There’s a lot you can do in the kitchen if you’re handy with a knife. I have been able to do almost everything – from opening cans to cutting a whole chicken into pieces for freezer storage.
However, while I can open a can with a knife, that’s not the optimal way to do it, and I’m putting myself at harm’s risk. Using a can opener is a far better option.
Best Poultry Shear Reviews
In the same way, while poultry shears aren’t considered a necessity in the kitchen by most people, they present a far better and safer way to do a lot of common kitchen tasks. Once I got a pair I found myself breezing through chores I found bothersome in the past.
If you’re on the fence about getting a pair of poultry shears, you should consider all the benefits they bring for a cost that’s quite insignificant.
That’s what I’ll be talking about right now, and I’ll give you my opinions on some of the favorite poultry shears around.
Why Would You Buy a Pair of Poultry Shears?
As I mentioned, plenty of people see poultry shears as a pointless accessory, something that will just sit in your kitchen, gathering dust and maybe end up getting used once per month.
I don’t blame them, though; I used to have a similar view a long time ago. However, that’s hardly the case which you only get to experience once you own a pair of them.
At first, once I got them, I only used them to open food packages and for little else. Over time I found myself using them more and more until they became a staple of my kitchen arsenal.
The first other use I found for them was simply chopping up different herbs and vegetables for soups. I could cut them up faster and be more precise while I do it. It was a small improvement, but it was noticeable.
After that, I found a ton of other uses. Like these ones:
- Cutting the shells off shrimp in one easy snip along its length, something that took me a minute to do turned into ten seconds.
- Dividing a whole chicken or turkey into pieces for freezer storage, was something that took a lot longer to do with a knife, no matter how sharp it was.
- Trimming off the excess dough off a pie or pizza when getting it ready for baking, a task that was quite troublesome otherwise, and that because easy as pie with a pair of shears.
- Slicing bread into tiny pieces for stuffing or simply trimming off the crust for someone who despises it as much as I do!
- Cutting canned food without taking it out of the can and making a mess, which is a tip I got from a friend of mine. It saved me tons of time, both when it comes to cutting food and cleaning the mess that was left afterward.
- Cleaning a whole fish and cutting it up into smaller pieces and fillets, is something that’s tricky and risky to do with a knife.
There are many more uses, but I believe you get the point by now – poultry shears just make so many tasks easier, and you’ll probably be able to find uses for them that I didn’t even think of!
What to Look For In a Pair of Poultry Shears?
Once you’re getting a pair of poultry shears you might not give it much thought – scissors are scissors, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple.
Due to their use, they’re quite different than regular scissors in many ways.
Because of this it’s not easy to find a good pair straight away and took me a few tries as well.
Sure, my first pair was functional, but by the time I got my fourth pair of poultry shears, I knew exactly what to look for.
Because of that, I bought a pair of shears that I could get much more use out of. So, this is what I learned during all that time, and here’s what you should keep an eye out for.
1. Sharpness
Of course, this is one of the main concerns. You get shears so you can cut things with them and you can’t cut squat if they’re not sharp! But there’s more to it than just the sharpness when you buy them.
You should also consider how easy they are to sharpen and how quickly they dull – if you can’t sharpen them, it doesn’t matter how good they are when you take them out of the box. The best material for sharpening is high-carbon steel. Shears from other materials are more difficult to sharpen.
The design of the shears is also important. Blades with serrated edges will be sharper, but you will probably need to take them to a professional sharpener. Shears that can be separated are also much easier to sharpen.
If you’re getting your shears from a store, just testing them out should be enough to see if they’re adequately sharp. In case you’re getting them online I suggest you read as many user reviews as possible to determine the quality.
2. Versatility
The main reason you’re buying a pair of poultry shears is for their function as a pair of scissors. However, they can also be so much more than just that.
Lots of poultry shears have other useful features like a toothed grip, for example. This handy addition is great for cracking bones or hard crustacean shells if you like eating a bit of crab meat! You can also use these as nutcrackers.
Other useful accessories can include a bottle opener, either on the handle or a part of the blade, a jar opener on the handle, and more. Some even include screwdriver tips!
Even when it comes to cutting, some great options can be included, like an adjustable fulcrum, which can allow you to make the shears better for cutting through tougher materials.
3. Safety
While a pair of poultry shears is certainly safer than a knife, you’d be surprised at how dangerous they can be. There’s a reason your mother kept telling you to never run with a pair of scissors! Because of this, getting a pair of shears that have good safety features is a must.
A sheath for the blades when the shears are not in use is a good thing to have. In case the shears are using a spring-loaded mechanism a lock to ensure that they stay close is also a must.
Non-slip handles are also a great safety feature. There’s a real risk of the shears slipping out of your hands when you’re cutting through some tough stuff, and they can be quite sharp. This feature will ensure that they stay firmly in your grasp no matter what.
4. Durability
This is one of the most pertinent things to consider when buying any kitchen tool and it goes for poultry shears as well. Since you’ll probably be using them for a lot of heavy-duty work, you’ll want them to last.
My first pair was poorly made, and they fell apart quite quickly – the screw in the middle just broke, which could have been quite dangerous. It was plastic, so that was a given.
Try to get shears that use metal screws and that have blades that extend into the handles. It’s even better if the blades and handles are made out of one piece. This makes the handles sturdier and will prevent them from breaking off if you put too much pressure on them.
The Best Poultry Shears of 2022 – Detailed Reviews
OXO Good Grips Spring-Loaded Poultry Shears
The blades are probably the favorite parts of these shears. They’re incredibly sharp, able to cut through anything with ease and they’re easy to sharpen as well, despite being made out of stainless steel.
Since the blades can be separated, you can also sharpen them safely, something that can be quite dangerous with other shears. This also makes them quite easy to clean, and you can just use some soap and warm water for that.
