In Praise of Kitchen Scissors
Top 10 Most Popular Kitchen Scissors
Do you have kitchen scissors that make you glad to use them? Here are ten pairs that people love. Some are scissors and some are their stronger cousins, kitchen shears.
They are designed for every possible cutting job around the kitchen--cutting chicken turns up very often in people's comments--and some pairs have been known to migrate to the workshop, sewing room, RV, and home office, due to their good designs and versatility.
Recently I bought an ordinary pair of scissors in the office supplies section of a big box store. They ended up in the kitchen, where they were not a pleasure to use. So I did some research online. I went to find which kinds were the most popular at Amazon, and the top 10 for kitchen use are listed here, with my comments. (The top 10 in popularity is not identical with recent best sellers. It has more to do with numbers of favorable reviews and how many stars given, updated frequently.)
As I am left-handed, when I could figure out whether a pair was suitable for lefties, I noted it below.
As a result of doing my research, I have ordered a couple of pairs. Once I use them for a while, I will update this review. I really do like to get well-made, long-lasting tools of any kind! Photo credit: 
1. Joyce Chen Unlimited Scissors - Being Red Makes Them Easy to Find
These scissors caught my eye right away... well, they are the most popular at Amazon as I write this... but also because they are for both right-handed and left-handed people.
They are comfortable and sharp, a great combination--and suitable for people with small or large hands. (Some reviewers reported hiding them from other people in their household!)
Some Benefits:
- They last for years without needing sharpening.
- They can be washed in the dishwasher.
- Their handles are comfortable.
- Cooking professionals like chefs use them, and recommend them.
- They cut with exactness.
I bought a pair of these. Add me to the long list of very happy customers. I use them several times a day. We took them with us on a road trip recently, and found many uses for them. Dog owners use them for many purposes!
2. Progressive International Kitchen Shears - In a Cheerful Green, with Magnetic Cover to Put on Your Fridge
These cheerfully colored shears come with a magnetic cover and I didn't understand why until I read that you can put the cover on your refrigerator, then keep the shears very conveniently located.
They are strong and sharp.
3. Wusthof 5558-1 Come-Apart Kitchen Shears - Good for right or left handers
Wusthof is a well-known quality knife company, and these popular shears show the same good design and sharpness. They have a jar opener in the handle.
These can be taken apart to sharpen them. Wusthof makes a good sharpener that is linked to on the Amazon page.
4. J.A. Henckels Twinshear Kitchen Shears
These are quite similar to the ones listed just above here. Made by a well-known knife company, they are sturdy. They come apart for cleaning, and they have a bottle opener in the handle.
People love them, and report that they keep their sharpness for years.
They are not meant to cut metal.
I bought a pair of these at the same time I got the Joyce Chen pair that is #1. At first I thought the others would be more useful, but I am using both pairs in different ways. These get the heavier-duty jobs.
Three Informative Videos
The first one is just a minute, explaining the value of using shears in the kitchen.
The next one is the same person showing how to cut up a chicken, using kitchen shears and a sharp knife.
The last one is from J.A. Henckel, showing how they manufacture their top-knotch shears. (They are in places #4 and #6 in popularity on this list.)
5. RSVP Herb Scissors - An unusual blade for a specific task
These are meant to cut fresh herbs. If you do that a lot, click through to Amazon where the image is larger and take a look at their interesting blades.
6. J.A. Henckels International Kitchen Shears
Like the Henckels shears in position #4 here, these are very well made. They last for a very long time typically.
7. Norpro Triple Blade Herb Scissors
It's interesting to me that two pairs of herbs scissors are among the kitchen scissors most highly recommended at Amazon.
They are fun to use, and do save time. Just snip over your cooking pot, salad bowl, or plate!
8. Kuhn Rikon Ultimate Shears - In Black, Red, or Green
You have a choice of three different colors on the same page. Many people prefer colored shears because they are easier to find in the kitchen.
These will cut carpet, branches, and wire as well as the more likely items in your kitchen.
They look more like garden shears than like regular scissors, and they come with a sheath for storage.
How to Sharpen Scissors
Some of the 10 scissors and shears listed on this page will need sharpening, but some of the others seem to stay sharp for quite a few years without your doing anything. I suggest you start by reading the packaging on any pair that you buy.
Here are links to two how-to articles on sharpening scissors.
- How to Sharpen Scissors: 6 Methods - wikiHow
How to Sharpen Scissors. After continual use, all scissors will not cut as well as when you first bought them. If you are having trouble cutting with your scissors, you can sharpen the blades at home to save money. This article will show... - How to Sharpen Scissors at Home? | The Housing Forum, the home and lifestyle information center
There are many methods for sharpening scissors at home. These methods range from simple to complicated. The more complicated the method, however, the more...
9. Kitchen - Shears- 1120 MM, Blister Pack with Magnetic Plastic Sheath - Also called Kershaw Task Master Shears
Considerably more expensive than the other shears on this list, but not necessarily any better. They do include bottle opener, jar opener, nutcracker, and a lid lifter.
Like #2 above, they have a magnetic sheath you can attach to your fridge.
The blades come apart for cleaning.
10. Victorinox Kitchen Utility Shears with Bottle Opener - In Black or White, or Is That Red?
The page at Amazon says these come in black or white but when I clicked on the word white, a red image comes up! Whatever color they are, these are very good shears.
These Make Great Gifts!
Give them by themselves, or combine them with other kitchen items in a package. Aprons, can openers, wine bottle openers, whatever you think of!
If you were giving the gift to someone with a sense of humor who lived with you or near you... give them a pair of these shears and a whole chicken from the grocery store!
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