Best Kitchen Shears in 2026: Three Scissors for Everyday Prep and Poultry

The OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Shears are the best kitchen shears for most cooks because their detachable blades make a versatile food tool easier to clean. We compared three designs for everyday snipping, protected storage and poultry preparation so you can choose the shape that fits your cooking.

Best kitchen shears compared

OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose: the versatile choice

Best overall

OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Shears

The OXO Multi-Purpose earns the overall recommendation by combining food preparation with a design that can be cleaned at the pivot. Its stainless-steel blades separate, making it easier to wash away residue where the two halves meet after cutting raw ingredients. Fine serrations help grip slippery material, while the built-in herb stripper removes leaves from stems. Cushioned handle pads provide a softer contact point during repeated snips. Choose this pair if you want one tool for herbs, packaging and ordinary meal preparation and are willing to separate and reassemble the blades when cleaning. It is less specialized for poultry bones than the dedicated OXO poultry model, which has a bone notch and a spring-loaded handle. Keep a separate tool for non-food household jobs if cleanliness is a concern.

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KitchenAid All Purpose: covered in the drawer

Best for covered storage

KitchenAid All Purpose Shears

The KitchenAid All Purpose pair is the practical pick for a shared drawer because it comes with a protective plastic sheath. At 8.72 inches long, it has stainless-steel blades with micro-serrated edges and a soft-grip handle for routine cutting. KitchenAid describes the blades as extra thick, making this a straightforward choice for someone who alternates between food preparation and opening packaging. It is dishwasher safe, although the listing recommends hand washing to maintain the blades. Its advantage over an uncovered pair is the supplied cover, not a special cutting mechanism. Unlike the OXO Multi-Purpose, the listing does not describe blades that separate for cleaning, so pay particular attention to washing and drying around the pivot after handling food. The sheath also needs its own space and should go on clean, dry blades.

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OXO Good Grips Poultry: a specialized cutter

Best for poultry

OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears

The OXO Poultry earns its badge for cooks who regularly cut up chicken rather than simply snip herbs. Its curved, tapered stainless-steel blades reach into awkward areas, and a notch holds bones as the blades close. A spring-loaded handle reopens between cuts, while the handle loop and bolster help keep the hand positioned behind the blades. The lock keeps the pair closed for storage. These features make the tool more purpose-built than either standard scissor-style option here, particularly when working around a bird's backbone and joints. The tradeoff is that its poultry-oriented shape and locking mechanism are less straightforward for casual package opening, and the loop fit deserves attention if several people will share it. Wash carefully after raw poultry and store it locked only once clean and dry.

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How to choose kitchen shears

Start with the job you do most. For herbs and everyday food, separate blades make the pivot accessible, while a serrated edge can help prevent material sliding. For a crowded drawer, a supplied cover protects the exposed edges; it is not a substitute for storing sharp tools away from children. A poultry design trades some general-purpose simplicity for a curved blade, a bone notch and a spring mechanism.

Think about what happens between uses, too. The KitchenAid sheath covers the blades in storage, while the poultry model locks shut; each adds a separate step when putting the tool away. The Multi-Purpose OXO instead gives priority to access for cleaning, with blades that come apart. If several people use the same drawer, choose the arrangement everyone can maintain and leave enough room to store the tool clean and dry.

Cleaning matters as much as the cut. Wash the blades and pivot promptly after raw meat, following the manufacturer's care instructions. Separate blades only when the product is designed to do so, and dry all parts before storage. Do not assume every pair is suitable for large or hard bones; use a tool designed for the task and never force a cut. If using the same shears for food and cardboard, clean them between tasks to reduce contamination.

Frequently asked questions

Can kitchen shears replace a knife?

They can handle many small jobs, such as snipping herbs, cutting packaging or trimming food directly over a bowl. They do not replace the control of a knife and cutting board for every slice or the strength of a tool intended for very hard bones. Pick the blade shape for the job and avoid forcing a cut that the shears cannot manage comfortably.

Are detachable blades important for food safety?

They make it easier to reach the inner surfaces and pivot, which can collect food residue. The OXO Multi-Purpose pair separates for this reason. Detachment does not eliminate the need to wash and dry both halves carefully, especially after raw poultry. A fixed pair can also be washed, but its pivot needs particular attention according to its care instructions.

Should I buy poultry shears for everyday prep?

A poultry pair is useful if you often portion birds and want a curved blade, bone notch and spring-assisted opening. For herbs and packets, the simpler OXO Multi-Purpose or covered KitchenAid pair may fit the task and drawer better. Consider how often you need the specialized shape before giving it space alongside your general-purpose shears.

Prices and availability are accurate as of publication and may change.