The 4 Greatest Skewers of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

Kebabs, satays, brochettes, souvlakia, suya, yakitori…the listing of skewered meals from world wide is an extended one. Many cultures have some custom of placing bits of meat, seafood, and greens on sticks. In spite of everything, skewering components is likely one of the easiest methods of getting meals over flame. All you want is, properly, a skewer.

To search out one of the best skewer for each goal, I checked out 11 well-liked fashions. 4 of the units have been single-use bamboo varieties and 7 have been fabricated from reusable stainless-steel. The shortest skewer was slightly below 10 inches whereas the longest was nearly 18 inches. After testing, I discovered that prime costs and additional options didn’t all the time make a skewer higher—in reality, it often meant the alternative. The most effective skewers have been budget-friendly, sturdy, and prepared for something.

The Winners, at a Look

 

PHOTO: Amazon

You’ve seen this type of bamboo skewer earlier than. It’s principally a sharpened dowel rod, a traditional no-frills design that simply works. You will discover numerous comparable variations on-line or in your native grocery retailer, however the Good Cook dinner branded skewers stood out on this lineup due to their inexpensive worth and durable construct.

 

PHOTO: Amazon

OXO is understood for its nice design, and these skewers didn’t disappoint. They’d a pointy tip that pierced meals with out ripping it and a flat stem that prevented meals from rotating unintentionally. The broad handles supplied a spot to grip the skewers and could possibly be stacked for tidier storage.

 

PHOTO: Amazon

These simple stainless-steel skewers could not stand out at first look, however they outperformed most of the fussier fashions. They’d small looped handles and an unadorned design that meant they could possibly be effectively loaded up with components. The skewer itself was flat however skinny, so it held onto delicate items with minimal rotating whereas cooking.

 

PHOTO: Amazon

These skewers have been delightfully sharp and light-weight. It was simple to string on delicate components (even smooth peach slices) with out tearing them. Their rounded form ensured quick de-skewering, though it additionally made the components extra vulnerable to sliding or rotating throughout cooking. They have been the shortest of the stainless-steel choices, making them good for smaller grills.

The Assessments

• Grilled Rooster and Peach Saltimbocca Skewers Take a look at: I assembled two skewers from every mannequin with bite-sized items of rooster, tender peach chunks, and skinny prosciutto slices (following this recipe) to see how every dealt with components of various sizes and textures. To organize the bamboo skewers, I soaked them in water for a little bit over an hour earlier than the check.
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers Take a look at: I threaded shrimp onto a pair of skewers (two pairs per mannequin and following this recipe), brushed them with garlic oil, then grilled them over excessive warmth. After cooking, I de-skewered the shrimp right into a bowl to toss them with sauce. I soaked the bamboo skewers for about 45 minutes earlier than this check.
• Usability Assessments: All through testing, I famous any options that made the skewers quicker to arrange, whether or not they have been handy to flip on the grill (utilizing our favourite grill tongs), and if I might de-skewer the meals effectively after cooking.
• Cleansing and Sturdiness Assessments: I hand-washed the stainless-steel skewers after every use and evaluated in the event that they have been simple to scrub and in the event that they displayed indicators of staining or buildup. For the bamboo skewers, I watched to see in the event that they burned whereas on the grill (even after soaking) and in the event that they have been sturdy sufficient to carry as a lot meals as their stainless-steel counterparts.

What We Discovered

The Execs and Cons of Bamboo Skewers

The bamboo skewers have been a downright cut price in comparison with metallic—our profitable Good Cook dinner Bamboo Skewers have been solely about 5 cents a skewer. They have been adaptable to completely different sorts of dishes, biodegradable, and had sharp tricks to effortlessly pierce meat or veggies. Their fibrous texture had extra friction than stainless-steel, in order that they naturally supplied grip in order that meals clung onto the stem of the skewer (which prevented rolling or sliding whereas cooking).

Bamboo did require the additional step of soaking earlier than cooking, although. Whereas most on-line sources urged a 30-minute soak, I discovered that an hour or extra was higher for slowing down charring on the grill. Having thicker skewers additionally helped. The DecorRack Pure Bamboo Skewer Sticks have been solely 2.8 millimeters huge and have been extra liable to burning, splintering, and breaking than the opposite bamboo fashions (which all had an additional millimeter of thickness). Whereas I preferred the Good Cook dinner skewers, there are many first rate comparable variations available at most grocery shops. Since bamboo skewers are disposable and sometimes are available in bulk units, they’re typically good to have readily available for tenting, events, and even crafting. Total, bamboo is an effective possibility for individuals who don’t skewer sufficient to get a set of stainless-steel skewers (or just don’t need to take care of storing lengthy, sharp metallic rods).

