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Kitchen shears are a cook’s best tool, shaped more like the shears than as scissors though smaller in size than the usual garden shears; they come in different variations, depending on the specific function it is created for. They can be used to carry out lots of functions in the kitchen, such as cutting open your chicken, snipping herbs, trimming off excess fats in meats, removing fish fins, unscrewing bottle caps, and for jar opening.
As a chef, you must make use of the best kitchen shears at your disposal, as they are often seen as a multi-task tool and can be used to handle a series of tasks while cooking.
Contents
- Quick Overview (comparison)
- Top 10 Best Kitchen Shears
- 1 – Gidli Kitchen Shears (Best Pick 🥇)
- 2 – KitchenAid KE351OHOBA Shears
- 3 – Shun Multipurpose Kitchen Shears (DM7300)
- 4 – Acelone Premium Kitchen Shears
- 5 – Zwilling J.A Henckels Kitchen Shears (43967-200)
- 6 – KitchenAid Classic KC351OHAQA Kitchen Shears
- 7 – Tansung Kitchen Shears
- 8 – Kai Kitchen Scissors (DH-3005)
- 9 – Gerior Kitchen Shears
- 10 – Wusthof WU5558 Kitchen Shears
- Buying Guidelines For Best Kitchen Shears
- Care And Maintenance Of Kitchen Shears
- Frequently Asked Questions About Shears
- Final Verdict
Quick Overview (comparison)
Top 10 Best Kitchen Shears
There’s a ton of kitchen shears in the market that is available for purchase, and so with the help of experts in the kitchen gadgets industry, we successfully identified the top 10 best kitchen shears, which will greatly help you in carrying out your day to day activities in your kitchen.
1 – Gidli Kitchen Shears (Best Pick 🥇)
Are you looking for a stainless steel product that can serve more than one function for you (multi-purpose in nature)? The Gidli Kitchen Shears is proven and tested to be highly effective in any kitchen; it is made from heavy-duty stainless steel and, as such, they are ultra-sharp (rated as the sharpest knife available in the market). It can be used to cut through anything including, chicken, meat (cooked or raw), vegetables, fish, etc. This product also comes with seafood scissors, which be used to cut through the shells of shrimps and prawns easily without making your hands dirty.
Furthermore, the kitchen shears handles are designed to be ergonomically friendly, while the seafood scissors offer a soft and secure grip that allows you to easily peel your seafood. They can also be cleaned easily by handwashing them, and the good thing is it doesn’t get rusted that easily.
Key Features
- Heavy-duty stainless steel
- Multi-purpose in function
- Seafood scissors are attached
- Very sharp cutting edges.
- Easily maintained
- Easy to use
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Easy cleaning
- Very durable
- Lightweight and sharp
- Multi-purpose functions
Cons
- Dirt might come with blades
- Handle could have scuff marks
2 – KitchenAid KE351OHOBA Shears
If you desire good kitchen shears with sharp blades that are highly resistant to rust, then KitchenAid KE351OHOBA Shears is your best option; it is made from stainless steel blade; this product is second on our list of best kitchen shears, the blades can resist rusting for a long time. Also, the product handle is shaped such that they are very comfortable to grip, helping you cut through different food items easily. They are used to perform various operations in the kitchen and outside the kitchen; some persons use this in place of their hair cutting shears.
In addition to that, it is dishwasher safe, although we advise you hand wash it frequently as this improves the lifespan of the shears. Finally, this product package is accompanied by a plastic blade guard that helps protect the product in the course of moving it from place to place, thus preventing specks of dirt on the blades.
Key Features
- 8-3/4 inch long
- Stainless steel blade
- Dishwasher safe
- Comfortable grip handles
- Protective plastic guard
- Multi-purpose function
Pros
- Comfortable to grip
- Easy to use
- Cuts meat very well
- Very sharp blades
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Screw needs constant tightening
3 – Shun Multipurpose Kitchen Shears (DM7300)
Are you looking for a good kitchen shear made from high-quality, durable stainless steel? Then you should grab this product. The sharp blades are made from alloy steel and can be used for multiple purposes in your kitchen. It is also very durable and has been proven to perform optimally due to its high-quality stainless steel material.
Furthermore, it has built-in features that include a bone notch, two screwdriver tips, a nutcracker, a lid lifter, and a jar opener. It has a black colored handle with each plastic over-mold; this helps ensure a secure and safe grip while holding it even when it is wet. Finally, you can separate the blades easily to wash safely, after which you can lock them back and keep securely.
