Poultry shears are heavy-duty scissors designed to cut through bones, chicken skin, and other tough materials. They can be used for a range of kitchen tasks and are made of carbon steel or stainless metal. It’s important to invest in high-quality shears and care for them properly to avoid frustration and injury.
Poultry shears are scissors specially designed to be able to cut bones, chicken skin and other tough materials. As well as being used on poultry, of course, poultry shears can be used as general kitchen shears and are suitable for a range of heavy duty kitchen tasks. While not an essential kitchen tool, they’re extremely useful to have around, especially if you plan to dismantle any whole chickens in your kitchen.
A set of poultry shears typically look a lot like a pair of scissors, although the shears generally feel heavier. The ideal material for these shears is carbon steel, which holds an edge well and remains extremely strong, although stainless metal shears can also be found. Depending on the design, the shears may be solidly stamped or handles made of materials such as plastic can be attached. It’s also not uncommon to find serrations or notches on a blade to grip the meat as it’s being cut.
Poultry shears have classically been used for tasks such as cutting a chicken in half the breastbone, although a meat cleaver can also be used for this purpose. They can also be used on an assortment of tough foods to cut through quickly and with great control. You may notice that specific recipes call for poultry shears, especially for things like trimming and cutting meat. Ideally, shears shouldn’t be used for non-kitchen tasks like cutting carpet, although most shears are perfectly capable of being used in this capacity.
When looking for poultry shears, it pays to spend a little more. The cheap ones will fail eventually, probably at a very embarrassing moment, and you may find them frustrating and irritating to use. Look for solid shears that feel heavy and well-balanced in the hand, and avoid poultry shears made with materials that feel flimsy or shoddy. You should also stay away from clippers with lots of nooks and crannies, as they can harbor bacteria.
Care for poultry shears as you would any other blade. When not in use, keep them wrapped or in a knife block to protect the blades and prevent injury. After use, hand wash the shears with very hot soapy water; a few drops of bleach can be used periodically to keep bacteria off the shears. Never run kitchen shears of any kind through the dishwasher, as this may dull the blade and damage the handle.
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