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Slice, snip, and conquer – welcome to the world of kitchen shears, where meal prep becomes a culinary adventure!
Kitchen shears go beyond convenience, from precise herb trimming to effortless meat or pizza slicing.
Whether you’re a home cook or a seasoned chef seeking to improve your culinary skills, kitchen shears are your ticket to a fun cooking adventure.
Introduction to the Best Kitchen Shears
Kitchen Shears / Flickr / Tool Dude8mm
Kitchen tools make food prep easy, and kitchen shears are no exception. They are handy and versatile and help us prepare delicious meals.
However, while tools like cutting boards and knives are integral to any kitchen, we often neglect kitchen shears.
Even if you have a complete set of knives, there will be times when a kitchen shear is a better option. In addition to helping with kitchen tasks, these kitchen scissors have some other benefits, too. For example, they are easy to work with and inexpensive compared to knives.
Below, we will explore everything about the best kitchen scissors, from their uses to must-have features and top picks.
Whether you are a novice in the kitchen or a seasoned pro, understanding the power of shears can take your cooking venture to the next level.
So, are you ready to learn more about these down-to-earth yet mighty tools?
Let’s learn how the best kitchen shears can make a big difference in your kitchen!
In This Article:
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Understanding Kitchen Shears: What Makes Them Essential?
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Top-Rated Kitchen Shears
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Features to Look for in the Best Kitchen Shears
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The Difference Between Kitchen Shears vs. Scissors
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Care and Maintenance Tips for Your Kitchen and Herb Scissors
Kitchen Shears: What Makes Them Essential?
Amidst shiny gadgets in your kitchen, one humble tool often stays ignored: the kitchen shears.
However, don’t let their unassuming appearance deceive you. These compact tools are indispensable for any home cook or chef.
So, what sets kitchen scissors apart, and what makes them an essential addition? Do you need a pair of kitchen scissors when you already have a complete set of knives?
Let’s find out!
Firstly, they are convenient and offer control that knives cannot replicate. They are different from traditional scissors, as they help you perform many tasks precisely.
You can use kitchen shears to snip herbs, trim poultry, cut through meats, or slice items like pastry and pizzas. In short, they help you with tasks where your other kitchen tools may fall short.
Moreover, kitchen shears stand out when it comes to functional comfort. Their ergonomic design and sharp blades make them a joy to use. It reduces strain on your hands, making cutting fun.
Regarding size, they are compact, meaning they are always within reach and ready to spring into action.
Last but not least, their cost is often a pleasant surprise. Despite their versatile functionality, kitchen shears are generally affordable.
So, investing in a quality pair of kitchen shears is more cost-effective than buying a complete set of specialized knives or other kitchen tools.
Our Tested and Top-Rated Kitchen Shears in 2024
Before writing this article, I thought testing different kitchen shears from top brands would only be fair. While finding and choosing different brands took some time, I managed to check their performance in my kitchen.
This helped me rank my tested kitchen shears based on their functionality, ergonomics, design, and ease of use.
So, If you need help buying the best kitchen shears, here are my top contenders:
Oxo Good Grips Kitchen Scissors
Best for: Multipurpose
Oxo Good Grip Kitchen Shear
Do you want something inexpensive and lightweight to help you make delicious meals? Look no further than the Oxo scissors.
In addition to their ergonomic design, Oxo Good Grips kitchen shears are durable. Their sharp steel blades can last longer than low-quality shears with coated blades.
One side of its sharp blades is serrated, which means no more food slipping. The extra wide handles offer excellent grip, making it easy to cut hard foods.
Image Source: www.oxo.com
In addition, unlike low-quality kitchen shears with flimsy handles, it has cushions. This is an excellent feature as the cushions absorb pressure when you cut bones or other hard foods.
Moreover, cleaning your Oxo shears is also a breeze. You can disassemble and clean your scissors to extend their life.
J.A. Henckels International Kitchen Shears
Best for: Versatile and Multipurpose
J.A. Henckels International Kitchen Shears
The second item on our list is the versatile J.A. Henckels International shears. Whether you are a left-hander or a right-hander, these kitchen shears offer excellent grip.
One of the standout features is the micro-serrated blade, which is slip-proof and ensures precise work even when cutting dense items.
I tried this pair of kitchen shears to chop herbs, slice onions, cut pizza, and crack a few nuts. I found it easy to use and worked perfectly well with precise cutting.
Image Source: www.zwilling.com
Another excellent feature is that you can also use it as a jar opener, bottle opener, or for opening screw caps.
However, one thing that I noticed is that you cannot disassemble these shears for cleaning. Yet, you can still wash them in the dishwasher.
KitchenAid All-Purpose Shears
Best for Heavy-Duty Kitchen Shears
KitchenAid All-Purpose Shears Pros and Cons
What’s better than having a stainless steel pair of shears for heavy-duty tasks at a low price? Well, that’s what you can expect from a KitchenAid All-Purpose shear.