The Execs and Cons of Stainless Metal Skewers

The stainless-steel fashions ranged from $0.53 (Norpro) to $12.50 (Williams Sonoma) per skewer. Though they have been dearer, stainless-steel skewers have been all the time able to go since they didn’t require soaking. In addition they tended to be longer, which meant it took fewer of them to skewer up a meal’s value of meals. Stainless-steel is sort of infinitely reusable so long as they’re saved clear and dry between makes use of (a lot of the ones I examined have been even dishwasher-safe).

Versatility was an element for the stainless-steel skewers, contemplating they have been designed to be reused. The most effective ones had flat stems that prevented meals from loosely rotating round them in addition to ideas sharp sufficient to easily pierce meals. If the skewers have been too broad, they cut up and tore delicate components. The Williams Sonoma skewers have been significantly thick (each was nearly 10 millimeters huge) and shredded a number of items of peach and prosciutto whereas I used to be assembling the rooster skewers. Comparatively, the OXO Good Grips Grilling Skewers have been 5.8 millimeters huge and had few points throughout meeting.

Size Was Necessary for Comfort

I most well-liked skewers that have been between 10 and 14 inches in whole size. Longer fashions, just like the LANNEY Kebab Skewers (17 inches lengthy), felt unwieldy and exhausting to handle whereas cooking—significantly on my comparatively small grill. The HONSHEN Stainless Metal Skewers (11.75 inches lengthy) have been far simpler to maneuver out and in of the new grilling zones, making certain even cooking throughout the complete skewer.

It’s additionally vital to notice that the whole size of a skewer didn’t all the time correlate to its usable size. For every mannequin, I measured its precise skewerable space: I ignored handles and different obstacles like twists within the metallic, then left a margin from the tip/ends as wanted. I discovered that a lot of the longer skewers had prolonged handles or different options that tremendously diminished their skewerable size. Solely about 60% of the 17.5-inch Williams Sonoma skewers have been usable, for instance, due to their exaggerated handles. Easier skewers, like these from Norpro, tended to be extra environment friendly since that they had fewer options to take up house.

Most Options Had been Pointless

Not solely might additional options take up helpful skewering house, many have been solely mildly useful at greatest—and a hindrance at worst. As I discussed, the Williams Sonoma skewers had heavy, overstated handles that made them cumbersome and unbalanced when gripped with tongs. As a substitute of a straight or looped finish, the Barebones Cowboy Grill Metal Skewers was formed like a shepherd’s hook. Their open ends simply caught onto grill grates whereas turning. Giant twists, just like the one on the LANNEY skewers, have been primarily ornamental as they’d break up something I attempted to slip over them. Compared, the OXO skewers had unembellished stems. Their handles have been lengthy however flat, which supplied a spot to carry them securely with tongs or my palms.

The Gefu Stainless Metal Barbecue Skewers and Williams Sonoma fashions each had meals pushers, designed to assist de-skewer meals after cooking. They labored as supposed, simply pushing the meals off of the stem. Sadly, they have been additionally troublesome to scrub and have been continually sliding round whereas I used to be getting ready and cooking with the skewers. Since I needed to look ahead to the skewers to chill barely earlier than utilizing the pushers anyway, it turned out simply as simple to make use of a fork, tongs, or (shocker) my fingers to push the meals off.

One other problematic function of the Gefu skewers: double prongs. They have been properly suited to bigger gadgets (like complete shrimp), however not a lot else. For the reason that prongs have been spaced about an inch aside, it made threading bite-sized items of rooster and peach (additionally about an inch massive) awkward. I both needed to push the skinny prongs collectively to string the components onto each (shredding the delicate items of peach within the course of) or alternate sides, making a wobbly imbalance. Single-pronged skewers have been considerably extra versatile, and will simply be doubled up for additional help when wanted.

 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Set of Skewers

The most effective skewers have been merely designed. For bamboo, search for skewers which can be sturdy and inexpensive. Keep away from unneeded options on stainless-steel skewers like meals pushers, dramatic twists, and outsized spherical handles. Steel fashions with flat stems have been higher at stabilizing components on the skewer, reasonably than letting them slide or rotate whereas cooking. Whatever the materials, the skewers ought to have a pointy tip for piercing by means of meals. Fashions that have been between 10 and 14 inches in size provided one of the best management throughout cooking whereas nonetheless having loads of skewering house.