Key Features
- Multi-purpose function
- Built-in features
- High-quality stainless steel
- Alloy steel blades
- Very durable
- Comfortable and safe handle
- Blade separated for washing
Pros
- Very sharp blades
- Safe handles
- Has attached features
- Multi-purpose in function
- Durable and last long
Cons
- Sharp and causes injury
- Blades could come apart
4 – Acelone Premium Kitchen Shears
This is another excellent kitchen shear that is guaranteed to be of great help when carrying out tasks in the kitchen. It can cut through meat, poultry bone, turkey, vegetables, and other food items easily and efficiently. It can also be used as a fish scales scraper, bottle opener, nutcracker, and has a micro-serrated edge, thus making it easy to grip items easily. The product is also made from 3CR14 stainless steel, making it highly resistant to rust and corrosion.
Also, the blades are very sharp and light, making it easy to use, and the comfortably gripped handles ensure it is safe to handle and use. They are also very durable and lasts for a long time when properly maintained.
Key Features
- Built-in functions
- Very sharp blades
- Stainless steel material
- Comfortable and safe handle
- Multi-purpose functions
Pros
- Easy to use
- Has additional functions
- Blades are very sharp
- Rust and corrosion-resistant
- Safe and comfortable handles
Cons
- Sharp and can cause injury
5 – Zwilling J.A Henckels Kitchen Shears (43967-200)
This is the fifth product on our list of best kitchen shears, and it is highly efficient in the kitchen. This shear is made from black stainless-steel materialsand has sharp blades that are able to cut through your foodstuffs very easily, thus making it easy to carry out your kitchen activities.
Furthermore, the shears can also be used to carry out a host of functions aside, cutting, hence making it a multi-purpose scissors. Finally, they are dishwasher safe and have a safe and comfortable handle, which can be held easily; the blades are held together using a screw, which aids their movement and makes it easy to sharpen.
Key Features
- Stainless steel blades
- Handles are black
- Dishwasher safe
- Sharp blades
- Multi-purpose function
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to use
- Comfortable handles
- Multi-purpose functions
- Very sharp blades
Cons
- Turns stiff over time
6 – KitchenAid Classic KC351OHAQA Kitchen Shears
If you desire a great kitchen shear that would help in the kitchen and help you with the kids’ project in the house, this is a wise option. This product blade is made from quality stainless steel material, which prevents it from rusting easily; they are thus able to cut through a lot of food items and can even be used to help design the kids project. The blades also have micro-serrations, which help improve cutting activity and performance, and they are very thick to enhance their strength and lifespan.
Furthermore, the handles, which are soft grip and made for comfortability, come with a plastic blade guard, which protects the blades from dust and rust after you are done with it. Lastly, this shear is dishwasher safe, although it is advised you handwash.
Key Features
- Dishwasher safe
- Stainless steel blades
- Plastic blade guard
- Soft-grip coated handles
- Micro-serrations on the blade
- Very sharp blade
Pros
- Very durable
- Blades are sharp
- Comfortable handles
- Are versatile
- Easy to use
Cons
- Gets rust if handled incorrectly
- Screw often needs tightening
7 – Tansung Kitchen Shears
Do you need a good kitchen shear that is easy to clean and able to perform a host of functions, including serving as a bottle opener? Then this shears by the Tansung brand is the perfect shears for you. The blade is made from 5Cr15MoV stainless steel, which is used in the production of top-quality knives used by chefs and has resistance against rust and corrosion. The blades are also very sharp and can be used to cut raw meat, open bottles, scrape off the scales of fishes, and even peel vegetables and fruits. Cleaning is not so difficult as the blades can be taken apart when cleaning after usage, the shears are also dishwasher safe.
In addition to that, the handles are very safe and comfortable to hold, fitting your hands properly without any form of stress; the material is soft and able to absorb the pressure exerted on it while you’re working. The design further promotes its versatility as it can be used for a large number of activities, in and outside your kitchen.
Key Features
- Comes apart
- 5Cr15MoV stainless steel
- Very sharp blades
- Multi-purpose
- Comfortable handles
- Dishwasher safe
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Versatile in function
- Steel is rust resistant
- Comfortable handles
- Dishwasher safe
- Design is well crafted
Cons
- Hard to attach after cleaning
- Minor incidents by bottle opener
8 – Kai Kitchen Scissors (DH-3005)
If you desire a simple but very effective shear of high quality in your kitchen, kai kitchen scissors will help you make that possible. The blade material is made from high carbon stainless steel, a feature that makes it durable and ensures it lasts for a long time. The product weighs about 0.12kg, making it very light and easy to carry around. The handle is made of polypropylene, a material with a heat-resistant temperature of about 130°, and can be used comfortably; the handles are also comfortable to hold and use.
