14 Surprising Uses for Kitchen Shears Beyond Slicing Pizza

Kitchen shears make herb and leafy green preparation easier with better precision and control than regular knives. These handy tools turn a tedious task into a quick and simple process.

Kitchen Shears for Chiffonade Basil

Kitchen shears help you create elegant basil ribbons with the chiffonade technique. The process is simple and quick. Stack your basil leaves face-down, arranging them from largest to smallest. Roll them tightly and snip them into thin strips with your shears. This technique comes with several benefits:

• Your delicate leaves won't get bruised
• The process works great with slightly wet leaves
• You'll get perfect ribbons to garnish dishes
• Each strip comes out the same size

Kitchen Shears for Chopping Chives

Kitchen shears are a great way to get better control than a knife when chopping chives. You can hold a bunch of chives right above your dish and cut them directly to garnish. The chives stay fresh and vibrant this way, which makes them perfect to prepare quickly or add as a finishing touch before serving.

Kitchen Shears for Prepping Kale

Kitchen shears simplify kale preparation in two easy steps. Squeeze and strip the leaves from the stem with your hands, then cut them into bite-sized pieces with your shears. This technique works especially when you have to create uniform pieces for salads or cooking. The scissors' precise control allows you to cut exactly the size you need. Your kale will be ready for smoothies, salads, or any cooking needs.

Kitchen shears will reshape your approach to seafood preparation. These versatile tools master delicate seafood tasks that regular knives cannot handle well.

Kitchen Shears for Cleaning Shrimp

Become skilled at deveining shrimp with your kitchen shears using Alton Brown's quickest way. The process starts with a rinse of raw, thawed shrimp in cool water. You should cut precisely along the outer curve from head to tail and remove the vein gently. To get perfect results, keep two bowls ready - one with cold water to clean and another with ice water to store. This technique reshapes a typically tedious task into a quick, one-step process.

Kitchen Shears for Trimming Fish

Quality kitchen shears with a micro-serrated lower blade give you exceptional control over fish preparation. These versatile tools excel in multiple tasks. The shears allow safe fin trimming and clean gill removal. They cut through thin rib bones with precision and help open the fish's belly without organ damage. The blade design ensures you can create uniform portions effortlessly.

Kitchen Shears for Opening Shellfish

Kitchen shears transform your shellfish preparation by making it easier to reach meat in challenging spots. Start at the tail and cut toward yourself at the time you work with lobster, then shift position to reach the claws. The process for crab legs requires inserting the cutting blade at the far end and cutting downward. You can crack stubborn shells effectively with the built-in grips between the handles, especially when you have meat trapped in knuckles and claws.

Quality kitchen shears feature micro-serration technology that delivers better grip and control, making them essential for seafood preparation. These versatile tools help you achieve restaurant-quality results effortlessly, whether you plan a quick weeknight meal or a grand seafood feast.

Find out how kitchen shears can change your approach to fruit and vegetable prep. These tools make the process quick and clean. They deliver precise cuts that regular knives simply cannot achieve, particularly when dealing with tricky ingredients.

Kitchen Shears for Breaking Up Grape Bunches

Kitchen shears help you separate grape clusters into perfect portions effortlessly. You can control the cutting process precisely and:

• Cut at exact spots without harming the grapes
• Shape uniform portions that look great on platters
• Keep stems neat and grapes intact
• Remove unwanted or damaged parts with ease

Kitchen Shears for Chopping Canned Tomatoes

Kitchen shears will help you avoid messy countertops while handling canned tomatoes. Just put your shears right into the can and cut the tomatoes to size. This neat trick keeps tomato juice from splattering everywhere and saves you cleanup time. The tomatoes break down naturally during cooking, so you only need a few quick cuts. This trick works best with whole canned tomatoes. They taste better and you can use them in more ways than the pre-diced ones.

