Cutting through birds, opening packaging, chopping herbs and spices; you will be amazed at how quickly your kitchen shears replace your other utensils. Many of us use knives for distinct scissor jobs and not only is it impractical, it's unsafe.
I think all owners can agree, the switch to kitchen shears really changes the dynamic of the kitchen and makes everyday tasks easier.
Considering the vast amount of kitchen shears on the market, it's important to put time into deciphering the type and quality of scissor you require for your daily duties.
Below, we've outlined the 11 best kitchen shears according to their price, purpose, and quality. If you're in the market for a kitchen knife set, most of them include kitchen shears as well.
Top Rated Products |
|---|
1) Cutco 77C Kitchen Shears - Best Overall |
2) Gerior Kitchen Heavy Duty Shears - Best Heavy Duty Shears |
3) Gidli Utility Kitchen Shears - Best Multi-Use Shears |
4) Oxo Spring-Loaded Good Grips - Best Poultry Shears |
5) KitchenAid Multi-Purpose Shears - Best Shears Under $15 |
6) Burlihome Long-Blade Kitchen Shears - Best Long Blade Shears |
7) Proshear Spring-Loaded, Wood Handled Shears - Best Wood Handled Shears |
8) Belle Vous Kitchen Shears - Best Set of Two Shears |
9) Tangsun Spring-Loaded Shears - Great Poultry Shears |
10) Newness Stainless Steel Kitchen Shears - Best Stainless Steel Shears |
11) Livingo Stainless Steel Shears - Great Stainless Steel Shears |
Best Kitchen Shears
1) Cutco 77C Kitchen Shears
Cutco has been well known for selling high quality, high priced metalware since 1949. This company has stayed afloat through the financial rollercoasters of the past half-century by sticking relentlessly to their motto, "The world's finest cutlery."
I understand that this makes me sound like an cliche salesman, but the fact of the matter is, I've owned Cutco Cutlery for the better part of my life.
My family has had Cutco Knife sets ever since we discovered the brand and we've never strayed. To even further validate my point, here are some of the qualities verified owners were most impressed by...
First off, the most common response to the Cutco 77 series is this: "Best pair of scissors I've ever had." Considering that these people paid $100 for a pair of scissors (which is expensive by any stretch of the imagination), and still give these scissors a 5 star review, speaks for itself. People also continually touched on how sharp the scissors remain over time.
There are some things to be aware of if you decide you want to go this direction. Unfortunately, if you lose these kitchen shears, Cutco will not authorize a replacement. They also do not come with a sheath, so it's a good idea to have a safe location where you can put them to avoid chance of injury.
I should also let you know that physically going to a local Cutco representative will save you roughly $20 on this buy. This would help a representative, and possibly a struggling college student, get a solid sales commission.
Also, paying through the Cutco website will save you roughly $8 compared to other websites. But if you are someone who trusts Amazon and has a prime account, the extra money saved may be worth it.
Our rating:
5 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
2) Gerior Kitchen Heavy Duty Kitchen Shears
If I didn't already have a perfectly good pair of Cutco scissors, the Gerior shears would be my next choice (a much cheaper one at that). After over 5000 reviews, these kitchen shears have somehow managed to sustain a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on amazon (as of 10/24/2020).
Let's capture what this rating really entails...
3000 people reviewed this product, which means maybe 4x more people bought the product (yes the majority of Amazon buyers do not review bought items).
I think we can all agree that people are way more inclined to write reviews due to product complaints, than someone who's simple satisfied with a product.
Cheap, yet high quality is hard to come by, but the Gerior kitchen shears fit the bill, and fit the bill better than any on the market. However, If you're not looking for a larger, heavy duty set of kitchen shears, this may not be the model for you.
Our rating:
5 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
3) Gidli Utility Kitchen Shears
Having a pair of multi-use kitchen shears helps consolidate the silverware drawer while giving you a solid set of kitchen shears. You'll find that no set of kitchen scissors can stand up to the reviews, functionalities, and overall price of Gidli's Kitchen shears.
