Basic or multipurpose, you’ll love having a pair in the kitchen. Join us now for a look at nine of the best kitchen shears on the market today, followed by a rundown of what makes kitchen shears different from scissors, and their various features and care requirements so you can make the best selection. Ease of Cleaning: After cleaning each pair of kitchen shears according to the manufacturer's instructions, we highlighted dishwasher-safe models and those that came apart for cleaning. There are a variety of kitchen shears on the market. The most versatile and popular type is multipurpose kitchen shears, which are ideal for slicing up herbs and other thin, leafy greens, as well as through tougher cuts of meat. If you foresee a need for using your multipurpose shears to cut through bones or seafood shells, it is definitely in your best interest to seek out a heavy-duty pair. Poultry shears are another type that is specifically used to cut through poultry meat and typically are equipped with curved beaks and a bone notch, which are both design features that help them to cut through bones.

How are you going to use your new set of scissors? If you're only going to use your scissors to open a pesky bag of pretzels now and again but not really for cooking, you can opt for a less heavy-duty pair—but it's well worth getting a hardier pair to use in a variety of ways in the kitchen. A strong pair of kitchen scissors can be used to snip herbs, break down poultry, chop up marinated meat or vegetables, and even slice up foods so they're a safer size for children. Some kitchen shears are designed specifically for those tasks, like poultry or herb shears, while others are made to be used as a daily driver in the kitchen.

8. Best kitchen scissors for herbs: Plant Theatre Herb Cutting Scissors

The detachable blades come apart for easy cleaning or sharpening and are dishwasher safe. Made in China.

Style – there are two styles of kitchen scissors - straight edge and serrated edge (also called scalloped). Straight edge is perfect for cutting through tough materials like raw meat while scalloped edges are better suited to softer foods like bread and tomatoes. Shears can be plain-Jane and basic, or they can be loaded with additional features for greater performance and added convenience. For blades constructed of carbon steel, wipe with a lightly oiled cloth after each wash and dry promptly. Left-handed? Keep an eye out for kitchen shears specially designed with proper balance for ambidextrous use. Kitchen shears with built-ins like bottle cap removers and notched areas in the handle to help open stubborn bottles are also major pluses.Even though some shears are advertised by the manufacturer as dishwasher safe, it’s best practice to hand wash the shears, blades detached, with warm, soapy water. Even if your kitchen is equipped with a full set of knives, chances are, there are going to be instances when using a pair of shears is the better option. Don’t worry—shears aren’t nearly as expensive as kitchen knives; Plus, they’re quite easy to use and they offer a multitude of convenient uses. From cutting herbs and produce to slicing through pizza, quesadillas, meats, shellfish, and fine bones, shears can accomplish plenty of useful kitchen tasks. When in doubt, send them out. If you're unsure or don't feel comfortable sharpening them by yourself, the best way to maintain your scissors is to send them out to a professional. Some places allow you to drop them off in person, and others function through the mail, so it's easy to find the service that works best for you.