These tongs are not "Springy" enough. When I got them, they didn't really work at all. I had to pry them apart several times, until the plastic eventually stayed that way. Hopefully, I didn't stress the plastic so much that they will break soon. I haven't had them long enough to know.. Next time I will buy ones with spring mechanism. I have another pair like that and they are terrific, but they cost a bit more than these.