6 Best Kitchen Shears (October 2026) Buying Guide

For most home cooks, the OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen Shears and Herb Scissors are the best overall pick on this list: serrated stainless blades handle herbs, poultry and packaging, and the blades come apart so you can clean them thoroughly. Kitchen shears are heavy-duty scissors built for food, with a stronger pivot and sturdier handles than office scissors, and the better ones cut through chicken joints and open stubborn packaging. The six options below range from everyday all-purpose pairs to spring-loaded poultry shears, so the right one depends on what you cut most, how much hand strength you have and whether you want a spare pair.

Quick List

• KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears – best for a single sheathed pair that goes in the dishwasher
• iBayam Kitchen Scissors 2-Pack – best for keeping one pair for raw meat and one for everything else
• OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Shears and Herb Scissors – best for all-round cooking with easy cleaning and herb work
• MAD SHARK Heavy Duty Poultry Shears – best for spring-loaded cutting of chicken and other poultry
• Huusk Japanese Steel Kitchen Scissors – best for fine, precise work on fish, herbs and boneless meat
• SZHLUX Heavy Duty Kitchen Scissors 2-Pack – best for a two-pair set aimed at tougher jobs like bones and fish

Which One Is Right for You?

Think about the work you actually do. If most of your cutting is herbs, bacon, pizza and packaging, a standard pair with comfortable handles is plenty. If you spatchcock chickens or snip through rib bones, spring-loaded or heavy-duty designs save wear on your hands. A two-pack is a practical answer to food safety, since you can dedicate one pair to raw poultry and keep the other clean for vegetables and herbs.

KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears with Protective Sheath Durable Stainless Steel Scissors, Dishwasher Safe, Soft Grip Comfort Handle, 8.72 Inch, Black

Included for '6 Best Kitchen Shears (October 2026) Buying Guide' because the listing specifies Dishwasher Safe and Soft Grip Comfort Handle, details this guide uses to compare options.

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iBayam Kitchen Scissors Shears All Purpose Heavy Duty, Protective Sheath | 2-Pack, Ultra-Sharp Stainless Blades, Soft Comfort-Grip, Dishwasher Safe, Cooking Tool & Gadget Sets Poultry Kitchen Utensils

Included for '6 Best Kitchen Shears (October 2026) Buying Guide' because the listing specifies Protective Sheath and 2-Pack, details this guide uses to compare options.

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OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen Shears and Herb Scissors | Soft Grip Handles, Stainless Steel Serrated Blades, Cuts Herbs, Poultry, Carboard & Meat, Easy to Clean

Included for '6 Best Kitchen Shears (October 2026) Buying Guide' because the listing specifies Soft Grip Handles and Stainless Steel Serrated Blades, details this guide uses to compare options.

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MAD SHARK Heavy Duty Poultry Shears,Spring Loaded Kitchen Shears,Dishwasher | Non-Slip Handle Kitchen Shears, Safety Lock, All Purpose Kitchen Scissors for Chicken, Meat Cutting, Turkey, Fish, Vegetables

Included for '6 Best Kitchen Shears (October 2026) Buying Guide' because the listing specifies Spring Loaded Kitchen Shears and Dishwasher, details this guide uses to compare options.

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Huusk Kitchen Scissors for Food, Japanese Steel Kitchen Shears All Purpose | Multifunction Sharp Cooking Meat Scissors for Fish, Herbs, Chicken, Turkey, Gifts for Women, Non-slip Handle, Dishwasher Safe

Included for '6 Best Kitchen Shears (October 2026) Buying Guide' because the listing specifies Japanese Steel Kitchen Shears All Purpose and Multifunction Sharp Cooking Meat Scissors for Fish, details this guide uses to compare options.

