Buying guide for best kitchen shears
Who would have thought that the most important thing one learns in preschool isn’t how to tie their shoes or say their ABCs? It’s actually how to play with scissors.
Both professional chefs and home cooks rely on kitchen shears to simplify a multitude of tasks. Sure, you could use a chef’s knife to break down a chicken, but a good, sharp pair of shears will get the job done, too. And, thanks to that toddler-era training, you’re less likely to cut yourself.
No matter your level of cooking experience, owning a good, sharp pair of kitchen shears is a necessity. They’re the ultimate in versatility. Besides using them to break down poultry, you can employ them as package openers, herb snippers, dough trimmers, twine clippers, and dozens of other things.
But there are so many types of kitchen shears on the market that it can be difficult to choose which pair is right for you without extensive testing and a long tryout period.
That’s where we come in!
At BestReviews, we buy everything we test off the shelf, just as you would. Our reviews are unbiased, and our goal is to pass the information we gather on to consumers.We immersed ourselves in the kitchen shear market, poring over product research and checking in with owners to find out which shears are a cut above the rest.
Kitchen shears provide the ability to cut meat, packages, and herbs. During our evaluations, we assess how sharp the blade is and the versatility of tasks it can handle.
Most kitchen shear blades are made from stainless steel. We research how well each blade stays sharp over time.
When utilizing a pair of kitchen shears, you want it to be able to grip a wide variety of surfaces. This is why we vet each pair for the number of serrations it has on each blade.
Different kitchen shears can sometimes utilize extra add-ons such as a nutcracker. We take note of each of these extra features and how they affect the performance of a product.
Kitchen shears come in a wide variety of styles and blade lengths. We take note of the aesthetic of a product and how it affects the overall quality.
The handle of a kitchen shear is of utmost importance when making a buying decision. Comfort and stability are both something we consider when vetting products.
Some kitchen shears have a screw or spring that allows for customizable tension. We look for models that can be customized to your liking.
Some kitchen shears provide pull-apart blades for easier cleaning, but this can also make them harder to use. We weigh the pros and cons of this option before we recommend it.
A blade's power can depend on its weight and length, which is why we take care to look at each when looking for recommendations.
Poultry shears and typically built differently than other kitchen shears to utilize more power. We take note of what purposes each of our recommendations is helpful for in the kitchen.
Kitchen shear blades
With a good pair of kitchen shears, all components work together for the ultimate cutting experience. The first things to check out are the blades themselves.
Sharpness
If you’re buying new kitchen shears, sharpness shouldn’t be an immediate issue regardless of style or brand.
Like chef’s knives, most kitchen shear blades are made from high-carbon stainless steel. They’re designed to stay sharp, and if they don’t, you can sharpen them with a wet stone, just as you would a dull knife.
Serrations
It’s important to look for blades with small serrations. These grip whatever you’re cutting, reducing slippage and keeping you on target.
Some shears only have serrations on one blade, while others feature them on both cutting edges for ultimate stability. The number and depth of the serrations can vary widely from one brand to another.
Blade weight and length
Kitchen shears come with blades of varying weights and lengths. If possible, hold the shears in your hands and find a pair where the balance feels right before you buy.
This will, of course, be different for each person based on their size, strength, and preference.
A note about pull-apart blades
Many kitchen shears feature pull-apart blades, meaning that the scissors can unlatch into two knife-like parts. This feature is mainly added to make cleaning easier – and it does.
But if the blades pull apart too easily, they’re going to be frustratingly difficult to use as well as potentially dangerous.
If you’re insistent on shears with pull-apart blades, make sure they’re constructed well enough that spontaneous separation won’t be an issue. The blades should be able to open to at least a ninety-degree angle without falling apart.
Kitchen shear handles
More so than the blades, the choice between handles can make selecting the perfect pair of kitchen shears difficult. You have to take three variables into account: hand size and strength, comfort, and style. If even one of those features is off, using your new kitchen shears could be a miserable experience.
Comfort
Once you find the right handle size for you, there are still more decisions to make before choosing your product. Many handles are either cramped, made from uncomfortable materials, or both. Cooking is hard enough; you don’t want to be fighting hand fatigue, too.
Handles are made from everything from hard plastic to rubber to metal. Pick a pair that feels good in your hand. And don’t forget the most important consideration: balance.
Grape scissors were once a popular table accessory for dividing bunches of grapes. They were usually silver or silver-plated.
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Hand size and strength
If you have relatively small, weak hands, avoid shears with spring-loaded handles. These can make opening and closing the shears harder and more fatiguing. People with big, strong hands need to be on the lookout, too: large handles aren’t enough on their own. Make sure the handles are made of comfortable material and aren’t so big that they slip out of your hand. Again, think about balance above all.
The monkey wrench thrown into shear selection is left-handedness. There are kitchen scissors out there designed exclusively for lefties, and there are even more that claim to be ambidextrous. The bottom line, though, is that options are more limited for southpaws.
Style
No one wants to work with an instrument they don’t like. Kitchen shears come in so many styles that it’s likely you’ll be able to find a pair that works for you and speaks to you aesthetically. Go into the purchasing process with an open mind. Find the pair that looks like it will feel best, but if the shears don’t exactly work with your décor, know that it’s okay to keep looking.
Did you know?
Poultry shears, which have very strong blades, are sometimes branded as secateurs.
STAFF
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A note about tension
Many kitchen shears come with added bells and whistles. There are pairs with built-in bottle openers, corkscrews, nut crackers, and almost everything else you could find in a Swiss army knife.
To say that most of these add-ons are detrimental to the performance of the shears is an understatement. There is, however, one extra that is brilliant in both its execution and inclusion: tension.
Tension is crucial for both performance and comfort. If the shears are wound too tightly, repeated use can be hard on your grip, no matter how big and strong you are. If they’re too loose, cutting becomes difficult, and the shears feel flimsy in your hand. This can be a real problem, especially if more than one person uses the shears regularly.
Luckily, some manufacturers have come up with a solution. They’ve put a small screw or bolt right where the blades intersect. Turning it one way increases the tension; turning it the other way loosens things up. It sounds simple, but it really is a useful addition.
FAQ
Q. Are kitchen shears and kitchen scissors the same thing?
A. In common parlance, they’re the same thing. Technically, though, shears have blades longer than six inches while scissors have blades of six inches or less. Also, scissors often have symmetrical handles while those of shears are usually different sizes.
Q. Are there special shears for cutting different foods?
A. Yes. There are poultry shears which are typically longer and heavier than regular kitchen shears. There are smaller shears, often called “kitchen snips,” for cutting things like herbs. There are also specialty shears for fish and other proteins. Unless you’re a real gourmet, though, you would likely get by with one good pair of multi-use kitchen shears.
Q. Are kitchen shears dishwasher safe?
A. Most are, but we recommend hand-washing them in order to keep the edges sharp.
