Any budding chef will tell you that a quality pair of kitchen shears can make a lot easier. When it comes to the kitchen, you never know when they might come in handy and can be used for everything from cutting meat, removing the stems from herbs, and a whole lot of other uses.
This is only when you get your hands on a decent pair, something that is easier said than done. Although there are plenty of great products on the market, there are also some cheap imitators. To help you find the right ones for your needs, we have created the following list of the best kitchen shears so you can enjoy the many benefits for a long time.
Quick Summary of Best Kitchen Shears
OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen & Herbs Scissors
An incredibly popular kitchen shear that can be found in thousands of kitchens around the world and in the quality of the materials it is easy to see why. The stainless steel blades are hardened to make sure they can get through tougher materials like cardboard as well as twine and meat.
One important trait of the best kitchen shears are comfortable handles and OXO has ensured you won’t be pinching your hand every time the cutting gets tough through their cushioned pads. To make them easy to clean, the blades are easy to separate so you can keep them apart, something that also makes them easy to sharpen. In the middle, you will find a herb stripper that makes it easy to remove the stems.
- Comfortable handles
- Blades separate for easy cleaning
- Anti-slipping grip
Wusthof WU5558 Kitchen Shears
At 8″ these will fit nicely into most people’s hands and are easy to clean because the blades separate with ease. This means you can hand wash them which will prolong the lifespan of the shears. Another bonus is that they can be used by either left or right-handed people so anyone who lives with a leftie can share them without having to buy two pairs.
There is also a jar opener and can be completely taken apart to make it easy to sharpen them safely. These German-made shears are known for their build quality so it is no surprise to find out they are made from high carbon stainless steel. A reasonably priced option that will please the professional chef and cooking enthusiast.
- Easy to clean and resharpen
- Also has a jar opener
- Suitable for left and right handed use
- Dishwasher safe
- Can rust over time – better to hand wash
Shun Multi Purpose Shears
Everyone likes their kitchen shears to be multipurpose which is exactly what this quality pair is capable of. The stainless steel is made to a high standard which is why they are known for their durability and what we like about them is that they come with some neat added features. This includes a jar opener, nutcracker, a pair of screwdriver tips and a lid lifter making them some of the best multipurpose kitchen shears around.
These blades separate easily but feel secure when put back together and even when wet, the grip feels secure in your hand. It’s fair to say these are no ordinary kitchen shears and although the price is higher than most, they have the functionality and performance to justify paying a little more.
- Multi purpose kitchen shears
- Still grippy when wet
- Easy to clean
- Can be expensive for some people
Kuhn Rikon Classic Snips 8” Red
For something a little different, these eye-catching kitchen shears can also be used in the garden. Known for being sharp there is more to them than the design including a spring-loaded hinge that makes them spring back and forth with ease, the action on them is certainly a little easier than most options.
There is also a safety lock to keep them closed when you store them in the drawer. Khun Rikon has made these self-sharpening so when you squeeze them back and forth they retain their sharpness. Some people comment on how they can be used to cut a whole chicken in just a few minutes – we did say they are sharp!
- Spring hinge makes them easy to use
- Very sharp blades
- Self-sharpening
- Can be a little harder to clean
ZWILLING J.A. Henckels 43967-200 Kitchen Shears
Made from forged steel these sharp blades offer something a little different. Great for a multitude of uses they are also dishwasher safe although it is always better to hand wash them when possible. It is easy to separate the blades for sharpening thanks to the screw access – just lift the red button to access the screw.
A lot of people find that these are some of the best German-made kitchen shears and feel weighty and strong enough to get through tough meats with ease. Zwilling has a reputation for making quality knives so it is no surprise that their kitchen shears are gaining so many followers.
- Easy to sharpen the blades
- German made
- Dishwasher safe
- Handle can be a little small for some people
KitchenAid KC351OHOBA Shears with Soft Grip Handles
In terms of being affordable, these are hard to beat and bearing in mind that they come with the reputable kitchen aid brand name, it is certainly one to consider. The handles come in a variety of colors so you can match them to your current kitchen appliances and come with a plastic guard to keep them safe when you are storing them away. The stainless steel blades are rust-resistant and stay sharp for a reasonable time.
They are a little chunky but the thickness helps to keep them sturdy and with micro serrations they make light work of a multitude of foods and materials. The shape of the handle is designed for comfort and they are fine to go in the dishwasher, a good value product in the niche.