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SZHLUX 2-Pack Kitchen Scissors Heavy Duty, Premium Sharp Kitchen Shears for Food, Fish, Meat, Bones, Poultry and Vegetables with Strong Stainless Steel Blades Multi Purpose Cooking Scissors

Included for '6 Best Kitchen Shears (October 2026) Buying Guide' because the listing specifies Premium Sharp Kitchen Shears for Food and Fish, details this guide uses to compare options.

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All 6 Picks in Detail

1. KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears – Best for a Sheathed, Dishwasher-Safe Pair

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#1 Pick

KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears with Protective Sheath Durable Stainless Steel Scissors, Dishwasher Safe, Soft Grip Comfort Handle, 8.

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This is a single pair of all-purpose shears from a well-known kitchen brand. The listing names stainless steel blades, a soft-grip comfort handle, a protective sheath and dishwasher-safe construction, plus a length that starts with “8.” in the listing name. It suits a cook who wants one dependable pair that lives in a drawer without nicking other tools and that can be run through the dishwasher after a busy night.

• Durable stainless steel scissor blades
• Protective sheath for safe storage
• Soft-grip comfort handle
• Dishwasher safe per the listing
• Exact overall length, blade length and whether the blades separate: confirm on listing

The sheath is a real advantage if you keep shears in a crowded drawer, because it covers the points and edges. Handle comfort depends on hand size, so check the loop size if you have large or small hands. For heavy poultry work with bones, a spring-loaded design will be easier on your grip, though this pair is a sound choice for general kitchen tasks.

Everyday use: this is the kind of pair that suits opening produce bags, trimming green beans, snipping bacon into a hot pan and cutting parchment to size. Because it is a single pair, wash it after raw meat before moving on to herbs. When you first unpack it, check that the blades close smoothly along their full length with no gap near the tips.

Pros

• Protective sheath
• Dishwasher safe per the listing
• Soft-grip handle

Cons

• Single pair only
• Not built specifically for bone-heavy poultry work

Compared with the OXO shears, it adds a sheath but, as far as the listing says, does not advertise blades that come apart or a built-in herb stripper.

2. iBayam Kitchen Scissors 2-Pack – Best for Dedicated Raw-Meat and Everyday Pairs

#2 Pick

iBayam Kitchen Scissors Shears All Purpose Heavy Duty, Protective Sheath | 2-Pack, Ultra-Sharp Stainless Blades, Soft Comfort-Grip, Dishwash

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The iBayam listing is a two-pack of all-purpose heavy-duty kitchen scissors with protective sheaths, ultra-sharp stainless blades and soft comfort-grip handles, and it is described as dishwasher safe. Getting two pairs in one pack is the main appeal. It suits households that want to keep a pair strictly for raw chicken and fish and another for herbs, vegetables and dried fruit.

• Two scissors in the pack
• Protective sheath per the listing
• Stainless steel blades described as ultra-sharp
• Soft comfort-grip handles
• Dishwasher-safe wording in the listing; confirm care instructions on the product page

The practical benefit is food-safety separation. Federal food safety guidance recommends washing utensils that touched raw meat in hot, soapy water and keeping raw and ready-to-eat foods apart, and having a second pair makes that habit easy. Mark one pair, for example with a bit of colored tape, so everyone in the house knows which is which.

Setup idea: keep the sheathed pair for raw proteins in a drawer near the prep area and the second pair beside the herb pot or fruit bowl. Because the sheaths cover the blades, tossing a pair in a drawer is safer for fingers. Confirm the handle size on the product page if you have particularly small or large hands, since a two-pack is only a bargain if both pairs fit comfortably.

Pros

• Two pairs in one pack
• Sheaths protect blades and fingers
• Easy to assign one pair to raw meat

Cons

• Blade length and thickness: confirm on listing
• Fewer extras than the OXO design

Next to the SZHLUX two-pack, it is described as an all-purpose set rather than one aimed at bones, so it fits lighter daily cutting better.

3. OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen Shears and Herb Scissors – Best All-Rounder for Easy Cleaning

#3 Pick

OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen Shears and Herb Scissors | Soft Grip Handles, Stainless Steel Serrated Blades, Cuts Herbs, Poultry, Car

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OXO’s multi-purpose shears pair stainless steel serrated blades with soft grip handles, and the listing says they cut herbs, poultry and more. According to OXO’s product information, the blades come apart for cleaning and an herb stripper is built into the design, which helps with removing leaves from tougher stems. The serrated edge grips slippery skin and packaging. It suits cooks who want one pair for the most common jobs without overthinking it.

• Stainless steel serrated blades
• Soft grip handles
• Blades separate for cleaning, per the maker’s description
• Herb stripper built in
• Small locking mechanism to hold the blades shut when stored, per retailer descriptions

Pulling the blades apart makes it simple to wash out the pivot, where food bits tend to hide, and that is the main reason it earns the top spot for general use. Some retailer pages recommend hand washing, so follow the care card that comes with the product. The compact size also suits smaller hands.

Why it leads: the combination of serrated edges, a comfortable grip and a design that opens up for cleaning covers most of what a home cook asks of shears. It also works for light jobs like cutting twine on a roast, trimming kitchen string, snipping chives and opening snack bags. If you often cut thick raw bones, add a poultry-specific pair rather than stressing this one.

Pros

• Blades come apart for thorough cleaning
• Herb stripper adds useful versatility
• Comfortable handles

Cons

• Not designed as a heavy-duty bone cutter
• Hand washing may be recommended

Against the MAD SHARK poultry shears, it is the better pick for herbs and daily jobs, while the MAD SHARK takes over for joints and bones.

4. MAD SHARK Heavy Duty Poultry Shears – Best for Spring-Loaded Poultry Work

#4 Pick

MAD SHARK Heavy Duty Poultry Shears,Spring Loaded Kitchen Shears,Dishwasher | Non-Slip Handle Kitchen Shears, Safety Lock, All Purpose Kitch

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MAD SHARK’s listing describes heavy-duty poultry shears that are spring loaded, with a non-slip handle, a safety lock and dishwasher-safe wording. The spring opens the blades after each cut, so you only have to squeeze, which cuts the effort for spatchcocking chicken, trimming wings or cutting through cartilage. It suits cooks who handle whole birds often, plus anyone with tired hands.

• Spring-loaded action
• Non-slip handle
• Safety lock for storage
• Marketed as heavy duty for poultry
• Blade material, length and exact capacity: confirm on listing

Heavy poultry shears do best when you cut near joints rather than forcing through thick bone. Keep your off hand clear of the blade path, lock the shears after use, and wash them in hot, soapy water right after raw poultry, as federal food safety guidance advises. Do not rinse raw chicken itself before cutting, since that tends to spread bacteria around the sink.

Technique: to spatchcock a chicken, cut along both sides of the backbone from the tail forward, letting the spring reopen the blades between cuts. Keep the lock engaged whenever the shears are stored, and keep them out of reach of children. Because the listing mentions dishwasher compatibility, you can run them through a cycle after hand rinsing off the worst of the raw residue, but confirm the care instructions first.

Pros

• Spring action reduces hand effort
• Safety lock for storage
• Strong build aimed at poultry

Cons

• Bulkier than all-purpose scissors
• Less suited to delicate herbs

Compared with the SZHLUX heavy-duty pair, this one is the more specialized poultry tool and adds a spring and lock.

5. Huusk Japanese Steel Kitchen Scissors – Best for Precise Cutting of Fish and Herbs

#5 Pick

Huusk Kitchen Scissors for Food, Japanese Steel Kitchen Shears All Purpose | Multifunction Sharp Cooking Meat Scissors for Fish, Herbs, Chic

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Huusk markets these scissors as Japanese-steel, multifunction kitchen shears for food, fish, herbs and chicken. The Japanese steel wording points toward a sharper, finer edge, and it suits cooks who do careful work such as trimming fish fins, snipping herbs and cutting boneless meat. The listing is cut off in the data, so exact specifications need to be confirmed.

