I Tested 14 Poultry Shears and Found 4 That Can Tackle Turkeys (and Other Birds)

Cooking a Thanksgiving turkey is easy. Just unwrap the bird (hopefully it’s thawed), take out the giblets (if you remember to), plop it in an aluminum pan in the oven, and wait a few hours for the plastic pop-up timer to do its thing. Just kidding! Obviously! Those of us who care about having a turkey that’s actually pleasant to eat know that it can take days—or weeks—of planning, brining, air-drying, and generally fussing over the bird to convert the inevitable turkey haters at the table.

That’s why we at Serious Eats are such big proponents of spatchcocking your turkey. By removing the spine and laying the bird flat to roast, it protects the high-maintenance breast while exposing the splayed legs to the brunt of the heat. The white meat stays moist while the dark meat has a chance to get tender, yielding a wholly succulent turkey. It’s easier to move in and out of the oven on a sheet pan, and it cooks up a lot faster, too. For the other 364 days a year, the technique works just as beautifully on roast chickens.

You can use a hardy chef’s knife or meat cleaver to hack at the spine, but poultry shears are specially built for cutting it out (and won’t chip against thick bones). Unlike all-purpose kitchen shears, they usually have thicker blades, a bone-holding notch, and spring-loaded handles to make tough cuts easier. To find the best poultry shears, I tested 14 popular models. My favorites have bone-cleaving power as well as skin-snipping finesse. Two of them—the OXO and Henckels pairs—were originally chosen by editorial director Daniel Gritzer in 2017 and remain our top picks after almost a decade of evaluation. 

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Poultry Shears

OXO Good Grips Spring-Loaded Poultry Shears

$30 at Amazon $30 at Home Depot View on Webstaurant Store

The OXO model set the standard for great poultry shears. Its serrated blades readily broke through bones and sliced through slippery skin. Even better, the blades come apart for convenient washing. The pair’s grippy, looped handles provided a stable hold while cutting, and its locking mechanism was secure and easy to engage.

The Best Fixed-Blade Poultry Shears

Henckels Stainless Steel Poultry Shears

$40 at Amazon View on Walmart $40 at Wayfair

The Henckels shears performed nearly as well as the OXO in my chicken and turkey tests, quickly cleaving through bones. While their blades didn’t come apart to clean, they could be tightened back up to skin-snipping snuff if they get loose after a few uses.

Another Great Set of Fixed-Blade Poultry Shears

Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Poultry Shears

View on Williams Sonoma

Cutting through poultry spines isn’t pleasant work, but you wouldn’t know that using the Williams Sonoma shears. Plus, they’re aesthetically pleasing in monochromatic silver and gray.

The Best Multipurpose Poultry Shears

DRAGON RIOT Heavy Duty Poultry Shears

$26

$20 at Amazon

The hulking blades on the Dragon Riot shears crunched through bones without complaint and cut through cartilage like butter. When detached, one side doubles as a knife and can be easily sharpened (something that can’t be said about the other winners).

The Tests

• Blade Sharpness Tests: I tested each pair of shears using an edge tester to measure their sharpness out of the box, then repeated the process after the other tests were done. The blade edge tester measured the force (in grams) necessary for the blade to sever a plastic wire. The lower the score, the sharper the shears. It was tough to get an accurate reading for fixed-blade shears, so I also took qualitative notes on how effective the blades were at slicing through poultry skin during the tests.
• Chicken Test: I used each model to cut out the backbone of a chicken, and then break its legs and wings down into parts. I looked for shears that could make clean cuts through bones and easily snip through the skin.
• Turkey Test (Winners-Only): I used the highest-performing shears to remove the spine from a turkey and break it down into parts. I marked down models that had trouble with the thick hip bones or fatty turkey skin, as well as handles that got slippery when wet.
• Cleaning and Usability Tests: I hand-washed and dried the shears after each test to evaluate if any held onto gunk in their mechanisms or if they were vulnerable to rusting. I also paid close attention to how comfortable and secure each pair felt in my hands during use.

What We Learned

Looped Handles Were Essential for Grip

Poultry shears with straight handles (like the Mercer Culinary and Dragon Riot pairs) got slippery when my hands inevitably got wet with poultry juices. Without anything to brace against, my fingers would slide up toward the hinge of the shears and ruin any chance for leverage while squeezing. Even the Mitsumoto Sakari shears, which had super sharp blades, had me constantly adjusting my grip or using two hands to bear down on turkey bones. The otherwise-similarly shaped Dragon Riot shears had a protruding guard at the top of the handle, which helped steady my hand a bit.

The straight-handled shears also tended to have overzealous spring tension, which would open the handles too wide for my fingers to hold onto between cuts. Even after short tasks, like cutting apart chicken legs, those models left my hand feeling cramped and tired from trying to keep a grasp on both handles.

Looped handles, on the other hand, alleviated these issues. Having a dedicated spot for my fingers to wrap around saved me from stretching for the outer edge of the handle if it sprang open too far. It also prevented sliding, allowing me to maintain the most power while cutting. The winning OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears, Henckels Poultry Shears, and Williams Sonoma Poultry Shears kept my hands comfortable throughout both tests.