Kitchen Shears for Shredding Cabbage

Make your cabbage prep easier with kitchen shears when you cook slaws, sauerkraut, soups, and stir-fries. Remove the core first, then cut uniform shreds straight into your bowl or pot. This simple method works with all cabbage types - red cabbage, green cabbage, and the delicate Napa cabbage. You'll get the best results by cutting quarter sections at a time. Just make steady cuts from the edge toward the center.

Become skilled at meat preparation using kitchen shears that bring professional precision to your home cooking. These versatile tools handle tasks that regular knives struggle with effectively.

Kitchen Shears for Dicing Raw Bacon

Kitchen shears and your freezer make bacon dicing simple and quick. Just pop your bacon in the freezer until it's firm but not frozen solid (about an hour). This simple trick works great and gives you:

• Cleaner, more precise cuts
• Less slipping on the cutting board
• Uniform pieces for even cooking
• Reduced cleanup time
• Better fingertip protection

Kitchen Shears for Trimming Fat

Kitchen shears excel at removing unwanted fat from meat cuts of all types. The precise control helps you trim closely without losing valuable meat. The serrated blade grips the fat well and makes clean separation possible with chicken breasts or larger cuts. To get the best results, use slightly chilled meat and clean your shears between uses.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Meat for Stir-Fries

Kitchen shears can revolutionize your stir-fry preparation by helping you create perfectly sized pieces. You need to spot the grain direction - the way muscle fibers run through the meat. Tender, bite-sized pieces emerge from cutting across these fibers (against the grain). Your meat should be no thicker than ⅛ inch, and keeping the size consistent ensures even cooking.

Skirt steak, flank steak, or hanger steak make excellent choices for stir-fries. These flavorful cuts work exceptionally well with a kitchen shear's precise cutting action. Remember : thin, uniform pieces are vital for quick cooking and your dish's tenderness.

Kitchen shears help you discover the full potential of bread and pastry making. These versatile tools blend precision with creativity and bring professional-level accuracy to your baking projects.

Kitchen Shears for Trimming Pie Dough

A perfect pie crust depends on precise trimming. Kitchen shears help create an even 1-inch overhang around your pie plate's perimeter. This method gives you better control than a knife, particularly with delicate dough. The top layer should sit flush with the plate's edge in double-crust pies. Your trimmed pieces can be useful in several ways:

• Make them into a disk to use later
• Store the extra dough in the freezer
• Add decorative touches to your current pie

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Lattice Strips

Create beautiful lattice designs on your pie tops with kitchen shears. Roll your dough into a 12-inch circle and follow these simple steps:

1. Cut twelve 1-inch strips with steady, even pressure
2. Place six strips vertically across your filled pie
3. Fold alternate strips back halfway
4. Weave remaining strips horizontally
5. Trim edges to a ½-inch overhang

The pattern will hold its shape better if you refrigerate your lattice-topped pie for 30 minutes before baking.

Kitchen Shears for Removing Bread Crusts

Kitchen shears provide excellent precision to remove crusts from bread. This works perfectly for sandwich preparation and specialized bread dishes. The controlled cutting motion keeps the soft interior intact and preserves the bread's texture. The removed crusts can become homemade breadcrumbs or creative shapes for French toast. Fresh bread allows you to create decorative cuts and patterns with your shears, which enhances both visual appeal and texture of your loaves.

Kitchen shears will raise your dried ingredient preparation standards and transform tedious chopping into a quick process. These versatile tools create new ways to handle challenging ingredients.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Dried Fruit

Kitchen shears help you cut sticky dried fruits into perfect pieces without the hassle of using a knife. These tools create uniform pieces easily, especially when you have dried apricots and figs. Here's how to become skilled at this technique:

• Keep your shears dusted with flour to stop sticking
• Cut pieces about the size of a pencil eraser when baking
• Hold fruits firmly between your fingers as you cut
• Cut directly over your mixing bowl to minimize cleanup

Kitchen Shears for Snipping Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Make the most of sun-dried tomatoes by cutting them directly into your cooking vessel. Kitchen shears give you better control with both oil-packed and dry varieties. Start by cutting each tomato in half lengthwise, and then slice it into three or four pieces based on size. This simple step will give you perfect bite-sized portions that spread evenly in your pasta dishes, sauces, and stews.