Furthermore, the product also has micro-serrated blades making it easy to use with wet and slippery food items; they can also be hand washed to get rid of the dirt and stains that might accumulate while they are in use. And finally, the blades can be separated at the pivot point, making it easy to wash after separating it. They are also dishwasher safe, although hand washing is highly advisable to prevent rusting easily.
Key Features
- Heat resistant material
- Weight is light
- Comfortable handles
- Hand washing
- Stainless steel blade
Pros
- Sharp blades
- Cuts through a lot
- Easy to hold
- Easy to use
- Very durable
- Multi-purpose function
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Gets dull after continuous use
9 – Gerior Kitchen Shears
This quality pair of shears are my favorite being a lover of aesthetics; the shears are well designed such that they grab your attention as soon as you see them; they come in a well-crafted design of red and black colors in the most wonderful way. And they are highly effective in carrying out their tasks; they can be used to cut through food items, such as fish, vegetables, poultry, etc. Also, the blades made of stainless steel, are very sharp with micro serrated edges that allow you to establish a firm grip on slippery materials. They can be taken apart for clean and fixed back after you’re done cleaning, making it easy to tidy up after cooking.
Furthermore, the blades are padded with an extra layer, making it thick, and the handles are large enough to allow you to grip the shears comfortably and very easily even when your hands are wet. Hence, this product is highly recommended for persons with arthritis, as it protects your hands while cutting through tough materials such as chicken bones. This pair of kitchen shears has a spring-loaded design that helps to reduce the effect of hand strain while you’re working with it.
Key Features
- Color red and black
- Very versatile
- Easy to clean
- Blades are very sharp
- Stainless steel blades
- Extra thick blades
- Spring-action design
- Blades can be separated
Pros
- Very durable
- Lasts long
- Multi-purpose functions
- Sharp blades
- Comfortable handles
- Well-crafted design
- Easy cleaning
- Safe for arthritic hands
Cons
- Hard to put back together
- Not dishwasher safe
10 – Wusthof WU5558 Kitchen Shears
This is the last product on our list of Best Kitchen Shears, black in color, and as long as 8 inches, this product made by the Wusthof brand is made from high carbon German stainless steel material. The blade is very sharp and sturdy, and they are also able to come apart while cleaning, thus making it very easy for you to clean and sharpen them. Another advantage of this product is its ambidextrous nature; it is designed such that it can be used comfortably by both right and left handed persons; their symmetrical handles can be balanced evenly.
Hence the product is very strong and can be used to cut through the bones of chicken and other items. The blades made of stainless steel, are very durable, making it sharp, sturdy, and very easy to clean.
In addition to that, the edge of the blades is serrated, making it possible to grip and use even when the food item is slippery or when your hands are wet, providing you a slip-free grasp while working. The inner handles have a tooth inserts that can be used for jar opening and as a bottle opener. And finally, they are dishwasher safe, although it is advised you hand wash more often.
Key Features
- Blades can be separated
- Designed for ambidextrous use
- Jar opener is attached
- Steel-tooth inserts
- Stainless steel blade
- High-carbon stainless steel
- Serrated edges
Pros
- Highly durable
- Very sharp blades
- Serrated edges provide firm grip
- Multi-purpose in function
- Easy to clean
- Handles are comfortable
Cons
- Blades come apart during usage
- Might get rusty quickly
Buying Guidelines For Best Kitchen Shears
Kitchen shears are a cook’s favorite tool, as they help handle a lot of activity in the kitchen, including the cutting of chicken bones, vegetables, raw meat, removal of fish scales, and even non-kitchen tasks; they are very versatile in function. This is why it is vital you spend money on purchasing the right kitchen shears from the host of products found in the market. The decision-making process can be tedious, as there are several factors to consider when choosing which shears to buy.
For that reason, here’s a detailed list of professional tips from experts worldwide that would help guide you towards making the right choice when buying. This buying guide provides answers to all the questions that may bother you regarding the choice oof shears to buy.
Factors To Consider Before Buying The Best Kitchen Shear
Lower Fulcrum or Pivot Point
The shears, just like scissors, are class A levers, and they have their fulcrum between the load and the effort; it is the connection between the handles and the blades. This is the point that determines how efficient your shears are. To determine this, you need to observe the length of the shears’ blades; a good shear has a shorter blade with the rivet closer to it. The advantage of this is that there will be no need to exert too much pressure on the blades or the handle when working with it, hence guaranteeing its ability to cut through bones or cartilage.
