This Underrated Tool Is My Easy Meal-Prep Secret—These Are the Best Kitchen Shears

If someone told me I could only keep three things in my kitchen, my kitchen shears would, without a doubt, make the cut. Even before formally testing kitchen shears, I owned four pairs because I use them for everything. Kitchen shears help me efficiently cut protein—meat, chicken, and more—into bite-sized pieces before or after cooking. I also rely on them to make daily chopped salads for my lunch, and to prepare all kinds of food for my four children. I cut their pizza into smaller slices, trim the crust off of sandwiches, snip French toast into sticks, and more. Did you know some kitchen shears can even help you open stubborn jars, strip the leaves from herbs, crack nuts, and serve as a bottle opener? Yep, they’re that versatile, and I’m here to tell you: If you don’t already have a great pair of kitchen shears, you need one—stat. 

To help you find the sharpest tool in the shed, I put top-rated models through various tests to see which ones cut the best, were comfortable to hold, durable, and packed with other helpful features. I’m confident these are the best kitchen shears out there.

Messermeister Take-Apart Stainless Steel Utility Kitchen Scissors

$25 at Amazon $28 at Walmart View on Messermeister.com

Though I could not live without kitchen shears, I found it hard to find a pair that really, truly checked all of the boxes until the Messermeister 8-inch Take-Apart Kitchen Scissors entered my life. Though they’re a bit less expensive than some other competitors, they’re—without a doubt—the best shears I’ve ever used. 

For starters, they sit comfortably in my hands. The handles are neither too small nor too large, so I can not only hold them without discomfort, but I also have plenty of control when cutting. The blades open and close without any stickiness, either, so you don’t have to put any unnecessary arm strength into it.

The blades themselves are pointier than most of the other options I’ve tested, too, allowing you to cut through the tough stuff more seamlessly. I broke down an entire chicken carcass with these to make homemade stock without a struggle. This precision tip is also notable for the more delicate tasks on your list, like deboning fish with larger bones or deshelling shrimp. Snipping herbs, including woody ones like thyme, is a breeze, too. 

On the downside, there’s no built-in herb stripper, so you’ll have to pull the leaves off the stems yourself. It’s hard to miss this small aspect since these are packed with so many other great features. It’s like the Swiss army knife of kitchen shears! Between the blades and the handles, there’s a bottle opener and a jar opener/nut cracker that both perform very well in tests. 

On the back end of the scissors, atop the handles, there’s an ice pick and a screwdriver, though I did find this particular feature a little lackluster. The “screwdriver” is shaped like a flat-head screwdriver, something I need far less frequently than a Phillips head. What’s more, I rarely need a tool like an ice pick—and when I do, I’d rather not have the sharp end of scissors pointing back at me (especially because these don’t come with a protective cover you could slip on). 

Overall, though, these kitchen shears offer unparalleled value. They seamlessly cut through meat, vegetables, pizza slices, sandwich bread, and more. Plus, I had no trouble opening jars and bottles, and even cracking walnuts for a fresh salad topper. The scissors also come apart (and go back together) easily so you can wash and dry them with no muss, no fuss. 

Other Kitchen Shears to Consider 

KitchenAid All-Purpose Shears (KE351OHOBA)

$12 $7 at Amazon $9 at Target $12 at Walmart

It doesn’t get much more cost-effective than the KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears. Though they’re often under $10, they get the utilitarian jobs done. These shears cut through chicken carcasses, breeze through pizza slices, snip herbs in a flash, and cut beef into cubes without issue. The brand says you can also use the shears for other household tasks like “clipping coupons,” but I frequently use mine to open boxes. I have been using these kitchen shears—for both cooking and household needs—for a couple of years, having picked a pair up sometime in the middle of 2022. 

I love how big they are. The holes in the handle are comparable to the size of those on the Messermeister shears, making them just as comfortable to wield, but overall the footprint is much larger. This means you can cut cutting larger items, like a chicken carcass, more quickly. The rubber on the handles also feels a little more padded than the rubber on the Messermeister, adding to the overall comfort in handling. 

Unfortunately, these kitchen shears lack some of the versatility of others, including the Messermeister. They are purely shears; there’s no herb stripper, bottle opener, or screwdriver to be found. Because I stock all those tools in my kitchen already, this isn’t something I miss. I use these kitchen shears so heavily that they are usually soiled, so it’s arguably more convenient for me to grab a separate tool for tasks like opening a jar or stripping herbs. 

On the upside, the heavy-duty stainless-steel shears are dishwasher-safe, so cleaning is effortless, and after two years of heavy use, I haven’t noticed any rusting whatsoever. I also like that these shears come with a protective cover to help keep the blade in better shape over time—though, admittedly, I rarely use it. Another minor important detail, but something worth mentioning: These kitchen shears come in fun colors like purple and blue, in addition to the more basic options like black, gray, and red. 

Misen Kitchen Scissors

$29 at Amazon View on Misen.com

About four or five years ago, after a good amount of research for something with great overall value, my husband bought me a set of Misen knives. I’ve used them with little to no complaints ever since and was excited to try out the brand’s kitchen shears. 