Kitchen Shears for Chopping Nuts

Kitchen shears serve as the quickest way to crack and chop nuts because of their sturdy build and metal-teeth grippers. The grippers between the handles easily crack walnuts, almonds, and pecans. Simply hold a small handful of nuts over your bowl and snip them into pieces of your preferred size. This method gives you better control than a knife and keeps nuts from flying all over your counter.

Kitchen shears can make your salad prep much easier. These essential tools help you create fresh salads and slaws quickly. Your prep time will be faster and more streamlined compared to using regular knives.

Make Quick Salads with Kitchen Shears

Kitchen shears help you create perfect salads right in your mixing bowl. The curved blades with micro-serrations let you cut ingredients into even sizes and toss them together. You won't scratch your bowls while chopping. The shears give you control to portion your ingredients perfectly. Best of all, you'll spend less time cleaning up after prep work.

Kitchen Shears for Shredding Lettuce

Turn whole heads of lettuce into bite-sized pieces efficiently. You can stack several washed romaine leaves and snip them directly over your serving bowl. To handle delicate greens , apply gentle pressure with quick cuts that prevent bruising. Quality shears with their spring-loaded mechanism help reduce hand fatigue as you prep extensively.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Coleslaw Ingredients

Become skilled at making coleslaw by using your kitchen shears with precision. Start with quartered cabbage sections and place the flat side down to keep it steady. Cut thin, even strips along the edge to get perfect shreds. The serrated blades grip both green and red cabbage well and give you clean cuts without crushing the leaves.

Your shears are a great way to fix take-away salads that come with big leaves right in the container. Just put the blades in and snip away to create a quick chopped salad that's easier to eat. These shears work great for kale too - fold the leaves in half and trim along the center vein to remove tough stems before cutting them into ribbons.

Keep your shears clean between uses, especially if you're cutting different ingredients. Quality kitchen shears usually come apart for a good cleaning, so you can keep them hygienic and sharp for your next salad.

Lift your food serving game with kitchen shears that provide precise control. These versatile tools create perfect portions and boost both presentation and dining experience.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Quesadillas

Kitchen shears will give you perfectly even quesadilla slices every time. Traditional knives often squish the fillings, but your shears create clean, precise cuts while keeping the contents intact. The best way to achieve perfect results is to begin at the outer edge and cut inward with steady pressure. This simple method will keep your quesadilla's carefully crafted fillings exactly where they belong.

Kitchen Shears for Portioning Lasagna

Kitchen shears can change how you serve lasagna. These versatile tools help you achieve:

• Perfect portion control that keeps layers intact
• Clean cuts through multiple pasta sheets
• Minimal filling displacement
• Easy transfer to serving plates
• Professional-looking presentations

Pro tip: Let your lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting to keep the layers together. Mark your desired portion sizes first, then make steady, well-thought-out cuts for the best results.

Kitchen Shears for Serving Casseroles

Become skilled at casserole serving with your kitchen shears' precise cutting action. The serrated edge grips through multiple layers effectively, and the comfortable handle design gives you better control than traditional serving spoons. Your shears will cleanly separate portions of cheese-topped dishes without creating the stringy mess that knife cutting often leaves behind.

A damp cloth helps you keep the shears clean between cuts as you serve hot dishes. This simple step prevents ingredients from building up and will give each portion an appealing look. Quality kitchen shears feature professional-grade stainless steel construction that keeps them working through countless servings. They'll become an essential tool for your family dinners and guest entertaining.

