Eating is a part of our daily routine. Food serves as our fuel to accomplish the daily tasks at work, school, and at home. As such, people spend a huge chunk of their time preparing food. Having a trusty pair of kitchen shears in your cooking arsenal will make serving yummy and nutritious food more efficient.
There are lots of shears to choose from, but there is no need to feel overwhelmed. In this article, you will learn about the features to look out for. You will also find tips on how to take good care of kitchen shears.
If you are still deciding whether shears will be a worthy addition to your kitchen, here is an overview of what this tool can do for you.
Aside from helping you accomplish simple tasks like tearing open food packages and cutting food into smaller bits, it is also great for difficult ones.
For instance, you will no longer dread dealing with shellfish. You will be able to slice open lobster and crab claws with ease. Removing shrimp shells will be a cinch!
Meat lovers will rejoice as well. You can use it to trim excess fat from meat like bacon and pork. If you are more of a chicken and duck eater, it will be easier to cut through leg and wing joints with the use of shears.
Kitchen shears are also great for those with a sweet tooth. Snip the crust off of the slices of bread for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Are you planning to make some buko pie? You can use the shears to cut dough strips for a lattice top crust and for trimming the pie crust overflowing from the pan.
Lastly, it can help you prepare fruits, vegetables, and herbs. If you are cooking beef and broccoli or chopsuey for your loved ones, the shears will make it easier for you to cut broccoli and cauliflower into florets.
Aside from this, potato lovers can use it to remove the potato's unsightly eyes. To prevent your fingers from being burned, use the shears to cut open the top of a baked potato that is fresh from the oven.
You can also use it to cut fruit into various fun-looking shapes when you are putting together a fruit platter during the summer. People who prefer to use natural herbs and spices in their cooking will also find kitchen shears useful.
Garnishing dishes with basil and chives will become a whole lot easier. Just cut the herbs directly over the food, and the work is done.
Kitchen shears are incredibly useful for food preparation. Some of its uses include chopping a whole chicken and cutting the shell off of shrimps.
As such, you will need shears that can last for a long time or even a lifetime. Here are the qualities to look for when buying shears for your household.
Choose carefully when it comes to the material used for the blades. Keep in mind that stainless steel is corrosion and stain-resistant, but over time, it can get more easily blunt than carbon steel, so there is a need to sharpen it more often. On the other hand, carbon steel shears are durable and easy to sharpen. However, carbon is prone to rust, so nickel, stainless steel, or chrome plating is required.
The handles are just as important as the blade, so you should go for heavy-duty plastic handles that can withstand the pressure of cutting through a tough object. Aside from this, handles with a rubber grip are more comfortable to use.
Plus, it also minimizes the risk of slipping, if you use the shears with wet hands. This feature will come in handy since you will often need to wash your hands during food handling.
Look for blades that can be taken apart. Separating the blades will make them easier to clean. After all, cleaning the shears is a must, especially after cutting raw meat.
Make food cutting easier by choosing blades with serrated edges. These will allow you to grip food better. Another helpful feature you should look for is adjustable screws. These will allow you to loosen or tighten the bond of the blades depending on the pressure required.
It would be best to choose shears with steel that extends to the handles. This design will lessen the risk of the blades breaking off from the handles. Aside from resulting in damaged kitchen shears, this type of accident can also cause injuries.
Next, check out who it is designed for. Most kitchen shears are designed for ambidextrous use, but some are not. Buy shears that can be comfortably used by left-handed and right-handed people alike. Doing this will ensure its functionality for the entire family.
Look out for extra features as well. Some handles have steel-toothed insets on the upper side. These can be used to crack nuts and twist bottle caps open.
With plenty of options available, picking the best shears can be a time-consuming task. We have compiled a top ten list to make shopping for kitchen utensils a little easier.
Take a look at our picks to ensure that the best food preparation tool will be at your disposal.