- Variety of color options
- Includes plastic guard
- Good value
- Can be a little chunky for some
Kitchen Shears Guide
Although a pair of kitchen shears will certainly help make home prep a lot easier for when you’re making a meal, the better products have many other uses. Rather than slicing through chicken or helping you remove the packaging from another ingredient, they should have various uses.
You’re only going to want to use a pair that is easy to clean so you can cut those papers or photos as well. Because the industry is such a big one, there are too many cheaply made products. To help you make a sensible purchase, we have created the following buyer’s guide.
What To Look For In Kitchen Shears
Sharp Blades
It seems obvious but a lot of products just don’t work as well from the start. This is because their blades aren’t as sharp as they could be. To save you from having to sharpen them before you even get to use them in the kitchen, try to find a pair that are known for being good to go.
Quality Materials
The best products will be heard-wearing and last a long time but this will all be down to the quality of the materials. It is always good to find a pair that is made from a blade with stainless steel to ensure they are fine to be cleaned frequently and stay sharp.
Dishwasher Safe
Because you will be using the kitchen shears around food, you want to make sure they can be cleaned with ease. The best and safest way to remove bacteria and germs safely is by placing them in the dishwasher so make sure they are fine to go in.
Otherwise, some blades are easy to separate so you can wash them in soapy water.
Easy To Sharpen Blades
After a while, your kitchen shears won’t cut through meat in the way they used to. This is fine as it happens to even the best pairs but what you will want to look out for is a product where you can separate the blades with ease. This makes it easier to sharpen each blade and helps to prolong its lifespan.
Comfortable Handles
All kitchen shears are going to need a little pressure from the user, especially when it comes to tough meats or cracking nuts. This is why you need comfortable handles and can come in the form of softer materials or ample room to fit your hand.
Rust Resistant Material
Most kitchen shears should be made from rust-resistant material to make sure they can be cleaned easily and still be safe to use when preparing food. Stainless steel is always good for this but whatever metal the blade is made from, be sure that it is resistant to rust.
Left and Right Handed
Some products won’t mention this but if you are part of the 10% of the population who are left-handed, it is something you will want to be sure of before purchasing. A lot of kitchen shears are fine for both left and right-handed use whilst others are more restrictive so check first.
Warranty
Kitchen shears can be an expensive purchase for some people and not all of them are as affordable. If you are splashing out on a higher quality pair you could find yourself paying a little more which is when you will want them to come with a warranty. Some have a lifetime guarantee to ensure you never need to buy another pair again.
Build Quality
Overall, this is one of the most important considerations. The quality of the build will determine how long they last and a lot of this is down to the pivot and blade. Make sure they have a reputation for being well made so they can make light work of slicing pizza and tough meat rather than only being good for cutting herbs.
Lightweight
Because you might be using them for an extended period, it is important to make sure they do not weigh so much that it feels as though they are giving your hand a workout but you still want them to feel durable.
Common Uses For Kitchen Shears
Kitchen shears are usually a versatile product, so here are some of the most common uses for them:
Meat
Anyone who prefers to cut the fat off their chicken before cooking it or just cut a breast into bite-sized cubes will find that using kitchen shears is one of the easiest ways of preparing their poultry. Because raw chicken is slippery, a sharp knife can be dangerous, much better to stay in control with a pair of kitchen shears.
Also, they can be used to cut and prepare cooked red meat or trim the fat off without having to worry about slippery parts or surfaces.
Utility Uses
If you just need to use the scissors to pierce through the packaging of your foods or cut cardboard, kitchen shears are very useful. A lot of people use them to cut a pizza into slices and herbs into smaller pieces, even removing the stem. The best kitchen shears can be used for almost anything.
Nut Cracker
You’ll find that a lot of kitchen shears come with a serrated middle section that is between the handle and the blades and this is where you can crack nuts and remove hard shells. They are also useful for removing stems from herbs.
How To Stop Kitchen Shears From Rusting
Because they are designed to be used for food prep, they should go a long time before you need to worry about them rusting but if you like to protect them against it you should wash them by hand and dry them rather than leave them to air dry.
Some people like to add a little food-grade oil to the pivot and if it feels a little tough to open and close, you can add a little oil, try olive or sunflower oil.
Conclusion
Although there are a lot of kitchen shears on the market, never settle for a cheaply made pair. The build quality is important here as not only do you want them to last a long time, but they should be safe to use.
The best kitchen shears will last for many years and meals.