Kitchen Scissors

About Kitchen Scissors

Kitchen scissors represent an indispensable cutting tool for both professional culinary environments and domestic kitchens, delivering versatility and precision that conventional knives simply cannot replicate in many situations. Unlike ordinary household scissors, kitchen scissors are purpose-engineered to withstand the rigorous demands of food preparation, from snipping delicate herbs and cutting through poultry joints to opening stubborn packaging and trimming pastry dough. These specialised scissors are constructed with robust stainless steel blades that resist corrosion and maintain their cutting edge even with regular exposure to moisture, food acids, and frequent use in busy kitchen environments.

The selection available from Tooled-Up.com features quality kitchen scissors from trusted brands including Gardena, WISS, Faithfull, and Spear and Jackson, combining ergonomically designed handles with precision-ground blades to deliver clean, accurate cuts across a wide range of materials. Whether you're a professional chef working in a commercial kitchen, an enthusiastic home cook preparing family meals, or a tradesperson requiring reliable cutting tools for site canteens and break rooms, investing in proper kitchen scissors significantly improves both efficiency and safety. Many models incorporate additional functionality such as integrated bottle openers, jar lid grippers, or micro-serrated sections for enhanced cutting performance on more challenging materials like poultry skin or fibrous vegetables.

From heavy-duty scissors capable of cutting through chicken bones and cartilage to multi-purpose designs suitable for herbs, vegetables, and general food preparation tasks, the range of kitchen scissors available today caters to every culinary requirement. Modern kitchen scissors often feature dishwasher-safe materials and take-apart designs that facilitate thorough cleaning, meeting the stringent hygiene standards required in professional food preparation environments and ensuring food safety compliance in commercial settings.

Jargon Buster

• Micro-serrations: Tiny teeth precision-ground along the blade edge that grip slippery materials like fresh herbs, raw meat, and fish, preventing them from sliding during cutting and providing greater control over the cutting action for cleaner results.
• Stainless steel blades: Rust-resistant cutting edges manufactured from chromium-containing steel alloys that maintain sharpness considerably longer and withstand the moisture, food acids, and regular sanitisation commonly encountered in kitchen environments.
• Take-apart design: A pivot mechanism that allows the scissor blades to separate completely for thorough cleaning and sanitisation between the blades, particularly important for food safety compliance in professional kitchens and preventing bacterial cross-contamination.
• Ergonomic handles: Contoured grips designed to reduce hand fatigue during extended food preparation sessions, often featuring soft-touch materials or finger loops positioned to match natural hand positioning for comfortable use throughout busy shifts.
• All-purpose scissors: Versatile kitchen scissors designed to handle multiple tasks beyond food preparation, including opening packaging, cutting kitchen twine, trimming greaseproof paper, and general household cutting duties.
• Poultry shears: Heavy-duty kitchen scissors with reinforced blades and spring-loaded handles specifically engineered for cutting through chicken bones, turkey joints, and other tough poultry preparation tasks requiring additional cutting power.

Who Uses Kitchen Scissors?

• Professional chefs and cooks working in restaurants, hotels, and catering establishments
• Butchers and fishmongers for precise trimming and portioning tasks
• Food preparation operatives in commercial kitchens and food manufacturing facilities
• Catering managers equipping professional kitchen workstations
• Site canteen staff preparing meals for tradespeople and construction workers
• Home cooks and DIY enthusiasts seeking professional-quality kitchen tools
• Gardeners using kitchen scissors for harvesting and preparing fresh herbs and vegetables
• Care home and hospital kitchen staff requiring hygienic, easy-to-clean cutting tools
• Food truck and mobile catering operators needing compact, efficient preparation tools
• Delicatessen workers and sandwich bar staff for rapid food preparation
• School kitchen staff preparing meals in educational catering environments

How to Choose the Right Kitchen Scissors

Selecting appropriate kitchen scissors depends primarily on your specific cutting requirements and frequency of use. Consider blade material first – stainless steel blades are essential for kitchen applications as they resist rust and maintain sharpness through repeated use. Look for high-carbon stainless steel if you need scissors for heavy-duty tasks like cutting poultry or tough vegetables, as these retain their cutting edge considerably longer than standard stainless steel alternatives.

Handle comfort becomes crucial if you'll be using your scissors frequently throughout the day in professional environments. Ergonomic designs with soft-grip materials reduce hand fatigue during extended preparation sessions, whilst properly sized finger loops accommodate different hand sizes comfortably. Some models, like the Crescent WISS All Purpose Scissors available at Tooled-Up, offer ambidextrous designs with symmetrical handles suitable for both left and right-handed users, which proves particularly important in professional kitchens with multiple staff members sharing equipment.

Consider whether you need specialised features such as micro-serrated edges for gripping herbs and leafy greens, integrated bottle openers for convenience, or nutcrackers built into the handles for multi-functional use. Heavy-duty scissors with reinforced pivot points and spring-loaded mechanisms suit demanding commercial environments where durability is paramount, whilst lighter multi-purpose designs work well for general food preparation tasks in domestic kitchens.