From ₱346.5
Length | 6.25 in |
---|---|
Good Points | curved corrosion resistant blades, soft touch handles, steel-toothed insets, dishwasher safe |
D313
From ₱199
Length | 21 cm |
---|---|
Good Points | jagged detachable blades, steel toothed insets, ergonomic handles |
From ₱900
Length | 21 cm |
---|---|
Good Points | One year warranty, non-slip rubber grip, thinner indented blades made of stainless steel, has a bottle opener and nutcracker |
888225
From ₱359.75
Length | 22 cm |
---|---|
Good Points | trusted brand, jagged and indented blades, has a nutcracker |
From ₱696.5
Length | 8 in |
---|---|
Good Points | reputable brand, steel-toothed insets, detachable blades |
From ₱220
Length | Unspecified |
---|---|
Good Points | serrated stainless steel shears, dishwasher safe, has a bottle opener |
From ₱350
Length | Unspecified |
---|---|
Good Points | has a bottle and tab opener, has a case, non-slip handles |
888230
From ₱550
Length | 25cm |
---|---|
Good Points | stainless steel blades are curved and serrated, pliers-like handles with spring, has a nutcracker |
670027
From ₱224
Length | Unspecified |
---|---|
Good Points | multi-blade, ergonomic handles, dishwasher safe |
From ₱500
Length | 8 in |
---|---|
Good Points | FDA-approved, trusted brand, stainless steel reaches the handles, tooth-like inset |
Image | 1 ![]() Trudeau | 2 ![]() Eurochef | 3 ![]() Tefal | 4 ![]() Tescoma | 5 ![]() Wusthof | 6 ![]() Metro Cookwares | 7 ![]() Glad | 8 ![]() Tescoma | 9 ![]() Glad | 10 ![]() Masflex |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Seafood Shears | Multi-functional Kitchen Shears | Kitchen Shears | Multi-functional Shears | Kitchen Shears | Kitchen Shears | Poultry Shears | Poultry Shears | Multi-blade Herb Shears | Kitchen Shears |
Features | The Curved Stainless Blades will let You Cut Shellfish with Ease | Wonderful Blades: Serrated and Detachable | Thinner Blades for Maximum Control | Serrated Edges Coupled with an Indentation for Opening Bottles | Sharp and Sturdy Blades that can be Taken Apart | Dishwasher-Safe and has Serrated Blades | The Handles have Extra Features and It Comes with a Case | Its Curved Jagged Blades are Great for Cutting Meat | The Multi-blades Help You Work Faster | FDA-approved Stainless Steel Shears |
Price Starts at | ₱346.5 | ₱199 | ₱900 | ₱359.75 | ₱696.5 | ₱220 | ₱350 | ₱550 | ₱224 | ₱500 |
Length | 6.25 in | 21 cm | 21 cm | 22 cm | 8 in | Unspecified | Unspecified | 25cm | Unspecified | 8 in |
Good Points | curved corrosion resistant blades, soft touch handles, steel-toothed insets, dishwasher safe | jagged detachable blades, steel toothed insets, ergonomic handles | One year warranty, non-slip rubber grip, thinner indented blades made of stainless steel, has a bottle opener and nutcracker | trusted brand, jagged and indented blades, has a nutcracker | reputable brand, steel-toothed insets, detachable blades | serrated stainless steel shears, dishwasher safe, has a bottle opener | has a bottle and tab opener, has a case, non-slip handles | stainless steel blades are curved and serrated, pliers-like handles with spring, has a nutcracker | multi-blade, ergonomic handles, dishwasher safe | FDA-approved, trusted brand, stainless steel reaches the handles, tooth-like inset |
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The kitchen shears will be your daily companion in the cooking journey. To keep you company for many years, you will need to take care of it. Keep your shears in tip-top shape with these storage and maintenance tips.
If the shears come with a sheath or a box, put them in these containers when they are not in use. Doing this will prolong the lifespan of your kitchen tool.
If there are none, store them separately from other kitchenware, but if you need to store them all in one place, wrap the shears in cloth before putting it away. You may also hang them on hooks or a magnetic board. This will prevent it from colliding into other objects if it is placed in a drawer.
Wash the shears with soap and water after every use. If the shears are detachable, take the overlapping blades apart, so you can easily clean all areas. Immediately dry them with a towel after washing to prevent rust development.
First, take the shears apart. There may be a screw that needs to be loosened. If the shears cannot be taken apart, just pull them wide open. Then, take the whetstone out of storage and put the rough side up. Place it on a towel, so it would not move up and down while you are sharpening.
After doing this, lie the inner side of the blades flat on the stone, then slide it across ten times per blade. Slide it from the base to the pointy end.
Carefully piece your shears back together after sharpening them. Make sure to tighten the screw properly. If the blades are grating against each other too much, it's too tight. If the blades are shaking, it's too loose. Once they are reassembled, snip the blades together a couple of times to allow the blades to hone each other.
Every now and then, apply some food-grade mineral oil to the hinge. Do this to guarantee the smooth functions of your shears. Make sure to wipe the excess oils with a rag to prevent it from dripping on the surface.
To effectively run a kitchen, you are going to need other tools. Here are some other food cutting materials you may want to check out.
Food preparation need not be limited to those with advanced skills. If there are certain types of food that you find difficult to prepare, perhaps you just need the appropriate tool to face the challenge head-on.
Owning a good pair of kitchen shears can make cooking time quicker and more enjoyable. Its uses are limitless. It can help you cut pork ribs for sinigang, and it can help you slice fruit for cake topping as well.
Author: Mara Joy Camunao
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