Here's how buyers felt about it.
The most common positive response was the complimentary set of seafood shears. These sea food shears have a nice curve to them to make cutting shrimp and lobster far more easy. People also felt these kitchen shears were great for cutting through meat (not bone) while providing a comfortable grip experience.
Unfortunately, even though the sea food shears were a nice addition, they are not of the highest quality. This is to be expected considering the low price of the two pair of shears.
Also, the blades do not come apart for easy for cleaning, so if you plan on cutting raw meat, you might want to veer more towards a specialty poultry cutting tool.
Overall, if you're looking for a solid pair of kitchen shears to cut cooked meat, pop open bottles, and crack some nuts, the Gidli kitchen shears are your best bet.
Our rating:
4.5 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
4) Oxo Spring-Loaded Good Grips
There's 3 things you should ask yourself when purchasing poultry shears:
1) Are they sharp?
2) Are they spring loaded?
3) Do they provide ample leverage?
Three criteria the OXO poultry shears meet with flying colors.
The two most common responses to the OXO poultry shears are the ease to which they cut through bone, and the ease to which they are cleaned. Equipped with a single loop grip, the low pivot point is perfect for getting the proper leverage for tough cuts.
The spring loaded handles pull the handles apart, so all you have to worry about is the powerful downward press. People really begin to appreciate this when they are about halfway through a bird and the hand cramps start setting in.
The ease of cleaning is due to the detachable blades. Pull the grips far enough apart and the blades come apart for super easy cleaning. Unfortunately, if you accidentally open them too wide when cutting, they can pull apart and become an annoying safety hazard. Some also complain that the spring doesn't open the blades far enough, but this is debatable.
If your main prerogative is cutting through birds, the OXO poultry shears should be your first point of interest.
Our rating:
4.5 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
5) KitchenAid Multi-Purpose Shears
By far one of the most reviewed pair of shears on Amazon, these KitchenAid scissors have found a way of maintaining 4.8 star rating (as of 05/03/2021) with over 16,000 reviews. while also selling for the super cheap price of approximately $15.
Here's what to expect:
Even though the amount of positive reviews far outweigh the negative ones, there were completely opposing reviews, which makes our job a little more difficult.
But the heavy controversy can be summed up like this:
The people who bought a $15 pair of scissors to make life easier around the kitchen, loved how sharp, comfortable, and cheap these kitchen shears were. People who were searching for a pair of high quality, chef grade, Thanksgiving turkey cutting shears were highly disappointed in the quality. The difference between the two scenarios?
Expectations!
Know what you're looking for and have reasonable expectations. If you need something sharp, safe, and simple, the Kitchen Aid shears are awesome. If you are looking for something a little more fancy, continue on down the list.
Our rating:
4 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
6) Burlihome Long-Blade Kitchen Shears
Some of us have specific jobs we need done. Jobs that require a longer blade for hard to reach areas. If this is the case, the Burilihome's Longblade kitchen shears are a good place to start.
They have all the perks of a good pair of shears, just with a longer blade. Let's reestablish what makes a good pair of kitchen shears:
1) Sharp
2) Easy to take apart for cleaning
3) Comfortable grip
Burilihome's kitchen shears are equipped with all of these qualities, just with the added bonus of a longer blade. Simple as that.
The two most common complaints about this pair of shears seem to be due to a lack of proper research. Some said the blade was too long (which is ridiculous) and some said the blades come apart too easily. If either of these two complaints will get in the way of your satisfaction, then move on down the list.
Our rating:
4 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
7) Proshear Spring-Loaded, Wood Handle Shears
There's something incredible about the feel of a conditioned wood handle.
Reminds me of when I got my first pocket knife.
If you're an avid camper and wish to add a pair of solid cooking shears to the outdoor kitchen, you can't go wrong with the Proshear kitchen scissors.