Hygiene features matter significantly in food preparation settings where cross-contamination risks must be minimised. Take-apart designs that separate at the pivot allow thorough cleaning and sanitisation between uses, particularly after cutting raw meat or fish. Check whether scissors are dishwasher-safe if you prefer machine cleaning, though hand washing often extends blade life. For professional kitchens meeting food safety regulations, ensure your chosen scissors comply with relevant hygiene standards and can withstand repeated sanitisation without deterioration.

Finally, consider the overall build quality and brand reputation. Established manufacturers like Gardena, WISS, Faithfull, and Spear and Jackson produce kitchen scissors with proven durability that justify their investment through years of reliable service in both professional and domestic environments.

Popular Accessories

• Scissor sharpeners: Handheld or bench-mounted sharpening tools to maintain optimal blade edges and extend scissor lifespan
• Blade guards and sheaths: Protective covers for safe storage in kitchen drawers, preventing accidental cuts
• Knife and scissor storage blocks: Organised storage solutions keeping cutting tools accessible, hygienic, and safely stored
• Kitchen knife sets: Complementary cutting tools for tasks better suited to blades than scissors
• Cutting boards: Protective work surfaces for food preparation tasks in various sizes and materials
• Cleaning brushes: Specialised brushes for removing food particles from scissor mechanisms and pivot areas
• Food-safe lubricating oil: Maintains smooth pivot action and prevents corrosion in blade mechanisms
• Kitchen tool organisers: Wall-mounted or drawer insert systems for efficient utensil storage and organisation
• Sanitising solutions: Food-safe cleaning products for maintaining hygiene standards in professional kitchens

Safety Information

Kitchen scissors feature sharp blades that require careful handling to prevent injury during food preparation. Always cut away from your body and keep fingers clear of the blade path when cutting through materials. When passing scissors to another person, offer them handle-first with blades closed and pointing downwards. Store scissors safely in drawers with blade guards fitted or in dedicated knife blocks to prevent accidental cuts when reaching for other items in busy kitchen environments.

Maintain scissors in good condition by keeping blades sharp – dull scissors require excessive force that can lead to slipping and injury during use. Clean scissors thoroughly after each use, particularly after cutting raw meat, poultry, or fish, to prevent cross-contamination and maintain food hygiene standards. If your scissors feature a take-apart design, ensure the pivot mechanism is properly reassembled and secured before use to prevent blade separation during cutting.

In professional kitchen environments, follow your workplace's food safety protocols and ensure scissors are included in regular equipment sanitisation schedules in accordance with HSE guidance. Replace scissors showing signs of damage such as loose pivots, bent blades, or broken handles, as compromised tools pose significant safety risks. Never use kitchen scissors for non-food tasks like cutting wire, opening tins, or trimming packaging materials, as this damages blades and creates potential hygiene issues by introducing contaminants into food preparation areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can kitchen scissors be sharpened like knives?

Yes, kitchen scissors can be sharpened using specialised scissor sharpeners or by carefully working each blade individually with a knife sharpening stone. Some models feature self-sharpening mechanisms activated by cutting through designated areas on the handles. For best results with expensive scissors, particularly those with micro-serrated edges, consider professional sharpening services to maintain optimal cutting performance without damaging the blade geometry.

Are all kitchen scissors dishwasher safe?

Not all kitchen scissors are suitable for dishwasher cleaning. Whilst many modern designs withstand dishwasher cycles without issue, high temperatures and harsh detergents can damage handle materials, loosen pivot mechanisms, and accelerate blade dulling over time. Always check manufacturer specifications before machine washing. Take-apart designs generally clean more effectively by hand, allowing proper access to the pivot area where food particles accumulate and bacteria can multiply.

What's the difference between kitchen scissors and regular scissors?

Kitchen scissors feature stainless steel blades specifically resistant to food acids and moisture, stronger construction to handle tough cutting tasks like poultry joints, and designs optimised for food hygiene with easy-clean surfaces. They often include additional features like bottle openers, jar grippers, or nutcrackers. Regular scissors typically use lower-grade steel unsuitable for wet environments and lack the robust construction, corrosion resistance, and food-safe materials needed for safe food preparation tasks.

How do I clean scissors that don't come apart?

For fixed-pivot scissors, wash blades thoroughly with hot soapy water immediately after use, paying particular attention to the pivot area where food particles, moisture, and bacteria accumulate. Use a small brush to clean around the pivot mechanism and between the blades. Rinse completely under running water, dry immediately with a clean cloth to prevent water spots and corrosion, then store in a dry location. For stubborn residue, briefly soak in warm water before scrubbing, then sanitise according to food safety requirements.

Can kitchen scissors cut through chicken bones?

Heavy-duty kitchen scissors and poultry shears specifically designed for this purpose can cut through chicken bones effectively, particularly when featuring reinforced blades, strong pivot mechanisms, and spring-loaded handles that provide additional cutting power. However, standard all-purpose kitchen scissors may struggle with bones and risk blade damage or pivot failure. For regular poultry preparation tasks, invest in purpose-built poultry shears like those from Faithfull or Spear and Jackson with the cutting power required for bone and cartilage.