Kitchen shears make baking preparation effortless as they help cut ingredients into perfect sizes for recipes. These essential tools bring the accuracy of professional bakers to your kitchen at home.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Marshmallows

These proven techniques help you create custom-sized marshmallows:

• A quick dip of shears in warm water ensures clean cuts
• A paper towel helps apply a light coating of oil on the blades
• Sharp, decisive cuts work best
• Hot chocolate tastes better with leftover marshmallow bits

Pro tip: Your cookie cutters create shaped marshmallows perfectly. The leftover pieces make excellent mini versions for your hot chocolate, so nothing goes to waste.

Kitchen Shears for Chopping Chocolate

Kitchen shears are a great way to get unique advantages over traditional knives when working with chocolate. To achieve the best results , you should focus on:

• Creating consistent pieces for even melting
• Controlling shard size for varied texture in cookies
• Minimizing chocolate dust that disappears during baking

Note that: Solid chocolate works better than chips because it provides better control and superior melting properties in your baked goods.

Kitchen Shears for Snipping Dried Fruit for Baking

Become skilled at preparing dried fruits for your baking projects using kitchen shears. At the time you work with sticky fruits like apricots, dates, or figs, dust your shears with flour periodically to prevent sticking. This simple technique will give clean cuts and prevents fruit pieces from clumping together.

Your dried fruit preparation will improve if you pinch each piece between your fingers while snipping to maintain control. Create uniform, pencil eraser-sized pieces that distribute evenly throughout your baked goods. Time-saving tip: Place your bowl directly beneath your cutting area to catch pieces as they fall. This reduces cleanup time and keeps your workspace tidy.

Kitchen shears blend precision with artistry in pastry work. These versatile tools help you achieve professional-level accuracy. Your most delicate baking projects become easier to manage and the challenging tasks turn into simple steps.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Puff Pastry

Kitchen shears create clean, precise cuts in delicate puff pastry while preserving its layered structure perfectly. Regular knives tend to drag and compress layers, but shears deliver crisp edges that help maintain the pastry's height. The process requires these simple steps:

• Roll dough to desired thickness
• Create template shapes with parchment paper
• Cut directly on cold dough
• Clean blades between cuts

Kitchen Shears for Shaping Croissants

Become skilled at croissant shaping with your kitchen shears' precise cutting action. Kitchen shears help you mark 4-inch intervals along your rolled dough's edges. Sharp and decisive cuts will connect these marks to create perfect triangles. Traditional croissants need gentle elongation of each triangle before rolling that ensures seven distinct "humps" in the final shape.

Kitchen Shears for Trimming Excess Dough

Kitchen shears can change your pie and pastry edges from rustic to refined with superior control. Roll your pie dough slightly larger than needed at the time you work with it, then trim it to fit perfectly. To get the best results, leave a one-inch overhang for single-crust pies and a half-inch for double-crust varieties.

These shears are a great way to get precise control while working with galettes and trimming edges before folding. This method will give a more even bake and stops filling from leaking during baking. Your shears can create vents in top crusts or cut small shapes from excess dough to add beautiful garnishes to your pastries.

Time-saving tip : Your shears can cut through multiple phyllo dough layers at once while keeping edges clean - something that's difficult with regular knives. Quick, decisive cuts will prevent tearing. Note that unused phyllo needs a damp cloth cover to stay moist.

Kitchen shears make soup and stew preparation easier and faster. These versatile tools help you cook comfort food with professional-level speed. Quick and manageable tasks replace tedious prep work.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Vegetables Directly into Pot

Kitchen shears help you add vegetables straight into your simmering soups and stews. This smart approach comes with multiple benefits. You won't need a cutting board anymore. The cleanup time reduces by a lot. You can control portions better and keep vegetable pieces from flying everywhere. Your kitchen stays cleaner too.

You should hold vegetables right above the pot when cutting to catch every piece. This trick works great with celery stalks, scallions, and other long vegetables that need multiple cuts.

