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The Best Marshmallow Roasting Sticks Can Cook Everything From Hot Dogs to S’mores

Stick with these for a sweet or savory treat

People roasting marshmallows over a fire pit outdoors

The Spruce Eats / Carrie Honaker

There's nothing quite like roasting marshmallows over an open flame. Sure, whittling a point on a stick fresh from a tree sounds like it could be fun, but it’s a whole lot easier—and possibly safer—to use a marshmallow roasting stick that’s made for the task. Whether the goal is gooey s’mores or just hot, melty marshmallows, there are plenty of useful and attractive sticks that can make marshmallow roasting the perfect experience, whether you’re in the backyard or at a camping site.

To help you find the best tools for your next campfire, we tested several of the top-rated marshmallow roasting sticks on the market. Each one was used to roast marshmallows, in addition to tougher ingredients like veggies and sausages. Then, the roasting sticks were all rated on design, ease of use, durability, and overall value.

What We Like
  • Easy to rotate

  • Included storage bag

  • Easy to clean

  • Comfortable handle

What We Don't Like
  • A little short

No need to twist and turn your stick for the proper roasting with Jolly Green's telescoping sticks, as they are designed to rotate easily for toasty marshmallows every time. They have two tines set wide enough to spear a marshmallow on each, for twice the fun.

We found that the U-shaped tines were sharp, but not dangerous, and across five trials (including a hot dog, a quartered large onion, mushrooms, and marshmallows), the foods went on easily and stayed secure throughout roasting. The sticks never bent, and the 34-inch length was adequate for having our hands far enough from the fire pit and avoiding being overcome by smoke while cooking.

The set of five is enough for the family or a small gathering. We were a fan of the sticks' sturdy stainless-steel construction, stay-cool touch, and rotating handle, all of which made roasting foods over an open fire a breeze. The Jolly Green Roast’em sticks cleaned up easily and retracted to a diminutive 10 inches when dry. We loaded them back in their storage bag and threw them in the barbecue toolbox for the next roast.

Material: Stainless Steel | Length: 33.25 inches | Capacity: 4 marshmallows | Skewers in Set: 5

What We Like
  • Compact tines for securing marshmallows

  • Handle stays cool

  • Easy to clean

What We Don't Like
  • A little short

When marshmallow roasting is an occasional treat rather than a regular event, these budget sticks will be the perfect companion. Each stick in this set of five—they do come in larger quantities—has a colored ring between the handle and metal so everyone can pick a color they like. 

Though the tines on these are close together and thin, they handled roasting hot dogs, sliced red peppers, quartered onions, and marshmallows with nothing falling off the stick during cooking. The handle, meanwhile, remained cool and rotated easily for even cooking. We appreciated the proximity of the tines for toasting even, browned marshmallows horizontally. However, there was quite a bit of bend during the roasting and we felt the stick was on the shorter side, even when fully telescoped to 32 inches.

These roasting sticks collapse to 12 inches, and cleaned up easily in hot, soapy water, even after multiple marshmallows. When it’s time to put the campfire supplies away, you can store them in the included canvas pouch for safekeeping.

Material: Stainless Steel | Length: 32 inches | Capacity: 2 marshmallows | Skewers in Set: 5

What We Like
  • Easy cleanup

  • Sturdy construction

  • Ample supply

  • Sharp tips for easy spearing

What We Don't Like
  • Tips catch fire

These bamboo sticks are a full 30 inches long, making them a great choice for use around a campfire or at home in front of a fire pit. When you don’t need that much length, these sticks are easy to snap or cut to a shorter length, if desired. 

We loved the heft of these sticks for keeping hot dogs, mushrooms, and marshmallows secure. The tips were sharp enough to spear all food items and the sticks were extremely sturdy, even with constant rotation. The length, though, was on the shorter side and the tips caught flame during each test. This was okay for marshmallows, but the vegetables and hot dogs were more difficult, as we had to sit closer to the fire for longer. We appreciated the easy cleanup as we just threw them in the fire when finished, with plenty left for the next round. 

Material: Bamboo | Length: 30 inches | Capacity: 6 marshmallows | Skewers in Set: 60

What We Like
  • Safe design

  • Sturdy construction

  • Stay cool during roasting

What We Don't Like
  • A little short

If you’re worried that the kids will use their marshmallow sticks as light sabers or swords, the HigherHuman Safety S'Mores Roasting Sticks can eliminate accidental poking, scratching, and stabbing. Here, the prongs are reversed, leaving a rounded, rather than pointed, end though the marshmallows still stay secure.