First, they have a beautiful, minimalist design and are easy to use. The handles are sturdy and offer a comfortable grip for right and left-hand users.
Image Source: kitchenaid.com.au
What is unique about these shears is that they also come with a cover to protect blades when not in use.
Moreover, the micro-serration blade has an excellent food grip, so you can cut or slice easily without letting the items run away.
However, they don’t have extra features, which is acceptable due to their low price tag. In addition, since they have small serrations, you may need a professional sharpener to sharpen the blades.
Shun Kitchen Shears
Best for: Added Features
Shun Kitchen Shears
Want a kitchen shear with plenty of helpful features? Then Shun kitchen shears are worth looking at!
They are proficient in slicing, cutting, and snipping, making cooking easy and fun. In addition, Shun shears offer plentiful extra features. For example, you can use them as a jar opener, nutcracker, lid lifter, bone notch, and two screwdriver tips.
I found that the blades’ sharpness stays intact even after a lot of cutting and chopping. I tried to cut raw chicken and chicken bones during my testing, and the results were neat and precise.
Image Source: shun.kaiusa.com
Moreover, handles are ridged, easy to maneuver, and offer a comfortable grip. Unlike shears with flimsy handles, they don’t slip even if you have wet hands. You can easily disassemble blades for cleaning or sharpening.
However, while the pair has a nutcracker, it may not work for larger nuts. In addition, users with larger hands may find it uncomfortable to hold the shear.
Tansung Poultry Shears
Best for: Poultry
Tansung Poultry Scissors
Do you often prep meals involving chicken or meat? Then, you should consider having poultry shears to make cutting easy.
Of all the shears I listed above, Tansug poultry shears have a unique shape and distinctive features.
Image Source: www.amazon.com
For example, they have a three-mode lock design, making them easier to use. Since you need more power to cut meat or chicken skin, this pair of shears comes in a spring-loaded mode.
Secondly, safety is paramount, so these shears have a locking mode.
Thirdly is the cleaning mode. Once you are done using it, detach the spring and clean your pair of shears.
Moreover, stainless steel blades are rust and corrosion-resistant. One micro-serrated blade with a sharper edge prevents cutting items from slipping away.
Roederer Seafood Scissors
Best for De-shelling Seafood
Roederer Seafood Scissors
Of course, cutting meat, chicken bones, and poultry is hard if you don’t have the right tool. But what if you want to prep a seafood dish and need to de-shell it first?
Well, that’s a new challenge!
However, with the Roederer Seafood scissors, you can make it a breeze. The pair of scissors have curved blades, making it easy to de-shell crab and lobster shells.
Image Source: www.amazon.ca
With a distinctive arc design, these scissors are available in a set of two. The serrated edges make the blade non-slippery.
Moreover, their varying sizes mean you can choose one that fits your needs. The price is also reasonable, but the pair has no added features.
Jenaluca Herb Scissors Set
Best for Snipping Herbs
Jenaluca Herb Scissors Set
You need herb-specific scissors if you often work with herbs. Jenaluca herb scissors allow you to snip everything from mint and parsley to herbs with woody stems.
Image Source: www.amazon.com
They come as a pair of kitchen shears with ten blades, so you don’t need a cutting board. Hold your herbs over a bowl and let the blades do the rest.
One of the nifty features I liked the most is that the shears have a comb and a cover. While the comb helps you clear the blades, the cover allows you to store your shear safely.
Single Task vs. Multipurpose Kitchen Shears
Of course, the main point of having kitchen shears, in addition to knives, is that you can use them for just about anything. However, you can find specific models that are better at certain tasks.
For example, a mighty spring-loaded shear will do all your heavy-duty cutting. Yet, it is not suitable for chopping herbs. So, think about what you will use for your kitchen shear before you buy one.
Size and Weight: Maneuverability Matters
Not all kitchen scissors are made equal. While some are considerable in size and weight, others are compact and lightweight.
Remember, the heavier and larger ones may need more practice to hold and maneuver. In contrast, lighter and smaller kitchen scissors are easy to work with. They are especially perfect for those new to kitchen shears.
Blade Material: Sharpness & Durability
One of the plus points of kitchen shears is their affordability. Although cheap, you only want to invest in them repeatedly after a few uses if you are a billionaire.
The main goal of having a pair of kitchen scissors is to use them for various tasks. Thus, you want a shear with sharp blades made from a durable material.
While shears with stainless steel blades are standard, you can also find ones with ceramic and coated blades. Stainless steel blades are sharp, sturdy, and resistant to rust and corrosion. They are also easy to handle and can cut through dense meats and bones.
Coated or ceramic blades, on the other hand, also have their benefits and downsides. For example, they are rust and corrosion-resistant and can be used to cut softer items like veggies and fruits.