Kitchen Shears for Trimming Meat for Stews

Turn tough cuts into perfect stew-sized pieces with your kitchen shears' sharp blades. You want uniform 1-inch cubes at the time of preparing meat for slow cooking. This ensures even cooking throughout. The serrated edge cuts through connective tissue easily, and the curved blade design gives you better control. Time-saving tip: Cut away excess fat during trimming to save an extra step later.

Kitchen Shears for Snipping Fresh Herbs as Garnish

Kitchen shears help preserve fresh herbs' vibrant flavors and appearance during last-minute garnishing. Their precise cutting action prevents bruising and keeps the herbs' essential oils intact to maximize flavor. Stack the leaves of basil, mint, or parsley together and cut them right over your serving bowl.

Your shears' built-in herb stripper is a great way to get leaves off woody stems, especially when you have thyme and rosemary. Hold delicate herbs like chives in a bunch and snip them directly over your dish. This creates evenly sized pieces that spread perfectly through your soup or stew. Note that clean cuts enhance both flavor and visual appeal, making dishes look and taste amazing.

Professional tip: Wipe your shears with a damp cloth between different ingredients to keep them clean. Take them apart after use to clean them fully. This routine will give a sharp and ready tool for your next task and stops flavors from mixing between ingredients.

Kitchen shears can free the full potential of your cooking by helping you turn store-bought convenience foods into custom culinary creations. These versatile tools make it easy to modify pre-made ingredients that match your exact priorities and portion sizes.

Kitchen Shears for Cutting Refrigerated Biscuits

Your biscuit preparation can reach new levels with precise cutting techniques that improve both looks and function. Kitchen shears work great for:

• Quartering biscuits for monkey bread
• Creating uniform strips for garlic knots
• Shaping perfect rounds for sliders
• Making decorative edges for special occasions

Pro tip : A light spray of cooking oil on your shears prevents dough from sticking and gives you clean cuts. To get the best results, keep the dough in the fridge until you're ready to cut.

Kitchen Shears to Trim Your Frozen Pizza Toppings

Kitchen shears help you customize your frozen pizza by modifying toppings throughout the cooking process. These versatile tools give you complete control and let you:

Time-saving technique: The pizza should thaw slightly to modify toppings easily. This simple step prevents ingredients from scattering and keeps your topping arrangement intact.

Kitchen Shears for Portioning Pre-Made Dough

Kitchen shears can revolutionize store-bought dough into professional-looking creations with precise cutting action. Your shears will give you perfect control of pizza dough, puff pastry, or croissant dough if you:

1. Chill the dough really well before cutting
2. Make quick, decisive cuts to prevent dragging
3. Clean your shears between cuts to get consistent results
4. Apply light pressure to avoid compressing layers

Expert insight: At the time you portion pre-made pizza dough, cut it into sections while it's still cold. Let each portion reach room temperature before shaping. This technique helps you control the dough better and creates even results.

Kitchen shears are a great way to get control over sticky doughs that give regular knives trouble. The serrated edge grips without tearing, and the handle's comfortable design helps prevent hand fatigue during repeated cuts. A small bowl of warm water nearby helps clean your shears between cuts, so each portion breaks cleanly from the main dough.

Note that you should take apart your shears to clean them well after working with dough products. Residue can build up in the pivot point. This simple maintenance keeps your tools sharp and ready to work, whether you're making elegant pastries or quick weeknight meals from pre-made ingredients.

Kitchen shears are indispensable tools that make cooking tasks easier and produce better results. These versatile tools handle everything from breaking down poultry and preparing seafood to working with delicate pastries and portioning dough. Their precise control and smart design turn tough jobs like cutting herbs, trimming meat, and preparing vegetables into simple tasks. They do much more than just open packages or cut pizza.

Quality kitchen shears help both professional chefs and home cooks work faster and clean up quicker. Their special features - from micro-serrated blades to comfortable handles - tackle specific cooking challenges that regular knives don't deal very well with. Smart cooks keep their kitchen shears within easy reach to handle any cutting task. These practical tools prove their worth through daily use in a variety of cooking tasks.