For shears, these are on the more expensive side, which surprised me, especially given the relative affordability of the brand’s knives. My initial perception is the price is mostly justified, as these scissors are comfortable in the hand, effective, and durable. 

These shears are the largest of any I tried, edging out the KitchenAid shears by just a little bit of blade length. Still, they’re not too heavy and perfectly comfortable in hand. My husband appreciated the design of the grips on this pair because the holes are a bit wider than others, offering more room for his larger hands. In tests, I cut chicken breast and pork tenderloin into cubes, plus trimmed herbs and chopped salad, with no problems whatsoever. I did, however, experience some stickiness with tougher items, particularly chicken bones. 

There aren’t many added features beyond cutting, making this pair a fairly straightforward option, but there is also an area between the blade and handle that looks like you could use it to open a jar or crack nuts. Oddly enough, I couldn’t find any literature on the item’s packaging or the product listing, so I did not try out this potential functionality. 

OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors

$20 $15 at Amazon $12 at Target $20 at Macys

I was immediately very impressed by Oxo’s Multi-Purpose Kitchen and Herb Scissors. They’re the perfect size—both for my hands and larger hands, like my husband’s. This is because the scissors are an average size but have roomier handle grips to accommodate larger fingers. The grips are also more padded than some others, like the Messermeister, which makes them more comfortable for longer periods. For example, my hands tend to get very tired when chopping a big salad, but I didn’t experience fatigue as quickly while using these shears.

On the downside, the blades aren’t quite as sharp and the tip is not as pointed as some others, namely our top pick, so you can’t cut through the tough stuff—like chicken carcasses—quite as seamlessly. However, it’s worth noting that the handles have some grip to them, so your fingers don’t slip as much when cutting raw protein. I also appreciate the versatility of this product, particularly considering the mid-tier price of these kitchen shears. In addition to cutting, you can use one of two built-in herb strippers to remove fresh herbs from their stems. 

The pair is hand-wash only, but the blades separate (and go back together) very easily to help make the task a little less cumbersome. Admittedly, I have popped them in the dishwasher on more than one occasion without incident, though I wouldn’t recommend it based on the brand’s instructions.

Wusthof Come Apart Kitchen Shears

$25 at Amazon View on Lehmans.com

Does the name ring any bells? Probably, if you’ve spent any time researching kitchen tools like knives. The brand is one of the biggest in the business, so I had high hopes for these kitchen shears—and they mostly delivered. 

The price is higher than most, which tracks with the big brand name, but I didn’t necessarily think they were all that much better than some of the others, particularly our top pick—especially considering they are very similar to the Messermeister shears. They’re about the same size (slightly bigger) and have the bonus of the jar opener and nutcracker in between the handles (they don’t have the ice pick/screwdriver combo). The blade isn’t quite as pointy, but my tests showed it’s just as sharp otherwise and could cut through everything from a chicken carcass to a thyme stem to a slice of pizza without issue. On the downside, the blades are very thick—much wider than those on the Messermeister shears—so it’s not as easy to accomplish the more delicate tasks, like deshelling shrimp. 

The shears come apart for easy cleaning, and I didn’t struggle to get the pair back together once all was said and done. Overall, these shears are a good choice, particularly if you’re loyal to the Wüsthof brand. They fit perfectly in the brand’s knife block, which is a nice convenience if that’s how you store your knives. 

Common Questions

What’s the difference between scissors and kitchen shears?

Your average pair of scissors—craft and other non-kitchen scissors—aren’t cut out for the wear and tear of the kitchen. For starters, their blades are much weaker and their fulcrum balance (essentially the force you need to cut) is different. Craft scissors typically have longer blades and shorter handles, while kitchen shears have a ratio closer to 50:50. This lends more leverage and power. Plus, regular scissors aren’t meant to be washed as thoroughly and frequently.

Should you have one pair of shears for meat and another for everything else?

You don't need to stock two pairs of kitchen shears—one for meat and one for everything else—but you do need to follow food safety protocols between uses. According to FoodSafety.gov, clean any kitchen tools, including shears using hot, soapy water after they touch raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or flour.

How do you care for kitchen shears?

Some are dishwasher safe—just pop them tip-side down into your dishwasher. Others come apart into two separate pieces for easy hand-washing. Finally, some don't come apart and require thorough hand washing, especially after tasks like breaking down raw chicken. After washing, make sure to dry your shears thoroughly to prevent any rusting. When storing, keep kitchen shears away from other metal utensils that can damage the blades. Ideally, use any protective covering that may have come with your scissors. 

Scissors will occasionally need to be sharpened to stay in tip-top condition. Many shears, especially those that come apart, can be sharpened just like a knife on a whetstone. 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.

Why Take Our Word For It?

Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer with nearly 15 years of experience writing about consumer products, including kitchen accessories like shears. Since attending culinary school more than 13 years ago, Brigitt has always stocked a pair of kitchen shears and uses them for a wide range of tasks: spatchcocking chicken, cutting her kids’ pizza into smaller slices, chopping salad, cutting the crust off sandwiches (toddlers!), and more. To curate this list, Brigitt thoroughly vetted each product based on her own experience in the category, formally testing all five options on this list.