5 Best Kitchen Shears and Scissors
You might have the most complete knife set, there will surely be a moment where you’ll need a pair of kitchen shears or scissors. They are simply more convenient for certain tasks and can be used in many ways. Snipping herbs, spatchcocking a chicken, removing fins from fish, or dividing a pizza in parts, shears are useful amongst kitchen tools.
There are task specific kitchen shears and others are multi-functional and that’s why it is wise to consider the kind of tasks you need to do with them. Another important point to consider is how to sharpen them.
A quality pair of kitchen scissors come at affordable prices and we selected a few to help you choose the best for your kitchen.
List of best kitchen shears and scissors
- Best overall – OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen Scissors
- Best for herbs – Jenaluca Herb Scissors
- Best for poultry – Gerior Heavy Duty Poultry Shears
- Best set – Gidli Multipurpose Ultra Sharp Utility Scissors and Seafood Scissors
- Best budget – KitchenAid All Purpose Shears
Things to consider before buying the best kitchen scissors
Type
The versatility of kitchen shears is vast. All should perform heavy-duty tasks and while a multi-purpose model is ideal for snipping herbs, cutting meat or cleaning fish, others are task-specific and only used for poultry or to cut through hard bones. Keep in mind that you might need more than one pair of kitchen shears if choosing a task-specific pair.
Size and design
Kitchen shears should be large enough to offer enough leverage for serious cutting tasks. They should feel comfortable to hold with a good grip for keeping control while using. A non-slip grip is important for safety especially if using them with wet or oily hands.
Kitchen shears are commonly designed for right-handed users. It is important to choose symmetrical, well-balanced handles but there are also kitchen shears specifically designed for left-handed people.
Features and maintenance
Some kitchen shears come with features such as an attached bottle opener, a locking mechanism, or the possibility to separate the blades which is easy for maintenance, sharpening, and cleaning.
Blades are best made from stainless steel because of its durability. A serrated edge prevents slipping when cutting wet or fatty items.
Most kitchen shears are dishwasher safe, but as with knives, we recommend hand washing as it will keep them sharper for longer. It is important to dry the blades well after cleaning too.
Overview of best kitchen shears and scissors
Best overall – OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen Scissors
These scissors have micro-serrated, sharp stainless-steel blades that easily cut through multiple products. The paddle handles are large with a good grip which makes these scissors suitable for a wide variety of cutting tasks. The built-in herb stripper is a handy feature, and this model is easy to clean since the blades can be taken apart.
Best for herbs – Jenaluca Herb Scissors
If you are often cooking with fresh herbs, look no further and get these useful herb scissors. There are 5 well balanced blades for quick and easy snipping of herbs. A comb cover delivered with the scissors makes cleaning easy, and a cover case protects the blades while stored.
Best for poultry – GERIOR Heavy Duty Poultry Shears
These poultry shears have sharp blades and springs to maximise cutting power with a minimum of effort. the curved, micro-serrated blades are designed to reach into smaller spots that are tricky to cut and hold bones in place for easy and safe cutting. The blades separate for easy cleaning, and they are dishwasher safe too!
Best set – Gidli Multipurpose Ultra Sharp Utility Scissors and Seafood Scissors
Sometimes having specific shears is just not enough. This set offers the best of both worlds. The multi-purpose kitchen scissors make meal preparations easier, and the seafood scissors make removing shells and fish scales a breeze. Cleaning shrimps and prawns is easy with the seafood peeler.
The grip is soft and secure, and the stainless-steel blade is sharp and won’t rust. A bonus is the lifetime warranty!
Best budget – KitchenAid All Purpose Shears
If you never had a kitchen shear in your kitchen utensil kit, then these are a good choice for beginners. This all-purpose model has a sleek appearance, comes in a range of modern colours and is available at a very attractive price.
The soft grip handles provide comfort and control, and the blade is sharp enough to cut through anything from food to twine.
The only downside for this model is that the blades do not separate which makes cleaning more difficult.
Best kitchen shears
Although we tend to think of scissors and shears as the same thing because they are cutting tools, there are some differences when choosing the best kitchen shears.
- Shears tend to be heavier and more robust than scissors.
- Shears have thicker blades for cutting more solid items.
- The best kitchen shears have stronger handles. They are easier to grip and don’t break when completing tougher tasks.
- Shears should be able to cut through meat and poultry bones, thick plastic packaging, and sometimes, can even crack nuts.
- Some pairs of shears can be disassembled for easy cleaning and maintenance.
- Some models have other features attached to them. For example, bottle openers or a herb stripper.
- Shears often have serrated edges to grip things better and prevent slipping.
- Kitchen scissors tend to be lighter and have thinner blades.
- Kitchen scissors are excellent for precision tasks because they are not as thick and heavy.
- Kitchen scissors are often too flimsy to cut through really hard food items.
- Many scissors are not made with ergonomic handles.
- Scissors make nice, clean cuts.
The following chart is just a recap of the things you might think of when purchasing your next pair of kitchen shears.
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Material Quality | Prefer high-quality stainless steel for durability and rust resistance. |
| Blade Sharpness | Look for long-lasting sharpness; serrated edges can be beneficial. |
| Comfort & Handle | Ergonomic design, non-slip grips. |
| Ease of Cleaning | Easy to clean; models that come apart are preferable. Dishwasher-safe is a plus. |
| Versatility | Consider additional functions like bottle openers, nutcrackers, etc. |
| Size & Weight | Should be comfortable for your hand size and strength. |
| Safety Features | Safety lock mechanism for when the shears are not in use. |
| Brand & Warranty | Reputable brands and good warranties are indicative of quality. |
| Price | Balance between quality and budget. |
| User Reviews | Check reviews and recommendations for real-world performance insights. |