7 Smart Ways to Use Kitchen Shears

It’s widely accepted that the two pieces of cutlery no kitchen should be without are a chef’s knife (or Santoku knife) and a paring knife. But we believe the very next item on your wish list ought to be a pair of kitchen shears.

Not sure how often you’d actually reach for kitchen shears? Check out the smart tips we found for making the most of this handy tool. We think you’ll be amazed by all the ways you can use them.

1. Cutting Packaging

Instead of using your quality cutlery to slice into plastic food packages, grab a pair of kitchen shears. You won’t dull your knives, and you’ll have better control and be less likely to accidentally slice yourself.

2. Snipping Herbs

You can use herb shears or you can use kitchen shears. They’re especially good for delicate herbs like basil that can bruise when chopped on a cutting board. They're also handy for  snipping thyme, parsley, rosemary, and cilantro leaves from stems.

3. Chopping Salad Greens

Wash and dry greens and then  chop them right in the bowl with kitchen shears.

4. Cutting Pitas, Tortillas, and Bread Crusts

Kitchen shears will give you greater control when  cutting pitas and tortillas into triangles or strips. They’ll leave you with fewer crumbs, too. If you’ve got a picky eater who turns up their nose at bread crusts, kitchen shears will make quick work of those too.

5. Trimming Meat

While you can use kitchen shears for sectioning whole poultry, we’re referring to more everyday tasks here. Shears make it simple to cut fatty meats like bacon, prosciutto, and pancetta into bite-sized pieces before cooking. Likewise, use them to quickly and neatly cut strips of raw chicken, beef, and pork for stir-fry dishes.

6. Sectioning Grapes

Kitchen shears are the perfect tool for cutting  small sections of grapes off the main stem of a huge bunch. Arrange them on a serving platter or cheese board, or pop them into baggies for lunch snacks.

7. Chopping Dried Fruit

Avoid a sticky mess by using kitchen shears to  cut large dried fruit into smaller pieces for granola or sweet breads. Dates, figs, apricots, and other jumbo-sized dried fruits are much easier to handle using kitchen shears than a knife and cutting board.

We carry a variety of  kitchen shears at different price points from brands including Wusthof, Shun, Miyabi, and Zwilling J.A. Henckels. Consider adding a pair to your kitchen wish list!