The spring-loaded mechanism used in these shears also makes them strong. When combined with the sharp blades, this makes slicing through bones a breeze.
The problem comes when you try to cut larger bones – since these shears can’t open up that far, their cutting capacity is low, and cutting larger things is not possible. If you constantly need to cut large pieces of bone or meat, there’s no reason for you to get these shears.
They are a bit difficult to hold as well, I pinched my fingers a couple of times due to how they are designed.
Overall, they are good but not quite as versatile as I would like them to be.
What I Liked
- The blades are extremely sharp and easy to sharpen
- You can separate the blades for cleaning or sharpening
- The spring-loaded mechanism makes slicing bones easy
What I Didn’t Like
- They can’t open up that far so they can’t cut larger things
- These shears are a bit difficult to hold
- Not quite as versatile as other models
MAIRICO Ultra Sharp Premium Heavy Duty Kitchen Shears
These shears come at a bargain, which is why I expected them to be a bit poorer than they are.
They surprised me by how sharp they were! They were able to cut through almost anything and held an edge over a long period. I was more than satisfied in that regard.
The fact that they were quite versatile was just a great bonus. I found a lot of use for the nutcracker and bottle opener accessories, and that’s something that even more expensive products lack.
Sadly, not everything is great, and I saw why they’re so cheap after a few months of use. These shears are not durable at all, and almost every part is prone to damage.
Most of the construction is flimsy plastic, and it starts breaking apart quite quickly. The blades, which are supposed to be stainless steel, are quite prone to rust too.
While the small handles were perfect for my hands, I know my husband had trouble using them, and he has hands that are quite large. It might be a problem for other people as well.
Overall, these are a good budget choice but don’t expect them to last.
What I Liked
- They come at an incredibly affordable price point
- Quite versatile with a few good additional functions
- These are quite sharp and don’t dull easily
What I Didn’t Like
- The handles might be a problem for people with larger hands
- Sadly, not that durable due to mostly plastic construction
- They rust easily as well
Heirloom Culinary Kitchen Scissors
The thing I liked the most about these shears is just how tough and strong they are!
The spring-loaded mechanism delivers the power, and you can rely on them to cut through tough materials without you needing to put in much strength.
In addition to that, they are quite durable, and you won’t have problems with them breaking in the middle of work. Both the blades and the handles are resistant to damage and sure to last for a long time.
Sadly, that’s where the praise ends. They weren’t quite sharp out of the box, and they dulled even further in a matter of a few weeks. Sharpening them turned out to be a chore, and they just refused to hold an edge for longer than a few days.
In addition to that, they were a bit difficult to hold for me. I have small hands, and these handles are just not designed for people like me. I’m a bit sad since these seemed like a good buy, despite the high price point.
What I Liked
- A strong pair of shears with a spring-loaded mechanism
- Perfectly balanced
- They have a durable construction
What I Didn’t Like
- They are quite expensive for what they offer
- Sadly they aren’t as sharp as most others and dull easily
- The handles are bad for anyone with smaller hands
Chef Remi’s Latest Kitchen Scissors
I was quite surprised by the sheer quality of these shears! They offer quite a few additional functions and are incredibly sharp out of the box. They also don’t dull easily, and you can cut almost anything with them. You don’t need to put in a lot of strength into it either.
The handles are also quite comfortable and well-suited for both righties and lefties. I liked using them quite a bit.
They also come at a great price that’s lower than that of most other kitchen scissors or poultry shears. However, that comes with a few caveats.
The largest issue these shears have is the fact that they aren’t as durable as others might be.
The plastic parts used in the construction are prone to breaking and bending. They also can’t be machine-washed because of it and are difficult, further adding to durability concerns.
However, for the price, these are probably the perfect shears you can get, something that deserves quite a bit of praise.
What I Liked
- Quite comfortable to use and decently sharp
- The price they come at is an incredible bargain
- They have a few additional functions that work well
- You can cut through almost anything with them
What I Didn’t Like
- They do have some issues with durability
- Cleaning them can be a bit difficult
Premium Poultry Shears by DAHLIA
Due to the low price that these shears come at I expected something that wouldn’t last for more than a few weeks, but they have held up great so far. The blades haven’t rusted, and nothing has been bent or broken.
The handles are nice as well – I have been having problems with holding a bunch of different poultry shears, but these fit great in my hands!
Sadly, I have to end the praise there because these shears have quite a few significant issues.
The first one is that they aren’t as sharp as they should be, and sharpening them doesn’t help a lot. Since cutting is practically the only thing they can do, that’s a huge deal. Taking them to a professional sharpener might help, I guess?
In addition to that, cleaning them can also be a chore since the blades can’t be separated.
Sadly, while they are great in some aspects, they just fall short in other, more important ones.
What I Liked
- The price is affordable to anyone
- Durable, which is surprising due to the price
- The handles are quite good and safe
What I Didn’t Like
- They are quite limited and lack additional functions
- It takes quite a bit of effort to use them, and they aren’t sharp
- Cleaning them is a bit difficult
The Poultry Shears I Like the Most
After considering everything, I had to come to a tough decision.
It wasn’t easy, but after much consideration, I had to pick one of these products, and it just so happened to be Chef Remi’s Latest Kitchen Scissors.
It was close, but they just offer far more for the price than most other poultry shears do.
The thing that truly won me over was the fact that they’re so comfortable and easy to use. Yes, they do have their issues, especially when it comes to durability, but I still think they’re more than worth buying and using.
Of course, you’re free to disagree with me, and it’s true that one of the other products here might fit you better – this one just happened to be the best for my needs. These are all great poultry shears, and you’ll probably be satisfied if you buy any of them.
I hope you’ll get what you need and keep excelling in your kitchen!