 

Our Favourite Skewers

 

What we preferred: The Good Cook dinner Bamboo Skewers have been glorious examples of simplicity achieved properly. They stood out from the opponents as a result of they have been extra inexpensive than the HOPELF ones, sturdier than the DecorRack, and had extra usable house than the Weber. With their medium size and skinny dowel, they’re as prepared for contemporary fruit skewers as Lebanese kofta. Since bamboo gives additional friction between the meals and the skewer, components have been much less vulnerable 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 Bamboo Skewers did char extra slowly than the thinner DecorRack ones within the rooster check, however nonetheless had their uncovered ends catch hearth and fall off through the shrimp check.

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 100
• Materials: Bamboo
• Complete size: 11.75 inches
• Skewerable size: 10 inches
• Width: 3.9 millimeters
• Care directions: Soak in water for not less than one hour earlier than use; disposable after use

 

What we preferred: Most of the skewers I examined had handles of various sorts, however the OXO have been the one ones that have been significantly helpful. They supplied loads of room to carry the skewer regular whereas threading meals on; plus they could possibly be grabbed with tongs to show the skewer whereas cooking. Due to the handles’ size, it additionally helped stabilize the skewer when it was turned on its facet. The tip was sharp sufficient to slip into meat and fruit with out splitting the chunks. At 13 inches in whole size, the skewers have been lengthy sufficient to carry a serving or two whereas nonetheless being manageable on and off the grill.

What we didn’t like: It was useful to have the ability to seize the broad handles of the OXO skewers with tongs (particularly when the grill was crowded), however I had to ensure I had a safe maintain or they’d slip out of the tongs’ grip. This set can be a bit dear, particularly contemplating it solely comes with six skewers. If you happen to’re an avid skewer-er, you might have considered trying two units so that you don’t need to empty and refill them between batches. Whereas the handles do nest for storage, nothing truly holds them in place. You’ll nonetheless want to make use of a rubber band or twine to maintain them collectively.

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 6
• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Complete size: 13 inches
• Skewerable size: 8.75 inches
• Width: 5.8 millimeters
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe; a stainless-steel cleaner (like Bar Keepers Buddy) can be utilized to clean off lingering stains or discolorations

 

What we preferred: If you happen to’re on the lookout for a primary set of skewers that can get the job achieved with out grievance, right here they’re. Since they have been lengthy and could possibly be loaded all the way in which as much as their looped handles, that they had the most important share of truly skewerable size of the lineup. Their skinny and flat form meant they may maintain onto cubes of rooster and peaches with out splitting them or letting them rotate whereas turning.

What we didn’t like: As a result of the flat stem of the Norpro skewer was so slim, they could possibly be tough to carry securely whereas threading components on, particularly when making an attempt to double up (like within the shrimp check). Meals tended to slip and unfold out a little bit alongside its clean size after a number of turns. The skewers additionally felt much less handy due to how lengthy they have been. They could possibly be unwieldy to show and transfer with tongs, particularly on my small grill. I’d be extra prone to get the 12-inch model for regular use.

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 6
• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Complete size: 14 inches
• Skewerable size: 12.5 inches
• Width: 3.9 millimeters
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

 

What we preferred: These truly price a number of {dollars} greater than the opposite stainless-steel units, however hear me out: they arrive in a pack of 30, in order that they’re truly far more inexpensive per skewer. It’s cheaper than shopping for two units of both the Norpro or the OXO, and also you get much more skewers, anyway. I cherished how gentle (however sturdy) these skewers have been, and so they had the sharpest ideas of the lineup. For the reason that skewer itself was so skinny, it was a breeze to slip chunks of rooster, smooth peaches, and lacy prosciutto slices on and off. In addition they labored properly when utilized in pairs through the shrimp check so as to add additional help to delicate gadgets with out making massive holes. At slightly below 12 inches lengthy, they have been painless to maneuver on and off the grill.

What we didn’t like: These skewers had rounded stems as a substitute of flat ones. I didn’t expertise meals spinning or slipping off throughout my testing, however the cylindrical form of those skewers would make that rather more doubtless (particularly for smooth fruits or greens and floor meat). As I discussed, the information have been additionally tremendous sharp; I poked my finger fairly exhausting when placing shrimp on certainly one of them. Simply use warning and hold your digits out of the way in which of the sharp finish (which matches for all the skewers talked about!).

