Kitchen shears are one of our favorite kitchen tools. They are seriously underestimated and frankly, we're not sure why. There's no better way to cut poultry than with the use of kitchen shears. What makes them so great is that they can be used for so much. Need a hand with a stubborn cork or lid on a jar? Kitchen shears to the rescue!
• Shun Classic ‘Taskmaster’ Shears, $39.95 at Sur la Table: These shears can do anything and cut everything from twine to bones, open bottles and jars, crack nuts, lift lids and more. We really like the comfortable, non stick handles so you can be sure your hands won't get tired or slip while cutting. Plus, there's a magnetic plastic cover that's included.
• Wüsthof Classic Poultry Shears, $59.95 at Williams Sonoma: Stainless steel serrated blades is what sets these shears apart from the rest and certainly makes us overlook the nearly $60.00 price tag. The blades are sharp enough to cut through bones without tearing the meat.
• Messermeister 8-Inch Take-Apart Kitchen Scissors, $15.90 at Amazon: Our favorite part of these scissors is that they come completely apart. That may not seem like an important feature, but it is, especially for cleaning after using on poultry. Can be used with left or right hand!
• Wüsthof® Poultry Shears, $74.95 at Sur la Table: Made from high quality carbon steel, these poultry shears are as traditional as they come with modern upgrades. The ergonomic, non slip handles are an important feature so ensure accidents don't happen. Plus, the shears come with a lifetime warranty.
• J.A. Henckels International Kitchen Shears, $15.99 at Amazon: Made with no-stain steel blades that have been micro serrated for non-slip cutting. The shears are dishwasher safe, but no recommended.
Related: Helpful Tools: Our Favorite Vegetable Peelers
(Images: Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table, Amazon)
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I live and swear by Wustof shears and knifes!
TCU_Liz - That's because the last time you got knives was in the 80's, after your wedding.
No thanks, those EMT bandage scissors are the ones for me. Cost about two bucks for a pair.
Get 5 pair, put a couple in the kitchen, one in the car, and another in the office and another pair... wherever.... take the other money [$59.95 for a pair of scissors yikes!] and buy yourself something nice...
Those Wustof poultry shears are beasts! Of course, since I live in Europe, I didn't spend anywhere near $60 on them.
I also have a pair of Rosle shears for more mundane tasks. I use my shears in the kitchen a dozen times a day.
I love my shears for chicken, herbs, etc...but I feel like I'm missing something. How do you use shears to remove a cork or open a jar or bottle???
@caitlin926 -- you may have missed it in the pictures; there are notch-like things between the handles that can be used for this pupose.
I got the henckel shears with my knife set, love them!
@sygyzy would that not be an indication of said knives' quality? im 24 and i'm still using my mom's wustof knives she got at her 1979 wedding.
I may be in the minority but love my Cutco scissors and knives! Buying them is a pain, but the products are great.
I received several Shun knives and the scissor/shears for my wedding and I LOVE them! I can't imagine how I ever cooked without them. The scissors are super versatile and they come apart into two pieces for easy cleaning. Yes, they are pricey, but I've learned that it's better to pay more for better quality than to keep replacing cheap, shoddy items. Plus, it's more eco-friendly than throwing items out all the time.