Fork 41 cm

Short enough for a small barbecue, a tabletop grill or the kitchen hob, where a long fork has nowhere to swing; long enough at 41 cm that your knuckles stay out of the heat. That is the balance this size strikes.

Both prongs are stainless steel, so they hold a heavy piece without bending and do not rust. The handle is wood and heat-resistant: it stays cool however long the fork sits over the coals, and it does not slip in a greasy hand.

Care is a rinse and a wipe. It packs flat in a picnic bag, which is the reason many people keep this one alongside the longer version.