlee examined 11 items of skewers, using each for two recipes and evaluating them all through quite a few metrics.