Serrated Blades Prevented Slipping

Keen edges helped when slicing through skin and fat, but not through bone. To cut through bones, the shears had to be able to grab hold of them first; serrated blades helped with that. Having one grooved blade allowed the shears to bite into the chicken and turkey bones, holding them in place as the other blade sliced through.

Blades without any serration (like the Mercer and Mitsumoto Sakari pairs) had trouble finding purchase and were as likely to slip backward off the bones as they were to cut through them. Some models, like the Silver Armadillo and Westmark shears, had serrations, but they were either too shallow or high up on the bevel to make a difference. The most effective blades were those that were deeply serrated right along the lower line of their bevels. Bonus points went to models like the OXO pair, which also had deep grooves as well as micro serrations along its blades’ edges for extra grip.

Take-Apart Blades Were Easier to Clean (and Less Likely to Rust)

Since they come into contact with raw poultry, it’s important to be able to clean all the nooks and crannies of poultry shears. No surprise here—it was easier to clean shears that could separate at the hinge. Once cleaned, take-apart blades also dried faster than fixed-blade models (which had to be left agape to air-dry). Residual moisture left in the hinge or between the blades can cause further bacterial growth and rusting, even in stainless steel. This was worse in shears that had an exposed spring, like the Westmark and Mercer pairs. Comparatively, the OXO poultry shears came apart by opening the handles wide and had few places for gunk to get caught.

The Criteria: What to Look for in Poultry Shears

The best poultry shears have a handle that is looped (or at least has a guard) for comfort and a secure grip. The lock, spring, and hinge mechanisms should be simple and durable, with minimal nooks for moisture and bacteria to linger. Of course, the shears’ blades should be keen right out of the box, but they should also be serrated so they can latch onto bones. If the blades can come apart for cleaning (and sharpening), that’s even better. 

Our Favorite Poultry Shears

The Best Poultry Shears

OXO Good Grips Spring-Loaded Poultry Shears

$30 at Amazon $30 at Home Depot View on Webstaurant Store

What we liked: Every aspect of the OXO poultry shears was designed for efficiency. The lock was secure and never engaged or disengaged by accident. Besides being sharp, the blades had serrations deep enough to bite into bones and hold them steady while slicing through the flesh on top. The detachable blades were a breeze to clean. The looped handle was perfectly shaped for leverage, down to the added bolster that prevented my thumb from slipping forward (even when it was greasy from the turkey). The moderate tension on the handles prevented them from opening too wide, which meant I didn’t have to adjust my grip between cuts. This pair made spatchcocking faster and easier than I’ve ever experienced with a chef’s knife or other shears. After owning them for a few years, I can also attest to their continued performance over time.

What we didn’t like: Toward the end of the turkey test, the shears had lost some of their sharpness and slipped a few times on the thicker areas of skin and fat around the legs. That said, they still cut better than most other models and could be sharpened on their beveled sides since the blades come apart. The pair I’ve had since 2023 did get minor rust spots after being kept in a drawer, but they were quickly restored with a little Bar Keepers Friend.

Key Specs

• Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Blade length: 3.75 inches
• Total length: 9.5 inches
• Fixed or take-apart blades: Take-apart
• Dishwasher-safe: No

The Best Fixed-Blade Poultry Shears

Henckels Stainless Steel Poultry Shears

$40 at Amazon View on Walmart $40 at Wayfair

What we liked: The Henckels shears easily cut through bones with their heavy-duty, serrated blades. Even on tough cuts, my hand stayed comfortable thanks to their looped Santoprene handles. When the blades did start to falter on some skin, I was able to tighten the hinge nut slightly, which brought it back to its out-of-the-box snipping abilities.

What we didn’t like: It was more likely to mash the skin between the blades in areas where there was a lot of fat. Tightening the nut with a pair of pliers did help, but doing this repeatedly or tightening too far could damage the spring inside. There are a few Amazon reviews for this product that describe the shears snapping during use. While I didn’t see any sign of this (even while cutting through thick turkey bones), it could speak to their durability.

Key Specs

• Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Blade length: 3.5 inches
• Total length: 9.5 inches
• Fixed or take-apart blades: Fixed
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended

Another Great Set of Fixed-Blade Poultry Shears

Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Poultry Shears

View on Williams Sonoma

What we liked: I tested a previous, straight-handled version of the Williams Sonoma-branded shears and wasn’t impressed, but I’m happy to report these are a seriously improved iteration. Their rubberized, single-loop handles kept my hands sturdy and safe, and the curved blades made quick work of removing chicken and turkey spines. They didn’t have the highest sharpness rating, but they still snipped easily through skin and fat. It made spatchcocking—dare I say—enjoyable.

What we didn’t like: The blades didn’t come apart for cleaning like the OXO shears, and they couldn’t be tightened back up like the Henckels. Still, their mechanisms were simple and easy to clean, and the blades were sharp enough as is (though they did struggle somewhat with fatty turkey skin). The lock was a bit of an annoyance; it was easy to bump with my thumb, and I accidentally engaged it more than once between cuts.