Type of Steel
The shears’ strength, the sharpness of the blade, lifespan, and ability to withstand corrosion is based on the type of material (alloy) used to make it. Different types of alloys can be used in making the shears. Stainless steel is a very common alloy used in the production of shears; there are two main forms; 420A and 440C. It can be taken care of easily and does not get rust easily; hence you should get a shear made of stainless steel, as they are certified to be highly durable, sharp, and easy to clean. Other materials include carbon steel, cobalt, molybdenum, etc. Although shears made from carbon steel is said to be stronger than those made from stainless steel, it gets rust and corrodes easily, which is why stainless steel is preferred over carbon steel.
Multipurpose
Good shears should carry out various functions from cutting vegetables to cutting raw meat, chicken bones, fish and scrape off fish scales, cut pizzas, slice bacon, etc. It should also be able to carry out other activities outside the kitchen, such as cutting through papers and helping with the children’s project. So, when buying a kitchen shear, it should be versatile enough to carry out more than one function.
Handle Size
The handle size is another important factor that must be considered properly before deciding the choice of shears to buy. A good shear should have a big handle size, big enough to allow you to pass your hands through without any form of discomfort. A small handle size could cramp your fingers, especially if you are going to use the shears for a long time. Hence, you should purchase a shear that has a good and comfortable handle size.
Balance
Balance is very important when making your choice of shears. You check out how the tangs are extended. A shear that balance evenly, has its tangs extended fully into handles, these will fit properly when you hold them with one or two fingers at the midpoint. Note that a slight tip forward implies a limiting tang length, a feature that would make the handles very light and cracks easily.
Comfort
Comfort while using your shears is not negotiable; hence whatever kitchen shears you buy should be very comfortable and easy to use. Some of the factors that guarantee this include the size of the handle and the handle’s softness. The handles should be large enough for your fingers to pass through, and the material should have a soft-grip coat. These factors ensure there’s no stress on your fingers while you’re working.
Serrated Edges
A serrated edge on the shears offers more advantages than a shear that has a straight-edged knife as it guarantees its ability to hold on to the food item you’re cutting and also makes it easy to cut through the bones and tendons of raw meat.
Adjustable Pivot Screw
Some shears are designed such that the blades can be taken apart after use to enable proper cleaning. An adjustable pivot screw is a reason for this; it also makes it easy to tighten the screw or loosen it, thus enabling you to exert adequate pressure on your shears while working without fear of it coming apart.
Blades And Handles All In One
A good shear should have the blade and handle directly connected with the tang. And hence the blade and the tang of the shears should be made with the same material. This is very important as it prevents the handles from coming apart or bending while working with food items that require much pressure to cut through, like bones and tendons.
Left And Right Handed
This is a factor you must consider, especially for left handed people, you should buy a shear designed to ensure that it can be used with the left or the right hand without any form of stress. There are several shears in the market designed for ambidextrous use.
Spring Loaded
Spring loaded shears are other factors that should be considered when you’re buying a good shear. This is because shears that are spring loaded are designed to help open the shears after closing them; this enables you to cut easily through tough food materials, giving your hand a break as you cut through. But this is not awesome if you want a shear for carrying out minor kitchen tasks.
Rust Protection
You should purchase a shear that is resistant to rust. Although stainless steel alloy materials are resistant to rust and corrosion, they can still get rust, especially if you frequently use a dishwasher; hence hand washing your shears is advised.
Shears Versus Scissors
These two gadgets look very similar, and to some persons, they have basically the same function, but this is not so. While they may appear similar, they are very different in form, structure, and functions, although they can sometimes be used for the same purpose. So you should be able to differentiate between a shear and scissors, to ensure you don’t buy the wrong item. They are different in the following ways,
Pivot Point
Scissors have the blade pivot closer to the handles, thus resulting in a higher fulcrum/pivot point, while kitchen shears have a lower fulcrum/pivot point (the pivot point is closer to the blade that the handles). This is of a huge advantage as it allows you to exert enough pressure when carrying out work on harder food items like chicken bones.
Length of Blade
The length of the blade is another visible way of differentiating them; the blade of scissors is longer than that of the kitchen shears.
Micro Serrated Blades
The kitchen shears, unlike scissors, have micro-serrated blades, a feature that enables it to hold slippery food items in place while cutting, for example, raw meat. The scissors do not have this feature at all.
Blades Come Apart
Also, most kitchen shears blades can be taken apart to aid its cleaning; this is very important to prevent food particles from lodging anywhere on the blade, a feature that could cause contamination of future food items from the bacteria harbored there.
Multi-Purpose Shears
Unlike the herb scissors, the kitchen shears are multi-purpose in functions. They can be used to snip vegetables and perform other functions in the kitchen.
