The Best Kitchen Shears
Kitchen shears are the second most-used cutting tool in a working kitchen. They spatchcock chickens, snip herbs, cut twine, open packaging, and trim fat. A good pair separates for cleaning and reassembles with a tight pivot. A bad pair loosens in a month and cannot cut through a chicken backbone.
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How to Choose
The pivot is everything. A loose pivot means the blades flex apart instead of shearing cleanly. Forged shears with a bolt pivot stay tight for years. The handles should be comfortable in a full grip, because spatchcocking a chicken requires real hand pressure. Micro-serrated blades grip food instead of pushing it away. Take-apart design is mandatory for proper cleaning.
OXO Good Grips Kitchen Shears
If you only buy one, make it this one. Read the full guide below for alternatives at every price point.
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Six things that separate the good from the rest.
The pivot should be a bolt or rivet that stays tight. Shears that loosen at the pivot cannot cut cleanly and become a frustration within months.
Micro-serrated blades grip food and prevent slipping. Smooth blades work on paper and twine but struggle with wet poultry skin.
Shears that come apart for cleaning are mandatory. Food gets trapped at the pivot. If you cannot clean it, you should not use it on food.
Spatchcocking a chicken requires sustained hand pressure. Soft-grip handles and ergonomic shapes reduce fatigue.
High-carbon stainless steel holds an edge and resists rust. Avoid cheap stainless that dulls after a month of use.
A notch near the pivot lets you crack small bones and joints. Not essential for every cook, but useful for anyone who breaks down poultry regularly.
The Picks
OXO Good Grips Kitchen Shears
Micro-serrated stainless blades, a comfortable soft-grip handle, and a take-apart design for cleaning. The OXO handles poultry, herbs, and packaging without complaint. The pivot stays tight through years of use.
The shears that belong in every kitchen drawer. Reliable, comfortable, and easy to clean.
Find on Amazon arrow_forwardShun Multi-Purpose Kitchen Shears
Japanese stainless steel blades with a micro-serrated edge. The Shun shears are noticeably sharper than most kitchen shears and stay that way longer. Take-apart design for cleaning. The handle is designed for extended use without fatigue.
The upgrade for cooks who use shears daily. Sharper steel, better edge retention.
Find on Amazon arrow_forwardWusthof Come-Apart Kitchen Shears
Forged in Solingen, Germany. Heavy stainless blades with a bone notch for cracking joints. The come-apart design makes cleaning simple. Built like a tool, not a gadget.
German-forged kitchen shears for the cook who needs something that handles bone.
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