In this article, we’ll outline what we believe to be the 3 best herb scissors and teach you how to find the right pair for your kitchen. What Are Herb Scissors? A quality pair of 5-blade scissors will have sharp blades that won’t dull or bend and a strong rivet that won’t allow those blades to shift position even with heavy use. A comfortable handle is also a must. Necessary Extras Single-blade herb scissors have narrower blades with sharper points than traditional kitchen shears. This dainty build allows them to cut more precisely without crushing or tearing delicate herb flesh. If you do this task as frequently as I do, investing in some quality multi-blade herb scissors could potentially save you hours each month. Along with cost, we focused on comfort, sturdiness, ease of cleaning, whether it has a variety of holes to choose from, and whether it could also be useful in other ways when working with herbs. Having a cutting blade or measuring cup and the ability to incorporate it with another utensil or to remove the stems from large leafy greens were considered bonuses.

Safety is just as important as comfort. One feature to look for in herb scissors is a nonslip grip to prevent the scissors from slipping if they get wet, which is likely to happen when cutting freshly washed herbs. Brush and Cover Handle Size: It’s important to find kitchen shears that have comfortable handles. An ergonomic grip is key to kitchen safety and effective slicing and cutting. You should also consider your hand size as you peruse kitchen shears. The best herb scissors have comfortable handles that fit nicely in the hand. Look for an ergonomic handle shape to reduce strain when chopping lots of herbs. Since herbs are delicate, herb scissors don’t need to be large, heavy, or chunky like heavy-duty kitchen shears. A lightweight handle can make herb scissors easier to manage for long periods of time. Herb scissors tend to have pointier ends than typical kitchen shears. This makes it easy to cut your hand while digging through a crowded silverware bin to find the tool you need. A blade cover takes away this risk. Just make sure your scissors are always completely dry before putting them into the cover so they don’t rust. Are Herb Scissors Worth It? Another design factor to consider is whether you want spring-loaded kitchen shears,” Glasier says. “Any time there will be a lot of repetitive cutting, the spring-assisted lift of the handle will make the prep faster and put less strain on your hand.”They look like a standard pair of scissors, but they have 5 blades in total rather than 2, effectively cutting your herbs the same amount of times as 10 passes with a sharp kitchen knife. Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.

Using these shears, you'll be able to prepare literal herbal confetti. They will allow you to garnish with efficiency and finesse. You can use them, among other things, to snip cilantro in perfectly sized pieces onto plates and pans. Just like a paring knife is used differently than a chef's knife, kitchen shears and scissors should be used for different tasks,” Glasier says. For example, he says he uses kitchen shears to cut rosemary stems and trim fish fins, while he uses a small pair of traditional scissors for “more precise work like cutting blossoms or other garnishes.” For that reason, we recommend having both kitchen shears and scissors while you cook. Can kitchen shears cut through bone? Measuring herbs is much easier with the stems removed, too. "Removing the stems from herbs lets you use the leaves more efficiently, and you know how much you need for a recipe," says Gravalese.

Some herb scissors also come with separate brushes instead of using the safety cover as a brush. A small handful of herb scissors also come with herb bags or pouches. These pouches can be helpful in storing your herbs to preserve their freshness and longevity. Cleaning It The generous eight holes range in size and can be used on any type of herbs or leafy greens. But although plastic makes the tool lightweight and comfortable to hold, it's not quite as effective as a stainless steel tool. Stainless steel makes for a sharper stripping surface, while pulling stems through plastic holes may not remove all the leaves. Regardless, this herb stripper is a fun and useful addition to the kitchen. This product also includes a limited lifetime warranty, should it need to be replaced. Is there a safety cover/comb? Having a comb makes clean-up exponentially easier and the blades are designed to be extremely sharp, so putting the safety cover in place is an important way to protect your fingers. How are you going to use your new set of scissors? If you're only going to use your scissors to open a pesky bag of pretzels now and again but not really for cooking, you can opt for a less heavy-duty pair—but it's well worth getting a hardier pair to use in a variety of ways in the kitchen. A strong pair of kitchen scissors can be used to snip herbs, break down poultry, chop up marinated meat or vegetables, and even slice up foods so they're a safer size for children. Some kitchen shears are designed specifically for those tasks, like poultry or herb shears, while others are made to be used as a daily driver in the kitchen.

The people behind Jenaluca advertise this particular product as a kitchen tool that will allow you to save time and hassle and, as far as we're concerned, that is an understatement. With these scissors, there will be no tedious chopping. A couple of snips with their sharp, finely balanced 5 blades practically equals 10 knife chops. Of course, it isn't just about effectiveness either. Kitchen shears are by no means a replacement for a good chef's knife, but they are a good supplemental tool for specific kitchen tasks,” Glasier says. Accessories included: Cover with cleaning comb in addition to a cleaning brush, herb stripper, and vegetable peeler Herb scissors can absolutely save prep time, especially if you grab a pair with five blades. These multiblade styles can make light work of cutting through a pile of herbs like a bunch of cilantro or chives. Each snip creates five cuts instead of one, so these scissors are bound to save some time! Why Trust Bob VilaEvery adult knows that you need to consume your greens, that's hardly breaking news. For most people, the problem is that you can't really buy a bag of greens like you buy a bag of chips and eat them right away. You have to prepare them. But first, you have to cut them. It takes time and effort and you don't always have the luxury to spare those. Well, with herb scissors, you'll be able to cut that time in half and waste practically no effort. At one end of the tool, you'll find a sharpened blade that lets you chop your herbs after you've de-stemmed them. (However, you'll need to be careful when positioning your hands with this tool so you don't cut yourself on the blade.) At the other end, on the "stem" of the tool, there's a hole with a lanyard looped through, so you can hang it on a hook for easy access. This herb stripper also comes with a leather case for easy (and safe) storage.

Herb scissors cut down on the time and effort required to prepare herbs. Being a specialty pair of kitchen scissors, they have especially sharp blades that are ideal for slicing through delicate herbs without crushing or bruising them—a job that some duller scissors and knives can’t accomplish. Handle Material: Boyd recommends shears with a non-slip handle, which he says “is important for comfort and performance during tasks.” To find the best kitchen shears, we evaluated the materials, weight, length, and ease of cleaning of multiple options. We also spoke to Gill Boyd, a chef and instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, and Gabriel Glasier, founder of Chef Travel Guide and a former executive chef and restaurateur, for their expert insight on what to look for in a good pair of shears. One thing in particular that we like about these herb scissors is their simplified maintenance. The whole thing is completely dishwasher safe, including the protective cover that doubles as a cleaning comb. You can use that comb to effortlessly remove lingering herbs or chives in a few swipes.

Kitchen shears are a versatile tool that every home cook should have. Though they look a lot like a regular pair of scissors, kitchen shears can be used for tasks like stripping herbs, slicing pizza, and cutting poultry. The 5-blade herb scissors in this set are made with extra-sharp, stainless steel blades. The handles are more comfortable than other sets I’ve tried and include an extra-wide fingers hole. Like other 5-blade scissors recommended here, these stand up to repeated use better than many others out there. X-Chef Multipurpose Herb Scissors is an overall solid product that doesn't necessarily stand out but the quality build and practical construction make it a solid contender for the top spot.