However, shears with ceramic blades are more prone to breaking or chipping, increasing the risk of an injury. Similarly, coated blades can wear off over time, reducing cutting performance.
Comfort and Grip: Easy Handling
Cooking is only fun if your kitchen gadgets are up to the task. The same goes for the kitchen shears. They should have an ergonomic design and be easy to work with.
However, many kitchen shears on the market have slippery grips, which put more strain on your hands and increase the risk of injury.
The best kitchen shears are always easy to maneuver. They have comfortable, non-slippery grips and larger handles to cut through bones and tough foods.
Moreover, remember that all kitchen shears are made for right-handed people. So, if you are left-handed, check for the label on them. However, kitchen scissors can work for right- and left-handed users if the hinge fits appropriately.
Extra Features: Functional Enhancements
Another perk of having a pair of kitchen shear in your kitchen is that some models come with extra features.
For example, an Oxo Good Grips kitchen shear includes bottlers and jar openers. In addition to slicing, snipping, and cutting, some can work as nutcrackers or bone-notch cutouts.
Budget: Maximizing Value
As I said earlier, kitchen shears are affordable. However, the price can vary depending on quality, features, and brands.
So, aim to buy from a reputable brand as they often offer high-quality products at a lower price to increase sales and brand awareness.
In addition, read other people’s reviews to ensure that quality is not sacrificed to save a few bucks.
Video Credit: Milkwood Restaurant
The Difference Between Standard Scissors and Kitchen Shears
At first glance, a pair of kitchen and herb scissors might be mistaken for regular scissors. However, they are different; you cannot replace a regular scissor with a kitchen shear. While both are scissors, they have their specific features.
Let’s look at the critical differences between shears and scissors:
Cutting Blade Design
The most significant difference between shears and scissors lies in their blade. For example, your kitchen shear has two blades hinged in the middle, much like scissors.
However, you will notice that one of these blades has a micro-serrated edge. This helps with cutting power and better grip that your traditional scissor lacks.
In contrast, traditional scissors have two metal blades hinged together at the handle. Unlike shears, the blades come to a point and cross each other in the center. This feature makes cutting materials like fabric, hair, and paper easy.
Handle Design
Another critical difference is handle design. Kitchen shears are made with handles that consider ergonomics. They offer a more comfortable grip than regular scissors, so you can put more pressure on the blades to cut tough-to-cut items.
Scissors, conversely, have narrow handles for precision but can be uncomfortable to hold for extended periods.
It means that while scissors and shears help you with cutting, they are better suited for different cutting tasks.
For example, a traditional scissor would be challenging to cut through raw meat or chicken. Similarly, if you are cutting hair or a delicate material like fabric, you will need scissors for a precise cut.
However, you can still find some modern kitchen shears for non-kitchen tasks.
Kitchen Shears are More Durable
Another factor that sets kitchen shears apart from scissors is durability. Kitchen scissors are used more frequently than regular ones as you spend more time in the kitchen.
Shears are made from high-quality stainless steel to withstand wear and tear. This makes them safe to use when cutting through denser foods.
Regarding scissors, they have thinner blades and may lack the same level of durability as shears.
You should avoid using them to cut meat, as this could damage the blades. Still, they excel at cutting materials such as paper and fabric.
Added Features of Kitchen Shears
I have never seen a traditional scissor with added features like a bottle opener or nutcracker. Have you had one? Certainly not!
That’s because they are good at a specific task – cutting hair, fabric, etc.
Conversely, the best kitchen shears are often multipurpose with added features. For example, you can use them as nutcrackers, jar openers, or clean can fish with their serrated blade.
Moreover, some models also act as screwdrivers. All of these features are available due to the ergonomic design of kitchen scissors.
Cutting Edge: Wrapping Up the Tale of Kitchen Shears
Kitchen shears might be a new concept for many of us, but it still exists. While every kitchen has a set of knives, there are times when you need something more powerful to cut more challenging items. That’s where kitchen shears step in!
Once you start using kitchen scissors to handle food, you won’t go back. They are convenient, compact, easy to handle, and can perform different tasks. You can use them as a bottle opener, nutcracker, screwdriver, and more.
In addition to kitchen tasks, you can find multipurpose models for using tasks outside your kitchen.
So, what’s your favorite kitchen shear model from the list above? Or are you planning to buy from another brand we might have missed? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Does using a sharpening stone damage the kitchen scissors blade?
Can you sharpen your pair of shears with a sharpening stone? Yes, you can, but you should be careful as it can damage the micro-serrated blade. Remember, professionally sharpened scissors work perfectly and have an extended life.
Can you sharpen kitchen shears at home?
Yes, you can use sandpaper to sharpen kitchen shears. However, you can use aluminum foil if you don’t have sandpaper.
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