• Japanese steel blades per the listing
• Marketed for fish, herbs and chicken
• Multifunction all-purpose use
• Sheath, handle material and dishwasher compatibility: confirm on listing
• Steel grade and blade length: confirm on listing

Harder steel can hold an edge well but may chip if used on bone, so keep this pair for food rather than hard tasks. If the listing does not specify care, hand wash and dry promptly to protect the edge and the pivot. Treat the steel claim as a marketing description and check the product page for the exact alloy.

Best uses: trimming a whole fish, snipping chives over eggs, cutting up chicken thighs for a stir-fry and cutting dried herb bundles. Because fine edges are easier to damage than thick ones, avoid using these as a general-purpose tool for opening cans or cutting cardboard. Store them with the tips covered, using any case or sheath that comes with them.

Pros

• Suited to fine, precise cuts
• Japanese steel positioning
• Useful for fish and herbs

Cons

• Less information on durability and care in the listing
• Not the pick for bone-heavy tasks

Compared with the KitchenAid pair, it leans toward sharp precision rather than a branded, sheathed everyday tool.

6. SZHLUX Heavy Duty Kitchen Scissors 2-Pack – Best Two-Pair Set for Tougher Jobs

#6 Pick

SZHLUX 2-Pack Kitchen Scissors Heavy Duty, Premium Sharp Kitchen Shears for Food, Fish, Meat, Bones, Poultry and Vegetables with Strong Stai

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SZHLUX sells a two-pack of heavy-duty kitchen scissors described as premium and sharp, for food, fish, meat, bones, poultry and vegetables, with strong stainless steel construction. The wide task list shows it is meant as a hardworking set. It suits households that want a spare pair for raw proteins and that want something stronger than a light herb snip.

• Two scissors in the pack
• Marketed as heavy duty
• Listed for food, fish, meat, bones, poultry and vegetables
• Strong stainless steel per the listing
• Sheath, handle type and dishwasher compatibility: confirm on listing

As with any scissors, how well it handles bones depends on blade thickness and the pivot, which the listing text does not state. Use it for small bones and joints and avoid prying or twisting. Dedicate one pair to raw meat and fish and wash it right away in hot, soapy water.

How to use a set: label one pair for raw meat and fish, and keep the other for vegetables, herbs and packaging, so you are never tempted to wipe and reuse a pair across tasks. Check the listing for whether the blades are serrated and whether handles are molded or wrapped, since those details affect grip with greasy hands.

Pros

• Two pairs in one set
• Built and described for tougher jobs
• Covers fish, meat and vegetables

Cons

• Specifications such as blade length need confirming
• No spring or lock mentioned in the listing name

Compared with the iBayam two-pack, it positions itself for heavier work, while the iBayam leans toward general-purpose use with sheaths.

Specs Compared

How We Chose These

We built this list from the product information published for each listing and from manufacturer descriptions where available. We looked at blade material, whether the pair has a sheath or lock, how the handles are described, pack size and the tasks each listing says it handles, then grouped the six into everyday shears, poultry-focused shears, and multi-pack sets. We gave extra weight to features that make cleaning easier, since food residue at the pivot is the main hygiene problem with kitchen scissors. Where the listing text does not state a value, such as exact blade length or steel grade, we say so and ask you to confirm it on the product page rather than guessing.

What to Look For

Blade Style and Edge

Straight, plain edges slice cleanly through herbs, scallions and paper-thin foods. Serrated edges grip slippery surfaces such as chicken skin, wet fish and plastic packaging, so the blade does not slide away before it cuts. Many all-purpose shears use one serrated blade and one micro-serrated or plain blade. For poultry work, look for thicker blades with a strong pivot, because thin blades flex and can twist off the cut when they meet a joint.

