If you really want to keep the twists we use small zip ties. Don’t seem to be an issue in the smoker we’ve used them for years and we like the linked look so that’s the simplest way to keep them. We used to tie with butcher string but that seemed to take forever. I know we’ll get some comments about the plastic but it works and I haven’t started sprouting an extra arm or anything so we go with it…And its a good way to color code hot=red, mild=green, cheese=yellow.