We appreciated the reverse-prong design for reasons beyond the safety of children. Between roasts, they hung easily on nearby branches, keeping the marshmallow goo from getting the table sticky. And the sturdy construction of the stick kept everything secure during cooking and the handles remained cool.

We did find using the HigherHuman Safety S’more sticks was not the most versatile option. The reverse prong design makes it difficult to load larger foods like sausages and the middle stick prevented hot dogs from being speared. We also felt that the 28-inch length was a little too short for keeping safely away from the open fire, but we did appreciate the easy cleanup in hot soapy water, and the included drawstring bag for convenient storage.

Material: Stainless steel | Length: 28 inches | Capacity: 4 marshmallows | Skewers in Set: 4

What We Like
  • Fun design

  • Strong spears

  • Large capacity

What We Don't Like
  • A bit of a learning curve

  • Can cause wrist fatigue

Firebuggz's roasting sticks are about as far as you can get from a basic stick you'd find in the woods—they’re expertly engineered for fun. These sticks look like fishing rods and have a unique roasting system that can hold marshmallows on four different spears, with two on each side. A counterbalance system flips the food to roast it more evenly, and it’s fun to do. They're a fixed length and don’t extend or collapse. While pricey, the set of four would make a great gift for any outdoor enthusiast or the perfect accessory to pull out at the lake or beach on summer nights.

We loved the fun design of this set. Although the tips were blunt, loading marshmallows, hot dogs, and vegetables was easy. The rack-style prongs held four marshmallows and securely held two hot dogs at a time. There is a steep learning curve for the flip, but once we mastered the wrist flick, foods easily rotated multiple times. Wrist fatigue can be an issue for prolonged cooking sessions since you have to hold the pole above the fire to allow the “line” to graze it. The handle stayed cool, but the “fishing line” got very hot, which made unloading difficult. The whole setup feels very durable, and we appreciated the little fish indicator that lets you know when you properly flip your food. 

We cleaned the fishing poles up in the kitchen sink with hot soapy water and a scouring pad, though the nooks and crannies of the rack were a little hard to get clean. Though this is a bulky roasting stick, it comes with a canvas bag that hangs easily in the garage next to beach equipment or on the patio beside the grilling station.

Material: Stainless steel | Length: 34 inches | Capacity: 4 marshmallows, 2 hot dogs | Skewers in Set: 4

What We Like
  • Cute design

  • Well-positioned tines

  • Easy-to-rotate

What We Don't Like
  • Stick gets very hot

The Fred company is known for its fun, quirky, and useful designs, like these cute marshmallow roasting skewers. They extend to 32 inches while toasting, and shrink to 12 inches for compact storage in a backpack while camping, or for simple storage in a drawer when home.  These come with tip covers and blunt ends for maximum safety, and though the ends were not sharp, food was pierced easily for loading onto the sticks. We appreciated the kitschy stay-cool marshmallow handle, which made for a large grip that was easy to rotate, but the rest of the stick got hot during roasting.

We tested the Fred TOASTY sticks with mushrooms, a hot dog, hunks of red pepper, and two rounds of marshmallows. Each time, the stick bent quite a bit but regained its shape once cool. We liked the long, narrow tines for roasting marshmallows evenly but noted that the narrow separation makes it much easier to toast foods horizontally for even cooking. The length of the stick was a little short for denser foods like hot dogs—we had to move closer to the fire to get those items in the flames. 

When the fun is over, these are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. We noted that the sticks washed without marring in the dishwasher pre-toasting, but the gooey marshmallow coating post-cook required a soak in hot, soapy water, and a firm scrub.

Material: Stainless steel | Length: 32 inches | Capacity: 4 marshmallows | Skewers in Set: 4

What We Like
  • Extra-long

  • Stay cool during roasting

  • Wide tines

What We Don't Like
  • Small handles

Made out of 18/8stainless steel, these sticks are built to last, and they hold way more than just fluffy marshmallows. Plus, they are some of the longest roasting sticks we've found.

After five trials, the BBQstyle sticks stayed rigid, even while roasting heavier items like quartered onions and we appreciated that everything stayed secure on the sticks each time. With marshmallows, the sticks stayed firm throughout toasting, even at the maximum load and length. We also loved the durable construction of this set, and the comfortable, rubberized handles. The wide tines accommodate multiple food items but they are a shade short, limiting how much you can load. 