Takes-Apart Designs and Cleaning

The pivot screw or rivet is where raw juices collect, and shears that open fully or separate are far easier to clean. If you buy a pair that does not come apart, open the blades wide and wash the pivot area under hot water with a brush, then dry them well. Food safety agencies advise washing anything that touched raw poultry or meat in hot, soapy water and keeping raw and ready-to-eat foods apart, so plan on one wash right after each raw-meat job. Dishwasher-safe wording helps, but repeated cycles can dull edges and loosen pivots, so many cooks hand wash their best pair anyway.

Handle Comfort and Leverage

Handles with soft or textured grips reduce slipping when your hands are wet or greasy. Larger finger loops suit bigger hands, and a spring between the handles opens the blades for you, which helps in repetitive jobs like cutting up several chickens. A rule of thumb: if you plan to cut more than a few birds a month, spring-assisted poultry shears are worth having, while casual cooks will be fine with a standard pair. Left-handed users should look for symmetrical handles, since a pair that is molded for right hands can feel awkward.

Safety Lock, Sheath and Storage

A lock keeps the blades closed in a drawer, and a sheath covers the points and edges. Both matter if children are around or if you reach into drawers without looking. If a pair has neither, store it in a knife block slot, a magnetic strip or a drawer organizer. Never leave scissors in a sink of soapy water where someone can reach in unaware.

Materials, Rust and Long-Term Care

Stainless steel resists rust better than plain carbon steel, but stainless can still spot if it sits wet. Dry the blades and pivot after washing, and put a drop of food-safe mineral oil on the pivot a few times a year if the action feels stiff. Avoid soaking, and avoid cutting acidic foods and then leaving the scissors unwashed for hours. Plastic handles can crack in very hot dishwashers over time, which is another reason many cooks wash by hand. A pair that is stored dry and cleaned promptly can last for many years.

Worked Example

Suppose you roast chicken twice a month and also snip herbs daily. A good plan is one all-purpose pair for herbs, bacon and packaging, plus one stronger pair for poultry. If you only want to buy once, a two-pack lets you keep a labeled pair for raw meat. If you are choosing a single pair, favor one that you can fully clean, because a pair you can keep clean is a pair you will use often.

Questions

Are kitchen shears better than a knife for chicken?

For cutting through joints, trimming fat and spatchcocking, shears are often easier and safer because the bird stays put while the blades do the work. A knife is still better for slicing cooked meat. Many cooks use both.

Can I put kitchen shears in the dishwasher?

Several of these listings say dishwasher safe, but the wording varies, so check the care instructions on the product page. Even when allowed, hand washing protects the edge and pivot. Always dry them fully to prevent rust.

Do I need separate shears for raw meat?

It is not required, but it is a sensible habit, since federal food safety guidance stresses keeping raw meat and poultry away from ready-to-eat foods. If you only own one pair, wash it thoroughly in hot, soapy water between tasks. A two-pack makes the separation easy.

How do I sharpen kitchen scissors?

Many shears can be sharpened with a sharpening tool made for scissors, or by a professional, though pairs with serrated edges are harder to resharpen. Check whether the maker recommends a method. Replacing a worn pair is sometimes simpler than restoring it.

What is the herb stripper on some shears?

It is a small notched or holed section on the shears that you pull a woody herb stem through to strip off the leaves. It works for rosemary, thyme and similar herbs. It is a useful extra but not a necessity.

Can kitchen shears cut through bone?

Poultry shears are designed to cut through small bones and joints, while light all-purpose scissors are not. Look at the listing for words like heavy duty or poultry, and avoid forcing any pair through large, thick bones such as beef ribs.

Update History

• October 20, 2026 – Initial publication; product set drawn from current catalog listings.
• Check the product page for current specifications and availability before buying.

Sources

• Manufacturer and retailer product descriptions for OXO, KitchenAid, iBayam, MAD SHARK, Huusk and SZHLUX shears
• Retailer listing titles and specification fields
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and CDC guidance on cross-contamination and washing utensils after raw poultry