The Best Kitchen Shears In 2022
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While they definitely won't replace your kitchen knives, there're some jobs that — well — kitchen shears just do better. A quality pair of cooking scissors can be used to cut lettuce leaves for your salad, snip herbs, chop up meat, or even make easy work of chicken bones. Cooking shears also perform well outside the kitchen, with many using them for jobs such as opening plastic or cardboard packaging and trimming rose stems.
Kitchen shears can save you an enormous amount of prep time. After all, mincing and chopping ingredients with a knife can get old pretty quickly. Since kitchen scissors usually come with ultra-sharp blades, they can also stop ingredients from bruising or tearing during the preparation process. Some shears are also designed with ergonomic grips and spring-loaded handles to make cutting both hard and soft ingredients a breeze.
Ready to take your culinary endeavors to the next level? Check out our roundup of the best kitchen shears in 2022!
How we selected the products
Compact, sharp, and precise, a pair of quality shears is a kitchen gadget you never knew you needed. However, with so many options on the market, picking the right cooking scissors for your specific needs can be a tall order. This is where we can help. As a part of our mission to present you with a list of the best kitchen shears in 2022, we have scoured the internet for the highest quality products on the market. We have also read countless expert and community reviews to get a better idea of how each product performs in the kitchen.
While some kitchen shears are designed for specific tasks such as breaking up chicken bones or cutting pizza slices, others are versatile enough to perform a variety of jobs. No matter the type, however, all high-quality cooking scissors should come with sharp blades and comfortable handles. Some kitchen shears even come with other in-built kitchen tools such as bottle openers, nutcrackers, and even screwdrivers.
Best overall kitchen shears
Combining a padded rubber grip and micro-serrated stainless steel blades, the OXO multi-purpose kitchen scissors effortlessly make their way through meat, veggies, and packaging. The handy kitchen shears also feature an herb stripper for separating herbs and stems. And at the end of the day, the blades can be taken apart for easy cleaning. The OXO shears come with a locking safety mechanism to prevent accidental cuts (via WebstaurantStore).
Clearly impressed with the product, Ella Ceron from Apartment Therapy says that the OXO multi-purpose kitchen scissors helped her put an end to her expensive "lunchtime takeout habit." She now uses the scissors to chop up her greens and salad toppings. Ceron also praises the scissors for their ease of cleaning, although she does mention that the blades can come apart when cutting harder ingredients.
Standing testament to their quality, the OXO multi-purpose kitchen scissors have received 4.8 out of 5 stars from more than 9,000 Amazon shoppers. One Amazon customer says that they are thrilled with the shears, adding, "They are easy to operate even though they are sturdy. The shears were sharp right out of the box. They are comfortable to use. The herb stripper is clever and useful too. The feature I like most is how easily they come apart for cleaning and go back together just as quickly."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the OXO multi-purpose kitchen scissors from the brand's website starting at $19.99.
Best budget kitchen shears
At under $10, the MAIRICO ultra sharp kitchen shears make an affordable addition to any kitchen arsenal. Despite their low price tag, the stainless steel scissors are sturdy enough to chop not just veggies, but also meat and fish. They are even sharp enough to cut through plastic and cardboard packaging. Plus, the MAIRICO ultra sharp kitchen shears can also be used to crack nuts and open bottles. While the shears are dishwasher-safe, the manufacturer recommends that the utensil be hand-washed.
The MAIRICO ultra sharp kitchen shears rate well across different platforms, scoring 9.4 out of 10 on Best Views Reviews, 9.1 out of 10 on Don't Waste Your Money, and 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon. One Amazon shopper has called the shears "great for the price," adding, "I've used these to cut up a whole chicken, and even though I [had] to use a heavy knife to cut through the backbone they did a pretty good job with the rest."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the MAIRICO ultra sharp kitchen shears from Amazon starting at $7.99.
Best kitchen shears for a splurge
Sleek and ultra-modern, the Global cutlery shears have been masterminded by Komin Yamada, a famous Japanese industrial designer. But the kitchen scissors are more than just a fashion statement. Most notably, they are made from a single piece of CROMOVA 18 (chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium), a type of German stainless steel manufactured specifically for the Global brand. The molybdenum and vanadium in the content ensure that the shears are sturdy yet soft enough to be sharpened. Meanwhile, chromium ensures rust and stain resistance. The Global kitchen scissors come with large dimpled handles that are both comfortable and slip-resistant (via Amazon).
The Global cutlery shears rate well with home chefs, receiving 8 out of 10 stars on Best Views Reviews and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon. One Amazon customer praises the shears, saying, "Incredibly sharp and strong. Best kitchen scissors I've ever owned. Haven't dulled after using [them] for several months." On the downside, some Amazon shoppers have complained that the shears don't come apart for easy cleaning while others have mentioned that they lack a comfortable grip (via Amazon).
You can purchase the Global cutlery shears from the brand's website starting at $79.96.