Their Sizes
The kitchen shears are larger than the herb scissors; their handles also have a larger bottom hole big enough to accommodate at least two fingers, making it a total of 3 fingers that can be used for gripping it; but the herb scissors have two small holes, and each can accommodate just one finger. Making it two fingers that can be used to hold the scissors.
Care And Maintenance Of Kitchen Shears
Every great product needs to be well cared for, last long, and serve you efficiently for as long as you have it. This is why we have made a list of best practices to follow through in order to care for your kitchen shears properly. They include the following:
- Immediately you’re done with your kitchen work; you should immediately wash them; you can do this using hot water and soap; This is why shears that can be taken apart are of huge advantage, as you can easily access every part of the shears. Even though some of them are dishwasher safe, we recommend hand washing instead as that would help protect the edges of your shears.
- Use a clean hand towel to dry after washing, ensure you access every part of the shears while drying; failure to do that could lead to rust at places where moisture is left behind.
- The serrated blades have to be sharpened regularly. We recommend that you take them to an expert shears sharpener with access to the tools needed to sharpen each serration. Or you can also make use of aluminum foil or sandpaper (using the grain side).
- You should also apply food-grade mineral to the shears screw and hinges to ensure proper friction and smooth movement. It also helps to prevent oxidation from exposure to humidity. Excess oil should be properly wiped off to prevent dripping.
- The shears should be stored in the right place after use in a special drawer, one different from where you keep other kitchen items. If you must keep them with other kitchen items, then you can place them in the plastic sheath that comes with them (for some, it can be a pouch or a box, some don’t have it at all) before placing them in the drawer, if they lack any of these protective gears then it should be wrapped with a very clean towel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shears
Kitchen shears can be used to carry out several functions in and outside the kitchen. They are used for opening up chicken, snipping vegetables, trimming off excess fats from your meat, removing fish fins, etc. They can also serve as a tool for bottle cap opening, jar opening.
Yes, there is a difference between both and this can be seen in the pivot point; the pivot point of shears is lower than that of scissor Their blades are also longer and have serrated edges, a feature that allows them to cut through raw meat and other slippery food items. Finally, a major difference between the scissors and kitchen shears found in most professionally made kitchen shears is the blades’ ability to be taken apart for cleaning.
There are metal teeth at the sides of the kitchen shears handle; these are used to serve other purposes aside from cutting, such as bottle cap openings and nut-cracking.
Yes, you can cut chicken perfectly using a good and professional kitchen shears. They are better compared to the use of knives and are very sharp.
Kitchen shears should be stored in a cool and dry place, away from any form of moisture, in order to prevent the blades from rusting easily. You can also use a protective guard to cover the blades, preventing them from getting scratched.
Yes. There are different types of shears that can be used for different food items; for example, there are the poultry shears that are longer and have more weight than your regular shears; we have those for cutting fish. But then these are typically used by professional chefs unless you’re a chef, then you don’t need it. The regular kitchen shears can be used for your kitchen activities.
Tangs refer to the part of the shears or scissors blades that extends into their handles. They help to connect the blade and the handles to each other, providing stability for the shears. In a professional kitchen shear, the tangs extend through the blades’ length and are made with the same material as it.
Yes. Some of them are dishwasher safe, but hand washing is advisable using warm or hot water; this is because the surfactants in the dishwasher can be harmful to the stainless steel material and cause corrosion.
You can sharpen your kitchen shears using different methods, and these include aluminum foil, sandpaper, or sharpening stone. These methods can help re-sharpen your kitchen shears, but it is advisable to take it to a professional shears sharpener who would help you sharpen them using the right tools.
The serrated edges in most kitchen shears are very important as they allow the blades to grip wet and slippery food material like raw meat and others.
Final Verdict
The use of the very best kitchen shears in your kitchen is very important as they make cooking activities easy and stress-free. They are much better than a chef’s knives and can speed up the tasks in the village. They are also very versatile and can serve other functions even outside the kitchen; this is why it is a must have for your kitchen activities, and because we know it can be difficult deciding which product you want, we have reviewed the 10 best kitchen shears available for you. Hence if you need a new kitchen shear or you want to get your first shears, then this review would serve as a helpful guide for your use towards acquiring the best kitchen shears.
David Clarke is one of the most active authors for KnivesExpert. He has been working as a professional chef for 8 years now. In his spare time he is always looking for new tastes which he can use in his restaurant. David is also a real knife enthousiast and he only wants to use the best of the best. The search for the best knife resulted in the start of Knivesexpert!