The Unsung Hero of Every Kitchen – Kitchen Shears

Kitchen shears, sometimes called kitchen scissors, are an often overlooked but incredibly useful utensil that every home cook should have in their arsenal. With the ability to snip, cut, trim, peel, open packages, crush herbs and garlic, and more, kitchen shears are a versatile multitasking tool. This blog post will explore the anatomy and components of kitchen shears, describe the many uses and capabilities, and make the case for why kitchen shears deserve a spot next to your stove and cutting board.

Anatomy of Kitchen Shears

Kitchen shears typically consist of two crossed metal blades connected by a spring or bolt, with ring-style plastic, rubber, or metal handles on the end for grip and leverage. High quality kitchen shears will be made of strong, stainless steel blades that will retain a sharp edge and avoid corrosion. The blade edges may have micro-serrations or a wavy pattern to better grip food and prevent slipping.

Where the two blades overlay, there is usually a section with ridges, bumps, or teeth. This textured section helps items from spinning or sliding around between the blades as you cut. Some kitchen shears also have a notch on one of the blades that lines up with a protrusion on the other blade. This allows the shears to be used for cracking nuts or shells by applying pressure to this specific spot.

The pivot point where the blades connect often features a screw or bolt that can be tightened or loosened to adjust blade tension and ease of motion. The tension needs to be taut enough to reliably cut through foods, but loose enough to comfortably spring open after each cut.

Many kitchen shears also include one or more of the following optional features:

• A soft grip cover on the ring handles for comfort
• A blade guard or sheath for safety when storing
• A built-in bottle opener or nutcracker at the pivot point
• A cleaning notch in the blades to easily remove food particles

With sturdy stainless steel blades, comfortable grip handles, and useful convenience features, a good set of kitchen shears is built to last for years as a useful kitchen prep assistant.

Uses for Kitchen Shears

From herbs to pizza, pasta to poultry, kitchen shears can make prep work a breeze. Here are some of the many ways to utilize this helpful tool:

Snipping Herbs – A quick snip with kitchen shears is the ideal way to chop delicate herbs like cilantro, parsley, chives, and others. The precise control offered by shears lets you chop the herbs without crushing or bruising.

Trimming Fat from Meat – Easily trim off excess fat, skin, and sinew from chicken, pork, steak, and other meats. The mini blades get into nooks and crannies that a knife can’t reach.

Cutting Bacon – Stop struggling to thinly slice bacon with a chef’s knife. Kitchen shears offer better leverage and control to neatly cut bacon into small pieces or lardons for cooking.

Opening Food Packages – No more wrestling with tough plastic packaging. Kitchen shears can snip right through to free your food. This goes for bags of frozen vegetables, vacuum sealed pouches, and more.

Crushing Garlic – Place whole garlic cloves between the blades of kitchen shears, hold over a pan or cutting board, and crush down firmly to smash the garlic and easily remove peel.

Trimming Pizza Rather than dirty and wash a pizza wheel, use kitchen shears to quickly trim and slice pizza, flatbreads, pastries, lasagna, and more.

Cutting Pasta – For long noodles like fettuccine or linguine, kitchen shears allow you to cut right in the pot or pan versus dirtying a cutting board and extra utensils.

Trimming Pie Crusts – Create flawless looking sweet and savory pies with clean edges, using shears to neatly trim off excess overhanging dough.

Making Decorative Edges – Get creative with funky crinkle cut carrot sticks, waffle cut fries, or zig-zag edges on sandwiches. Kitchen shears empower your inner artist.

Deveining Shrimp – Use the tip of kitchen shears to adeptly remove the digestive vein from shrimp. Safer than using a knife on the delicate shrimp.

Snipping Dried Fruit – Make custom combinations of dried fruits and nuts by snipping raisins, apricots, pineapple, and more into perfect bite-sized pieces.

There are so many ways kitchen shears can save time and simplify prep work. They are an indispensable addition next to any serious home cook’s knives and cutting boards.

Cleaning and Care Tips

Like any frequently handled kitchen tool, kitchen shears will require regular cleaning and occasional maintenance to keep them in good working order. Here are some care tips:

• Handwash blades and handles in hot soapy water after each use, rinse and air dry
• For stuck on debris in blade crevices, soak shears in a degreasing solution first
• Lubricate the pivot screw or bolt periodically with a drop of oil to maintain smooth opening and closing
• Sharpen the blade edges with a knife sharpener or file as needed if cutting performance declines
• Adjust the tension on the pivot point if blades become loose or fail to align correctly
• Consider purchasing blade guards or sheaths to protect the sharp edges for storage
• Replace kitchen shears that can no longer hold alignment, develop rust, or fail to produce clean cuts

With regular cleaning and occasional sharpening, high quality stainless steel kitchen shears should last for years of dependable service.

The Case for Kitchen Shears

Many home cooks already rely on their trusted knives and cutting boards for meal preparation. So why invest in kitchen shears in addition to these other tools? Here’s the case for adding this versatile, multitasking tool:

Precision – The compact size and spring loaded blades offers more controlled, accurate cuts than larger knives on many ingredients

Efficiency – Kitchen shears deliver speed and simplicity for otherwise tedious or challenging tasks

Adaptability – From snipping to slicing, crushing to trimming, opening packages to garnishing, kitchen shears tackle a wide range of jobs

Safety – Gripping handles provide protection from sharp blades and allow safer handling than knives on certain foods

Easy Storage – Compact design with folding handles condenses into a small footprint suitable for even cramped kitchens

Easy Cleaning – Compared to chef’s knives, the smooth stainless steel construction is simpler to hand wash and avoids damage in the dishwasher

Affordability – Quality kitchen shears can be purchased for around $20 or less, making them an budget friendly addition to your kitchen tools

When prepping ingredients like herbs, bacon, or pizza there is simply no better choice than a sturdy and sharp set of kitchen shears. They complement favorite knives and cutting boards perfectly. This versatility and convenience is why kitchen shears deserve a permanent spot in your tool arsenal.

So next time you’re hustling around the kitchen prepping a meal, don’t forget to pull out the kitchen shears to make the job faster and easier. This unsung hero can improve every home cook’s efficiency, creativity, and enjoyment in the kitchen. Add a set to your essential tools or gift a set to the cooking enthusiasts in your life.

As you enhance your kitchen with indispensable tools, don’t overlook the unsung hero – kitchen shears. These versatile multitaskers, with their precision, efficiency, adaptability, and safety features, are the perfect complement to your trusted knives and cutting boards.

Investing in a high-quality set of kitchen shears, like those available in SNF’s knife collections, can elevate your culinary experience. With sturdy stainless steel blades, comfortable grip handles, and additional convenience features, SNF’s kitchen shears are built to last and make meal preparation a breeze.

Browse SNF’s extensive knife collections to find the perfect set of kitchen shears for your needs. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook, these tools will become an essential part of your kitchen arsenal. Visit our website to explore the diverse options and make a purchase that will enhance your cooking efficiency and creativity.

Make the smart choice for your kitchen – add SNF’s kitchen shears to your essential tools today!