Best kitchen shears for herbs
Specifically designed for cutting up herbs without causing tearing or bruising, the Jenaluca herb scissors feature five stainless steel blades for fast and effortless chopping action. It also comes with soft TPR handles to ensure a comfortable grip. The Jenaluca herb scissors are sold with a handy cleaning comb/cover that gets right in between the blades to remove residue. Plus, unlike many other kitchen shears, they are dishwasher-safe. The Jenaluca herb scissors are backed by a lifetime guarantee for complete peace of mind.
Rating 9.1 out of 10 stars on Best Views Reviews and 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, the Jenaluca herb scissors have received a positive reception from reviewers, with many using them for more than just cutting herbs. One Amazon shopper says, "I purchased this product so I could cut up all my food. I recently had all my teeth removed and until my implants are put in, I have to eat soft food and obviously can't chew. [These] scissors work great for any food. I now can eat anything. Great product." On the other hand, some Amazon customers complain that the scissors can rust and that the herbs can get stuck in between the blades during cutting.
As of December 2022, you can purchase the Jenaluca herb scissors from Amazon starting at $17.89.
Best kitchen shears for poultry
Whether you're cutting up a chicken, a turkey, or even a duck, the OXO spring-loaded poultry shears have you covered. Equipped with curved micro-serrated stainless steel blades, the shears come with a comfortable loop and bolster-style handle and a spring to provide leverage when cutting through bones. The shears also feature a handle lock to keep the blades securely closed when not in use. Last but not least, the blades can be pulled apart for easy cleaning and are dishwasher-safe.
The OXO spring-loaded poultry shears have received top marks from different platforms, including 9.2 out of 10 from Don't Waste Your Money and 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon. One Amazon shopper says that the shears are definitely worth their price tag, adding, "These things are diesel!! I easily broke down a raw 15 lb turkey. So glad I upgraded from my kitchen scissors. If you break down poultry often these are a must-have!" Another Amazon reviewer echoes this sentiment, commenting, "They make cutting apart a whole chicken or ribs, or any other hard-to-cut food, [incredibly easy]. They are comfortable to use and designed to keep your fingers safe from the very sharp blades."
You can purchase the OXO spring-loaded poultry shears from the brand's website starting at $27.99.
Best professional kitchen shears
Whether you are looking to purchase cooking shears for a commercial kitchen or simply need a sturdy pair of cooking scissors for your home, the Shun multi-purpose shears are a great choice. Made from Japanese stainless steel, the shears come with a serrated blade for cutting a variety of ingredients and materials, from veggies to packaging. What's more, the shears also feature a built-in jar opener, nutcracker, lid lifter, bone notch, and two screwdrivers, making it an ultra-versatile kitchen tool. The Shun shears carry a limited lifetime warranty.
The Shun multi-purpose shears have received an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 from Amazon customers, with 85% of reviewers awarding them 5 out of 5 stars. One Amazon shopper says that these are the only shears you'll ever need, adding, "This is an outstanding product. [...] I love that they are razor sharp, cut through chicken backs like they are not there, and are precise enough to cut baking twine and parchment paper with ease. [...] What I really like about these is the feel in the hand. They are so well-balanced, and they are super easy to use."
You can purchase the Shun multi-purpose shears from Amazon starting at $54.95.
Best kitchen shears for seafood
The Gidli kitchen shears set is composed of multi-purpose scissors and seafood scissors. Specifically designed to make easy work of deshelling prawns and shrimp, the seafood shears combine curved stainless steel blades and comfortable ergonomic handles. Meanwhile, the multi-purpose shears can be used to scale and chop fish, meat, vegetables, and herbs. They can also be used as a crab cracker. Both the Gldli multi-purpose scissors and seafood shears are dishwasher safe and come with a lifetime guarantee.
The Gidli kitchen shears set has received the thumbs-up on various platforms, including 8.7 out of 10 on Don't Waste Your Money and 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon. One Amazon shopper commented on the set's quality, saying, "These scissors are excellent. They are very sharp, sturdy, and useful!" Another Amazon reviewer likes the set's versatility, saying, "Perfect for all kitchen and cooking uses. Well made, sturdy, and easy to grip. I especially like the smaller fish shears that allow me to do a better job filleting fish. They also are useful for the removal of meat from shellfish."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Gidli kitchen shears set from Amazon starting at $23.95.
Best pizza kitchen shears
Designed to replace a traditional pizza wheel, the Dreamfarm scizza non-stick pizza scissors feature a sturdy flat base that slides under slices and a curved blade for cutting pizza without disturbing toppings. The pizza shears also feature a nylon spatula that not only lets you serve slices without touching them but also protects your pizza stone or pan from scratches. And at the end of the day, the 5.9-inch German stainless steel blades can be taken apart and popped into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
So what's the verdict? Rhik Samadder who reviewed the Dreamfarm scizza non-stick pizza scissors for The Guardian says that while he initially viewed the shears with skepticism, he ultimately had to admit that they do the job — and do it well. "In use, there's no drag, you have full control of slice shape, and the spatula bill helps lift segments of pizza clear," he explains.
As of December 2022, you can purchase the Dreamfarm scizza non-stick pizza scissors from Amazon starting at $37.84.