Key Specs

• Skewers per pack: 30
• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Complete size: 11.75 inches
• Skewerable size: 10 inches
• Width: 2.3 millimeters
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

 

The Competitors

• • HOPELF Pure Bamboo Skewers: These have been indistinguishable from the Good Cook dinner skewers and carried out simply as properly. The one distinction was the value tag, which was nearly double.
  • Weber Unique Bamboo Skewers: The Weber skewers had sq. stems, which stopped components from rotating or sliding round whereas cooking. Sadly, they have been the shortest of the lineup and had broad paddle-style handles that took up plenty of their size. Throughout grilling, that enormous part of uncovered bamboo dried out and charred quicker than it took the crowded skewered meals to prepare dinner.
  • Barebones Cowboy Grill Metal Skewers: These dear skewers have been a tad lengthy and had a rounded sq. form that allowed meals to unfold out alongside its size. Probably the most inconvenient side, although, was the open shepherd’s hook deal with on each that was liable to looping onto grill grates whereas turning.
  • LANNEY Kebab Skewers: I appreciated that these got here with a drawstring bag for storage, however the skewers themselves have been missing. They’d boring factors that tore up peaches and outsized twists beneath the deal with that rendered nearly half of the size unusable. A be aware right here: whereas I solely labored with the primary 17-inch skewers, the set additionally got here with two bonus 14-inch ones of the identical type.

 

• DecorRack Pure Bamboo Skewer Sticks: The DecorRack skewers got here in a whopping 400-pack and have been the most affordable possibility per skewer of the lineup. They have been thinner than the opposite bamboo choices, although, in order that they felt flimsy, splintered simpler, and burned quicker (even when soaked for a similar period of time).
• Gefu Stainless Metal Barbecue Skewers: The double prongs made threading components onto the skewers finicky and grilling meals on all 4 sides practically inconceivable. Mixed with the loosely sliding meals pusher that always received in the way in which, these costly skewers have been exhausting to prep, prepare dinner with, and clear.
• Williams Sonoma Stainless Metal Skewers: At over $12 per skewer ($50 for a pack of 4), the Williams Sonoma skewers have been the priciest of the lineup. They’d lengthy, heavy handles that held onto the warmth and made flipping them with grill tongs unwieldy (which was solely compounded by the skewers’ 17.5-inch lengths). The meals pusher received in the way in which throughout threading and was troublesome to scrub. The skewer itself was nearly 10 millimeters huge and ripped up smaller items of rooster and peach.

 

FAQs

What are skewers?

Skewers are lengthy, sharpened rods (often fabricated from metal or bamboo) that can be utilized to carry items of meals collectively. They’re usually used to prepare dinner meat and/or greens on a grill, over a fireplace, or above scorching coals.

How lengthy do you soak skewers?

Since dry bamboo or wooden will burn when uncovered to fireside, skewers fabricated from these supplies ought to be soaked in water for not less than half-hour earlier than cooking with them. Soaking for an hour or in a single day is even higher. Even when saturated with water, bamboo skewers which can be too skinny or are used over excessive warmth can nonetheless dry and char; the ends could even deplete or break off. It’s okay if this occurs, however it will probably make the de-skewering course of a tad more durable.

Can you place wooden skewers within the oven?

Sure, you should utilize both stainless-steel or bamboo skewers within the oven. Simply make sure you soak bamboo skewers for not less than half-hour to an hour earlier than beginning, and hold an in depth eye on them throughout cooking. You possibly can trim off the ends of the bamboo skewers or wrap them in aluminum foil to stop charring. For broiling or lengthy prepare dinner occasions, we suggest utilizing stainless-steel.

Can you place skewers in an air fryer?

Sure! Each stainless-steel and bamboo skewers can be utilized in air fryers. If utilizing bamboo skewers, make sure you soak them in water for not less than half-hour (an hour is best) to maintain them from burning. Trim any extra size and/or cowl the ends with aluminum foil for an additional layer of safety whereas utilizing bamboo skewers. For top heats or lengthy prepare dinner occasions, we suggest discovering brief stainless-steel skewers (6- to 8-inch ones ought to match most traditional air fryers, however measure your mannequin’s basket first to make certain).

Are you able to roast marshmallows on a skewer?

Skewers aren’t a great possibility for roasting marshmallows. Most are too brief to achieve a fireplace or grill from a snug distance. Plus, the metallic handles on some skewers will get extremely popular shortly. A two-pronged marshmallow roasting stick will do the job higher.

 

Why We are the Specialists

• Ashlee Redger is a author for Severe Eats, who has written quite a few evaluations for the positioning.
• Ashlee studied Culinary Diet and Analysis & Growth at Johnson & Wales College, and was an intern at America’s Take a look at Kitchen.
• For this text, Ashlee examined 11 units of skewers, utilizing every for 2 recipes and evaluating them throughout varied metrics.