A sharp pair of scissors isn’t just for craft tables; there are essential options that simplify food prep for the dinner table. Kitchen scissors are a vital essential for home cooks; they cut leafy greens and even meat. To make chopping easy, we’ve assembled the best pairs to snip everything from the tip of a basil leaf to a lobster tail.
Fiskars kitchen scissors
Perfect pair from start to finish
Finnish brand Fiskars' orange-handled scissors have become a design classic since their introduction in the late 1960s. So much so, over a billion pairs have been sold around the world. The product holds a place in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent design collection. This version of the classic, specially designed for use in the kitchen, offers Fiskars' iconic comfortable handle design but with blades perfect for food use.
Wellstar heavy duty poultry shears
Stainless steel meat-handling scissors with spring-loaded blades
Specially created for chopping chicken, these shears are designed for spatchcocking, butterflying, and boning poultry, chicken, or turkey. This is thanks to their ultra-sharp spring-loaded blades and a specially designed cutting notch on the rear edge to cut through bones easily. Made from high-quality food-grade stainless steel, these shears have a safety clip lock to keep them closed for safe storage.
Kikkerland toucan kitchen shears
Sharp, magnetized pair with a colorful design
Kikkerland is well known for its playful product designs, and these bird-themed scissors are no exception. Their witty looks will be a hit with kids, helpful if you're trying to encourage them to get involved in the kitchen. They boast soft-grip handles, stainless steel blades, and a steel insert in the handle which works as a bottle opener. The removable beak boasts strong magnets, which means you can store them on your fridge.
Dreamfarm Scizza scissors
Snip the perfect piece with this pizza-friendly pair
With a cleverly angled shape, these are designed to slice through your pizza -- Scizza can cut any size pie, from stonebaked skinnies to deep dish monsters. The lip on the bottom blade also works as a slice dispensing device. That non-stick nylon base on the blade is totally non-scratch, so Scizza will not damage cookware, work surfaces and won't dull on pizza stones. They are also heat resistant up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fiskars fast-prep herb shears
Compact easy-to-handle shears for herb prep
Small but perfectly formed, these shears measure in at a palm-friendly five inches. They are shaped in such a way the design maximizes the power of your thumb and index finger for better control and quick cutting action. The soft-grip handles have a spring action to save hand strain when prepping lots of herbs. They come complete with a plastic sheath to cover the blades for a tidy storage solution.
RSVP endurance seafood scissors
Curved design ideal for prepping seafood
Regular fish and shellfish eaters will find this product a game-changer. These scissors have a specially curved design making them ideal for use when preparing fish and shellfish. The four-inch stainless steel blades can snip fins, remove heads and tails, scrape away scales, pull out fish bones, crack shells, and de-vein shellfish. They feature a hygienic, comfortable Santoprene handle and are dishwasher safe.
X-Chef 5-blade herb scissors
Multi-blade pair with an ergonomic design
X-Chef's kitchen scissors boast no less than five blades which, if you do the math, is equivalent to ten knife chops, meaning you save precious time prepping your favorite herbs. A heavy-duty steel rivet holds the blades together, and the handle has an ergonomic design for comfortable handling. These specialist scissors come complete with a companion plastic comb to help remove the herbs from between the blades.
Livingo heavy duty come-apart scissors
Durable scissors shaped in sturdy carbon stainless steel
The no-nonsense option for pragmatic people who want one simple tool that will deliver in the quality and durability stakes, the Livingo scissors are a classic choice. Made from high density, super-strong carbon stainless steel that is three times stronger than ordinary steel, they are also ultra-sharp. The blades come apart from easy cleaning and can go in the dishwasher, but are rust-resistant too. The handle design means these can also be used as nutcrackers and a bottle opener.
Blades of glory
You can pair down foods with the perfect pair of kitchen scissors. These versatile tools chop everything from herbs to chicken. Many styles exist, some more specialized than others, to make mealtimes much easier. Clever cooking requires clever tools, and clever chefs would do well to invest in those that suit the types of cuisine they prepare often.
For example, chicken-lovers should pick up some specialist spring-loaded blades, like the strong Wellstar Shears, while cooks that use herbs often should consider a multi-blade cutter like the X-Chef option or a small and quick tool like the Fiskars Shears.
We would also strongly recommend getting a good quality pair of generic kitchen scissors for everyday use. In our opinion, Fiskars' classic orange handled scissors deserve a place in everyone's kitchen drawer and will last for years to come.