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Kitchen scissors

Utensils & kitchen tools · Scissors

Kitchen scissors

Sturdy scissors for snipping herbs, trimming meat and fish, cutting poultry and opening packets.

Useful to have · Manual · 1 recipe

Photo: Doggerelblogger, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Heavy-duty scissors with thick blades, often with a serrated edge for grip and a notch or bottle-opener between the handles. Many come apart for cleaning. Poultry shears are a stronger, curved, spring-loaded version for cutting through bones.

What it’s for: Quick cutting jobs where a knife is slower or less safe.

How to use it

  1. Use the full length of the blades for clean cuts.
  2. Snip herbs straight into a cup or over the pan.
  3. Cut along the backbone of a chicken to spatchcock it.
  4. Separate the blades to wash them.

Good to know

Tasks
snipping herbs and spring onions, trimming fat, spatchcocking chicken, cutting noodles and pizza, trimming pastry, opening packaging
Materials
stainless steel
Care and cleaning
Take apart and wash after raw meat; dry thoroughly. Keep them for food only.
Limitations
Not for fine dicing or slicing.

Safety

  • Wash well after cutting raw poultry or fish.
  • Store closed and out of reach of children.

If you don’t have one

Equipment guide

How it works: Two blades shear past each other, cutting with leverage close to the pivot. Heavy shears with a notch cut through poultry bones and cartilage.

MaterialGoodWatch out
Stainless steelRust-resistant and durable.Softer steel dulls.
Take-apart bladesEasy to clean at the pivot.Can loosen.
General kitchen scissors
Herbs, packets, twine.
Poultry shears
Spring-loaded; spatchcocking.
Herb scissors
Multiple blades.

Buying guidance

Starting out: Sturdy take-apart stainless scissors.

  • Take-apart blades
  • Micro-serrated edge for grip
  • Comfortable handles for left or right hand

No brands or prices — check current reviews before buying.

Techniques:Knife skillsMise en place

Related tools

Recipes that use it