Edlund is one of the most consistently and enthusiastically recommended brands in r/BuyItForLife, with the stainless steel kitchen tongs receiving near-universal praise as a true lifetime purchase. Users with decades of professional kitchen experience and long-term home use repeatedly cite them as the gold standard, and the brand's broader lineup — can openers, scales, and jar openers — earns similar respect. The main caveat is a counterfeit problem on Amazon, where knockoffs are frequently sold under the Edlund name.
Edlund products — especially the stainless steel tongs — are one of the most repeatedly and passionately endorsed brands in the community, with decades-long real-world track records, American manufacturing, and user-replaceable components that extend their lifespan indefinitely.
Edlund products, especially the tongs, are praised for exceptional durability, American manufacturing, and professional-grade performance that outlasts cheaper alternatives by decades. Former restaurant workers and home cooks alike consistently describe them as lasting 20+ years with no degradation.
Criticisms are minor and product-specific rather than brand-wide. The tong spring can wear over time, and the locking mechanism is disliked by some users who remove it immediately. The biggest practical concern is counterfeit products sold on Amazon.
A former line cook with nearly 20 years of restaurant experience called Edlund the definitive tong brand, noting you can pick up a single grain of rice with them or haul cast iron pans — and replacement springs are available if anything ever fails.
One commenter described their Edlund tongs as essentially indistinguishable from new after 15 years of heavy home use, and another mentioned a pair stolen from a restaurant in 1996 that still performs flawlessly after 25+ years of daily use.
A user who bought an Edlund electric can opener after going through four broken consumer models in quick succession reported using it for roughly 10 years without ever needing to sharpen the blade.
Multiple commenters flagged that Amazon Edlund listings are often counterfeit 'dollar store garbage,' strongly recommending purchase only through reputable restaurant supply stores or specialty retailers.