When making s’mores and other tasty treats in a campfire, it’s best to keep a safe distance from the fire, but sometimes the best roasting isn’t at the edge. These marshmallow roasting sticks extend to a whopping 45 inches, so campers can easily keep a distance from the flames, and the handles are designed to be comfortable to hold while they stay cool during roasting. This set includes eight marshmallow roasting sticks along with a handy storage pouch to keep them neatly contained when they’re not in use. And, they cleaned up easily, even after five hours of testing, in a basin of hot soapy water.

Material: Stainless steel | Length: 45 inches | Capacity: 4 marshmallows, 2 hot dogs | Skewers in Set: 8

Final Verdict

If your main goal is to get outside and roast some marshmallows over the campfire or fire pit, the Green Jolly Extendable Rotating Marshmallow Roasting Sticks check all the boxes for what you need. If your target audience is children looking to make s'mores, we recommend the HigherHuman Safety S’Mores Roasting Sticks.

How We Tested

Marshmallow roasting sticks displayed on a marble counter

The Spruce Eats / Carrie Honaker

Each of our selected marshmallow roasting sticks was tested over a campfire by our product tester for the most authentic results. We paid close attention to the design of the sticks, including the coolness of the handle and the distance from the end of the stick to the flame. The sticks were used to test not only marshmallows, but also roasted vegetables and sausages. We made careful note of how easy to use the sticks were—if food items stayed on the stick and could be rotated or adjusted without difficulties. Each roasting stick was given a rating for design, ease of use, durability, and overall value.

What to Look for When Buying Marshmallow Roasting Sticks

Construction

Look for roasting sticks that have sturdy tines and wooden handles and are made from stainless steel if you want something that's going to be sturdy. Those tend to hold up the best and not only will keep the marshmallow firmly in place while roasting, but will also enable you to remove it with ease once it's ready. Some of them have stay-cool handles, which might be a nice feature if you have small children and want to keep the process as safe as possible.

Storage

You might consider the importance of storage when these items are not in use. Do they fit in a drawer at home for use in a backyard firepit, or are they too long? Do they retract, or are they otherwise adjustable in size? Do they have some kind of storage bag?

Capacity

Do you regularly roast marshmallows with a big crowd, either in your backyard fire pit or on a camping trip? If so, you might want to buy sticks that are double-pronged at the end, so you can load up your them up with multiple marshmallows. Also consider whether you will be using these sticks primarily for the occasional marshmallow treat or for hot dog and veggie entrées. You'll want to choose sticks that are longer or have more than one prong for the maximum capacity.

FAQs

How long should your marshmallow roasting stick be?

Look for a stick that's right between two and three feet long—right around 30 inches—if you can manage it. It's just long enough that it's away from the rest of your body and can reach into the fire, but it's not so long that it becomes hard to control.

Will bamboo skewers catch fire?

Bamboo is more resistant to fire than most types of wood; it's actually a plant. However, it will burn, which is why the bamboo sticks we mention here can be easily disposed of by tossing them into the fire when you're finished using them.

What are the benefits of using a marshmallow roasting stick?

Some campgrounds may not be very forested, which makes finding a stick in the woods nearly impossible. If you pack your own, you're prepared. Some folks like the cleanliness factor of using their own sticks rather than one they've found on the ground, even if they whittle off the top layer of wood to create a more pointy end. Finally, even the most diligent camper can sometimes end up with bits of wood in their marshmallows.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

The original writer of this roundup, Donna Currie is a recipe developer, cookbook author, and product tester. (She's tested more than 90 kitchen products for The Spruce Eats!) Has Donna roasted marshmallows? Of course, she has. She’s also made her own marshmallows. So, she knows a bit about pillowy, sugary, sticky, browned-on-the-outside marshmallow treats. Meanwhile, she’s spent hours researching the perfect sticks for every outdoor event, so this list is sure to have exactly what you need.

Carrie Honaker, who personally tested every item on this list, is a food writer who grew up camping around the forests and mountains of Vermont. She earned her Girl Scout badge for campfire cooking in middle school and has wielded her share of marshmallow roasting sticks over the years. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she knows the importance of finding a stick that gets you a safe distance from the fire, while providing efficient toasting capabilities for those golden brown marshmallows. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Bon Appetit, Allrecipes, and Wine Enthusiast.

Originally written by
Donna Currie
Donna Currie
Donna Currie is a food writer and blogger specializing in recipes and kitchen gadgets. She covers kitchen tools and gadgets for The Spruce Eats and is the author of Make Ahead Bread.
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