The most common positive responses to this pair of shears was the helpful nature of the spring loaded handles and the power of the blade. People had an easy time cutting through bones, tendons and ligaments with these bad boys.
Some mentioned that the handles were a little awkward and not particularly ideal for left handers. Some also mentioned the spring opens up too far. Minor complaints, but if you are left handed, maybe think about going for a different pair of shears.
Our rating:
4 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
8) Belle Vous Kitchen Shear Set
Buying a pair of new kitchen shears will surely change the dynamic of your kitchen, because 9 times out of 10, scissors are just easier and safer than knives.
But once you become so dependent on them, you'll find that 1 set just doesn't fit the bill.
Thankfully there are some great deals online to get an extra pair for a very reasonable price.
The most common positive responses to the Belle Vous Kitchen shears are the incredible price and the comfortable grip. Two pairs of quality kitchen shears for approximately $15 is a steal, and the comfortable rubber grip makes cutting a far more pleasant experience.
I will say, there are only 250 reviews here. Every 50 reviews or so, I'd read a weird complaint about the package showing up with scratched or dented scissors.
This is NOT normal and should be returned immediately. This is most likely due to harsh shipping conditions or buying from a non Belle Vous vendor.
There were some awesome reviews on the willingness of the customer service team, so rest assured if this happens to you, you'll be taken care of.
Our rating:
4.5 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
Some Other Great Options
9) Tangsun Spring-Loaded Shears
Our rating:
4 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
10) Newness Stainless Steel Kitchen Shears
Our rating:
4 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
11) Livingo Kitchen Forged Shears
Our rating:
4 / 5 Stars
Pros
Cons
Consider Before You Buy
1) Grip (Left, Right or Ambidextrous)?
Nowadays, Just about all scissors are advertised as ambidextrous, so this shouldn’t be a big worry. But there are some models that tend to be more comfortable with one hand than the other. For example, the wood-handled shears detailed below received bad reviews from left handers. I explicitly showed these reviews in the common complaints section for each scissors. But in most cases, left or right handed, you should be fine.
2) Spring Loaded?
Spring loaded shears are awesome in the right context, but unnecessary in others. Spring loaded shears are equipped with a spring to open the shears for you after you close them. This is great for tasks like spatchcocking and cutting through tough material, because it gives your hands a break. So if you plan on being wrist deep in turkey and chicken, spring loaded shears are really the way to go. But if you plan on just using the scissors for miscellaneous kitchen tasks, spring loaded may not be what you're looking for.
3) 1 or 2 Grip Holes?
This goes hand in hand with the spring loaded section above. If you are going with spring loaded, you should probably go with the 1 hole grip. One hole requires less space and can fit in smaller areas. Shears that are not spring loaded will automatically have a 2 hole grip, which gives you the ability to open the blades.
4) Comfortable Material?
Comfort is a relative term, so you’ve gotta know what works for you. The majority of the shears I’ve labeled below all have soft rubber grips that make cutting very comfortable. The downside is that if you plan on dishwashing your shears (even though I highly discourage it) the rubber can get water-worn and become gummy over time. The alternative is going with steel, plastic or wood. The Cutco, Kitchenaid, and OXO series outlined below have smooth plastic grips, the Newness and Livingo shears have stainless steel grips, and the Proshear series has wooden grips. The rest of the shears detailed below have soft rubber grips.
5) Pivot Screw, Adjustment Detachable Blades, Or Non-Detachable Blades?
