Micro-serrated stainless blades for herbs and twine; no bone notch listed
Cleaning & care · 7.5
Blades separate for cleaning; dishwasher use not stated
Grip & handedness · 8.0
Soft non-slip handles with cushioned pads
Extras & warranty · 6.5
Herb stripper above handles; no warranty listed
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forEveryday prep, from herbs to twine and meat
An all-round pair from OXO's Good Grips line with micro-serrated stainless steel blades and soft handles with cushioned pads. A herb stripper sits above the handles, and the blades separate for cleaning.
Strengths
Blades separate for easy cleaning
Built-in herb stripper above the handles
Weaknesses
Dishwasher use not stated on OXO's product page
No bone notch listed, so less suited to poultry joints than a dedicated poultry shear
Stamped stainless, light 0.23 lb, not described as heavy-duty
Cleaning & care · 9.0
Blades come apart and dishwasher safe, per Henckels
Grip & handedness · 7.5
Non-slip handles; no left-hand claim made
Extras & warranty · 8.0
Integrated bottle opening tools and lifetime warranty
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forCooks who want a low-cost pair they can put in the dishwasher
Stainless steel kitchen shears with non-slip handles and integrated bottle opening tools. Henckels says the blades come apart for thorough cleaning and the shears are dishwasher safe.
Strengths
Dishwasher safe and blades come apart, per Henckels
420J2 stainless, partially serrated edge, bone notch for thin poultry bones
Cleaning & care · 7.0
Blades fully separate, but Shun recommends hand washing, not the dishwasher
Grip & handedness · Not rated
The documented information does not establish this criterion.
Extras & warranty · 7.5
Made in Japan, limited lifetime warranty; highest price in guide
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forCooks who want Japanese-made shears for BBQ, herbs and spatchcocking
Made in Japan with 420J2 stainless steel blades, one partially serrated edge and a bone notch for flower stems or thin poultry bones. The blades fully separate for cleaning.
Strengths
Made in Japan with a limited lifetime warranty
Bone notch and partially serrated edge
Weaknesses
Highest price in this guide
Shun recommends hand washing its shears rather than the dishwasher
Dimensions, material and details
Dimensions
Overall: .6" thick x 3.75" wide x 9" long
Blade material
Japanese 420J2 stainless steel
Weight
9.1 oz (258 g)
Blade edge
Partially serrated, bone notch
Blades separate
Yes
Dishwasher safe
No; hand washing recommended (Shun shears care guidance)
Curved tapered blades and bone notch built for poultry; specialist shape
Cleaning & care · 7.5
Comes apart for cleaning; dishwasher use not stated
Grip & handedness · 8.5
Handle loop and bolster stop the hand slipping forward
Extras & warranty · 7.5
Handle lock keeps blades closed for storage; no warranty listed
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forSpatchcocking and trimming chicken and other poultry
Dedicated poultry shears with curved, tapered stainless steel blades and a blade notch that secures bones. A handle loop and bolster stop your hand slipping forward, and a handle lock keeps the blades closed for storage.
Strengths
Blade notch and curved, tapered blades made for poultry
Handle lock for safe storage; comes apart for cleaning
Break-resistant stainless, twig notch; 3.35 inch blades for tougher jobs
Cleaning & care · 9.0
Blades come apart and dishwasher safe
Grip & handedness · 9.0
Grip designed for both left- and right-handed users
Extras & warranty · 8.5
Bottle opener, nut cracker, lid lifter and lifetime warranty; heavy at 0.38 lb
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forLeft-handed cooks and tougher jobs in and out of the kitchen
An all-stainless, heavy-duty take-apart shear that Henckels describes as break resistant, with a grip for both left- and right-handed users. It adds a bottle opener, twig notch, nut cracker and prying tool/lid lifter.
Strengths
Grip designed for both left- and right-handed users
Dishwasher safe, blades come apart, lifetime warranty
Weaknesses
Heaviest Henckels pair here at 0.38 lb
Costs more than twice as much as the standard Henckels pair at list price
Left-handed cooks and tougher jobs in and out of the kitchen
8.19 x 2.91 x 0.35 in (L x W x H)
Yes
Yes
OUR METHOD
How we scored
Manufacturer specs, not hands-on tests. Each pick is rated out of 10 on four things:
35%Blades & cutting jobs
25%Cleaning & care
20%Grip & handedness
20%Extras & warranty
What to look for in kitchen shears
Choose shears that come apartseparate blades let you clean food from the pivot
Match blades to the jobmicro-serrated for herbs and packaging, curved with bone notch for poultry
Check the care instructionsdishwasher safety varies, so confirm for your exact model
Frequently asked questions
What are the best kitchen scissors?
The OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the best overall pick, with micro-serrated stainless blades, a built-in herb stripper and blades that separate for cleaning. The Henckels Take-Apart Kitchen Shears are the budget pick, and the manufacturer lists them as dishwasher safe. For poultry, choose the OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears instead.
Are kitchen scissors and kitchen shears the same thing?
In practice the two names are used for the same tool. OXO sells its pair as Kitchen And Herb Scissors, while Henckels and Shun call theirs kitchen shears, and all of them are made for food prep jobs like snipping herbs, trimming meat and opening packaging. Look at blade shape, notches and cleaning features rather than the name on the box.
Which kitchen shears are best for cutting chicken?
The OXO Poultry Shears are built for it, with curved, tapered blades and a blade notch that secures bones. The Shun Kitchen Shears have a bone notch for thin poultry bones, and Shun lists spatchcocking among their uses. Henckels also mentions prepping poultry for its Heavy-Duty Take-Apart Kitchen Shears.
Can I put kitchen shears in the dishwasher?
It depends on the model. Henckels lists both its Take-Apart Kitchen Shears and its Heavy-Duty Take-Apart Kitchen Shears as dishwasher safe, while Shun recommends washing its shears by hand because repeated dishwasher cycles can dull the blades and affect the pivot. OXO's product pages for its Kitchen And Herb Scissors and Poultry Shears do not state dishwasher use, so check the packaging.
