Selecting the right kitchen scissors (or shears) depends on whether you need a versatile tool for everyday tasks like snipping herbs or a heavy-duty workhorse for breaking down whole chickens. Best for Poultry & Heavy-Duty Tasks If you regularly "spatchcock" chicken or cut through joints and bone, you need poultry shears. These are typically spring-loaded to reduce hand strain and feature a bone notch to prevent slipping. OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears: Widely considered the best overall for heavy tasks, these feature curved, micro-serrated blades that grip skin and bone easily. They are spring-loaded for comfort and come apart for thorough cleaning. Gerior Heavy Duty Poultry Shears: A sturdy, highly-rated option with a 3.5mm thick blade. These are designed for slicing raw meat and hard tendons with minimal effort. Wusthof Poultry Shears: A premium, all-stainless steel choice known for its durability and precision. These are ideal for professional-grade portioning of duck, goose, or turkey.   OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears $29.99 OXO 4.7 (295) Opens in a new window Gerior Heavy Duty Poultry Shears $19.99 4.8 (27) Opens in a new window Wusthof Poultry Shears $120.00 Wüsthof 4.6 (11) Opens in a new window   Best Multipurpose Kitchen Scissors For daily tasks like opening packaging, cutting parchment paper, or snipping chives, look for take-apart models that are easy to sanitize. Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Poultry Shears: These use surgical-grade stainless steel to provide a clean cut through both meat and bone. They include a safety lock for secure storage in a drawer. All-Clad Stainless Steel Poultry Shears: Known for their timeless elegance and satin finish, these 10-inch shears offer great leverage and an integrated bone notch for control.   Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Poultry Shears $39.95 Williams Sonoma 4.1 (18) Opens in a new window Stainless Steel Poultry Shears $39.99 All-Clad Opens in a new window OXO Poultry Shears $29.95 OXO 5 (1) Opens in a new window   Key Features to Consider Take-Apart Design: Highly recommended for hygiene. Blades that separate allow you to wash away raw meat bacteria that can get trapped in the pivot screw. Micro-Serrations: These tiny teeth on the blade help "bite" into slippery food (like chicken skin) so it doesn't slide out while you're cutting. Spring-Loading: Essential for heavy-duty shears; the spring automatically opens the blades after each cut, which significantly reduces hand fatigue. Handle Comfort: Look for soft-grip or rubberized handles if you have smaller hands or struggle with grip strength.