If you require ultimate control over your scissors and don’t mind unscrewing them to wash them, pivot screws are your best bet. They won't come apart on accident during use and they are still detachable for proper cleaning. If you want something easily detachable, adjustment detachable blades are super easy. You spread the blades far enough apart and the blades separate into 2 easily washable parts. The only downside is if your doing some intense cutting and need that full range, these blades can come apart during use and become an annoying safety hazard. Non-Detachable is not usually a good idea unless you plan on strictly using these for household duties. Non-serviceable blades do not detach (well, aren’t supposed to) and can become extremely difficult to fully decontaminate. The best way to sanitize these scissors is by setting them in the dishwasher. But even then, its hard to say that all surfaces are accounted for. Plus, putting your scissors in the dishwasher dulls the blade and increases the chance of rust. If you plan on cutting raw meats, make sure your blades are detachable so you can thoroughly sanitize them.
6) Blade Material?
Blade material is important if you are using these shears often and with tougher material. But again, if you’re using these shears for everyday household tasks, it's not as important. Carbon Steel 440A (Cutco 77 series): Carbon 440A is able to hold a better edge than most stainless steel varieties, but soft enough to the point where it can be sharpened easily. The stainless steel finish is to resist corrosion and rusting. Food Grade Stainless Steel (Usually grade 316 or 430) are regarded as “food grade” because they are very heat resistant, corrosion resistant, and easily sanitized (resist forming pockets for bacteria to accumulate). 3CR13 and 420J2 Stainless steel are sometimes used for surgical equipment and have good corrosion resistance. 5Cr15MoV Stainless steel does not hold an edge as well, but is soft enough to comfortably sharpen.
7) Rust Protection?
Most stainless steels are supposedly corrosion/rust resistant. I still recommend that you wash your shears by hand, and dry immediately and thoroughly. Stainless steel may block iron oxidation from the material inside the blade, but it cannot stop oxidation from iron in the water. All blades listed below have at least an outer coating of stainless steel.
8) Serrated?
A serrated blade simply adds more grip to your cuts so the blade will be less likely to slip on you.
9) Multipurpose?
Although not all shears have them, having bottle openers, can openers, and nutcrackers on your kitchen shears can be very handy. Many of the models below include these accessories without compromising quality.
Kitchen Shears Vs Regular Scissors
The difference between the two terminologies really just comes down to the size of the “scissors." Shears are usually larger and possess a larger bottom grip hole to account for at least 2 fingers. Scissors, on the other hand, have two holes that individually fit one finger each. There are definitely some advantages to shears worth noting.
Advantages to Shears
Kitchen Shear Maintenance
Here are some general steps you can take to ensure your kitchen shears last as long as possible.
- 1Periodically add oil to the pivot point to ensure proper lubrication. This will keep the metal on metal wear to a minimal.
- 2Whenever cleaning, take apart blades (if applicable) to ensure dirt and grime do not accumulate in hard to reach areas.
- 3Refrain from using the dishwasher. Using a dishwasher greatly increases the chance of blade dulling and rusting. But if you must, take the scissors out before the drying cycle and hand dry yourself. The dishwasher drying process can transfer iron from your tap water onto your blade. This can quickly get oxidized in the humid dishwasher and form rust spots (yes, even with stainless steel).
- 4With softer steel, you will find the blade dulling every so often. Take it in to get properly sharpened or get your own sharpening stone and watch a guide to ensure proper use. Just FYI, blades that come apart are far easier to sharpen. Check out Sharpening Supplies' Guide to Buying the Proper Sharpening Stones for Beginners reference. But if you are lazy and don't mind paying the extra money, you can also mail in your shears to companies like Sharpen By Mail.
- 5If you end up buying a cheaper pair of shears, maybe refrain from sharpening. The cost to sharpen is likely the same price for a new pair. Sharpening may take off the stainless steel coating in some cases and increase the chance of rusting/corrosion.
-Concluding
Finding a quality pair of kitchen shears is typically pretty easy. There are tons of quality scissors out there that will take care of most of your kitchen duties. The tricky part is finding a pair that do exactly what you want them to do. The reason I created this page was to lay out the kitchen shears as they relate to particular kitchen duties.
I hope this makes your search drastically more smooth.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment below.
Cheers,
Michael
Founder of Robust Kitchen