Best BIFLKitchen Shears
Quality kitchen shears are the most underrated tool in your kitchen. The right pair lasts 20+ years and handles tasks your knives can't. Here's how to choose shears you'll never replace.
TL;DR: Quick Recommendations
OXO Good Grips Kitchen Shears
~$25
Best balance of quality and price
Wusthof Come-Apart Kitchen Shears
~$55
German steel, lifetime warranty
Shun Multi-Purpose Shears
~$70
Razor sharp, beautiful design
KitchenAid All Purpose Shears
~$15
Solid entry point, take-apart design
Bottom line: OXO Good Grips ($25) is perfect for most home cooks. Upgrade to Wusthof ($55) for lifetime warranty and superior edge retention. All recommended shears feature take-apart designs for proper cleaning.
Why Quality Kitchen Shears Matter
Kitchen shears handle tasks that are awkward or impossible with knives: spatchcocking chicken, snipping herbs, cutting pizza, trimming fat, and opening stubborn packaging. Yet most home cooks use cheap shears that dull quickly, rust at the pivot, and eventually break.
"I finally bought proper kitchen shears after years of struggling with cheap ones. The difference is night and day. These cut through chicken bones like butter and I can actually clean them properly."
— r/BuyItForLife
The BIFL Difference
- Take-Apart Design: Essential for cleaning. The pivot area traps food and moisture. Take-apart shears allow thorough washing and prevent rust.
- Quality Steel: Higher-carbon stainless steel holds an edge 5-10x longer than cheap alternatives. German and Japanese steel are the gold standards.
- Comfortable Handles: Quality shears have cushioned, ergonomic handles for extended cutting without fatigue. Cheap shears cause hand pain and blisters.
Best BIFL Kitchen Shears
Budget (Under $30)
OXO Good Grips Kitchen & Herb Scissors
Stainless Steel
Take-apart, soft-grip handles, herb stripper
Satisfaction guarantee
The community favorite for value. Comfortable cushioned handles, take-apart design for cleaning, and a built-in herb stripper. Sharp enough for poultry, comfortable for extended use. The satisfaction guarantee means OXO will replace if you're unhappy.
KitchenAid All Purpose Shears
Stainless Steel
Take-apart, bone notch, bottle opener
1 year
Solid entry-level shears that punch above their price. Take-apart design, bone notch for poultry, and built-in bottle opener. Not as comfortable as OXO for extended use, but perfectly serviceable for occasional cooking.
Mid-Range ($30-60)
Wusthof Come-Apart Kitchen Shears
High-carbon stainless steel
Take-apart, micro-serrated edge, lifetime warranty
Lifetime
German-made with the same steel quality as their knives. Micro-serrated edge grips food without slipping. Comfortable handles, perfect balance, and Wusthof's legendary lifetime warranty including free sharpening. The buy-once choice.
Messermeister Take-Apart Shears
German stainless steel
Take-apart, bone notch, ambidextrous
Lifetime
Often overlooked, Messermeister offers similar German quality to Wusthof at a lower price. Ambidextrous handles work for left-handed cooks. Bone notch handles poultry joints easily. Lifetime warranty backs the quality.
Premium ($60+)
Shun Multi-Purpose Shears
Japanese high-carbon stainless
Take-apart, 65 HRC hardness, ergonomic handles
Limited lifetime
Japanese precision in shear form. Harder steel (65 HRC) holds an edge longer than German alternatives. Razor sharp out of the box. The beautiful design looks at home in any kitchen. For those who appreciate Japanese craftsmanship.
MAC Professional Kitchen Shears
Japanese stainless steel
Take-apart, serrated blade, lightweight
Limited
From the makers of the legendary MAC MTH-80 knife. Lightweight yet durable, with the sharpness MAC is known for. Less ornate than Shun but equally functional. Great for cooks who love their MAC knives.
What to Look For in BIFL Kitchen Shears
Take-Apart Construction
Non-negotiable for BIFL. Riveted shears that can't separate trap food and moisture in the pivot, leading to rust and bacteria. All quality shears should separate for thorough cleaning.
High-Carbon Stainless Steel
Look for German or Japanese stainless steel. Higher carbon content means better edge retention. The blade should be easy to sharpen when needed. Avoid mystery "stainless steel" with no origin specified.
Bone Notch
A notch near the pivot designed for breaking chicken and poultry joints. Essential if you spatchcock chickens or break down poultry. This leverage point makes clean cuts through joints easy.
Comfortable Handles
Cushioned, ergonomic handles reduce fatigue during extended use. Soft-grip materials shouldn't be slippery when wet. Test how they feel in your hand before buying if possible.
Care & Maintenance
After Every Use
- 1. Separate the blades completely
- 2. Wash each blade with warm soapy water
- 3. Pay special attention to the pivot area
- 4. Dry thoroughly before reassembling
- 5. Store in a dry location (never in a drawer where they'll bang around)
Periodic Maintenance
- Monthly: Apply a drop of food-safe mineral oil to the pivot for smooth operation
- As needed: Sharpen when cutting requires more pressure than usual. Use a fine sharpening stone or professional service
- Never: Put in dishwasher (damages handles and can cause rust), leave wet, or use on frozen foods
Frequently Asked Questions
Are expensive kitchen shears worth it?
For daily use, yes. Quality shears ($40-80) use harder steel that stays sharp longer, feature take-apart designs for easy cleaning, and have comfortable handles for extended cutting. Cheap shears ($10-15) dull quickly, rust, and often break at the pivot. Over 20 years, one $50 pair costs less than replacing $15 shears every 2 years.
What are kitchen shears used for?
Kitchen shears handle tasks knives struggle with: spatchcocking chicken, cutting through poultry bones, snipping herbs, opening packages, cutting bacon and pizza, trimming pie crust, and cutting twine. Many cooks use shears more than their chef knife. Good shears include a bone notch for breaking chicken joints.
Should kitchen shears come apart?
Yes, take-apart shears are essential for BIFL quality. The pivot area traps food and moisture, leading to rust and bacteria. Take-apart designs allow thorough cleaning and drying. All recommended shears feature this design. Avoid riveted shears that cannot be separated.
How do you sharpen kitchen shears?
Quality shears can be sharpened with a fine sharpening stone or sent to professional sharpeners. Sharpen each blade individually at the factory angle (usually 20-25 degrees). Some brands like Wusthof offer free lifetime sharpening. Cheap shears often cannot be sharpened due to poor steel quality.
OXO vs Wusthof kitchen shears?
OXO ($25) is the best value with comfortable handles and solid performance. Wusthof ($50-70) uses superior German steel that holds an edge longer and offers lifetime warranty. For occasional use, OXO is perfect. For daily use or professional kitchens, Wusthof justifies the premium.
Ready to Buy Your Last Kitchen Shears?
For most home cooks, the $25 OXO Good Grips is all you need. Upgrade to Wusthof ($55) for lifetime warranty and superior edge retention. Either way, quality shears will serve you for decades.