Key Specs

• Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Blade length: 3.75 inches
• Total length: 10 inches
• Fixed or take-apart blades: Fixed
• Dishwasher-safe: No

The Best Multipurpose Poultry Shears

DRAGON RIOT Heavy Duty Poultry Shears

$26

$20 at Amazon

What we liked: With their glittery handles and broad blades, these shears looked a little gimmicky, and I was fully prepared to dismiss them as such. Surprisingly, though, they were the sharpest of the lineup and sliced through chicken spines like a honed knife through an onion. Chicken skin was no problem either. The blades came apart, and one side (the one without the bone-biting micro serrations) was usable on its own as a knife. It was easy to sharpen that way, too. These would be ideal for folks who like hunting or camping, where a multi-functional tool goes a long way.

What we didn’t like: To separate the blades, you have to unscrew a little knob to allow the handles to open wide. If you’re not careful, the knob can unscrew completely and get lost. Even more frustrating, once the blades are separated, the loose spring inside will certainly fall out and has to be aligned back inside when you close the shears up again. This model comes with a backup spring that must be stored somewhere safe in case the first one disappears. The tall blades were good at breaking big bones but were clumsy getting into crowded leg joints. While their sharpness showed when snipping chicken skin, thick turkey skin was more likely to squish between the blades.

Key Specs

• Weight: 10.45 ounces
• Blade length: 3 inches
• Total length: 10.25 inches
• Fixed or take-apart blades: Take-apart
• Dishwasher-safe: No

The Competition

• WÜSTHOF Poultry Shears: These shears performed about as well as the winning Henckels pair, but the hex nut that secured the two blades together was rather loose. It would unscrew itself a little with each snip, which in turn made the blades slightly wobbly and compromised their cutting power.
• Cuisinart 9” Poultry Shears with Soft-Grip Handles: This model had comfortable handles and came with a blade guard, but it struggled to cut through the chicken bones and skin.
• Zwilling Twin Deluxe Serrated Edge Poultry Shears: I really wanted to like these all-metal, take-apart shears; they were easy to clean and had powerful bone-crunching capabilities. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t slice through fatty chicken skin.
• Gerior Spring-Loaded Poultry Shears: I loved the grippy handles and the detachability, but the only way I could slice through skin with these shears was to make teensy snips with the very tip of the blades, which was annoying.
• Mitsumoto Sakari Japanese Poultry Shears: These shears were one of the sharpest of the lineup (just behind the Dragon Riot model) and had no trouble slicing through thick turkey skin and fat. They had some helpful features, too: one of the blades featured a fish scaler, while the other side could be used independently as a knife. Unfortunately, the smooth blades and handles both lacked grip, making it hard to get enough leverage to cut through bones. Its flimsy locking mechanism was also easy to disengage by accident.
• Roots & Harvest Poultry Shears: This model was middle-of-the-road in terms of performance. It got through the bones in both tests, but frequently just squished chicken skin in between the blades rather than slicing through it.
• Westmark Classic Poultry Shears: These shears were pricey and uncomfortable to use due to their slippery metal handles. The exposed coiled metal spring also opened the handle too wide after each cut, and it was hard to clean and dry.
• Mercer Culinary Poultry Shears: The Mercer pair was nearly identical to the Westmark model, except its spring was not attached and kept popping off whenever the handles opened too wide. Its unserrated blades were also less sharp, so they often slipped off bones rather than breaking through.
• Silver Armadillo Poultry Shears: This model is affordable and has moderate spring tension, but its handles were uncomfortable and slippery (even when dry). Its blades felt dull—in my testing notes, I compared them to using safety scissors—and required patience to cut any skin at all.
• A discontinued version of the Williams Sonoma Poultry Shears: These were dull, unserrated, and had overly springy handles. Needless to say, the new version is a major improvement.

FAQs

What’s the best way to clean poultry shears?

Like all sharp-edged tools, we recommend hand-washing poultry shears with warm, soapy water and a non-scratch sponge. Once the shears are clean, dry them with a soft cloth to prevent rust, staining, or dulling. If the shears can come apart, wash and dry the two halves separately to ensure no crud or moisture remains in the hinge or locking mechanisms.

Can you sharpen poultry shears?

Some of them! Grooved bevels and inwardly curved blades—both common attributes in our lineup—aren’t well suited to sharpening on a whetstone or any other honing tools we can think of. It’s all but impossible to do if the shears don’t come apart. If you can get access to the non-serrated, non-concave edge, you can sharpen it as you would a single-bevel knife (since that’s basically what it is).

Can poultry shears cut through bones?

The whole purpose of poultry shears is to cut through and between bones, and a good pair will make spatchcocking easier than using a chef’s knife or cleaver. Since they are designed for small- to medium-sized birds, though, poultry shears do have their limits. For bone-in beef and pork (or extra-large turkeys), consider a butcher’s saw instead.

What’s the difference between poultry shears and kitchen shears?

Kitchen shears are multi-use tools; they’re designed for straightforward tasks like snipping herbs, cutting pizza slices, and opening packages. Poultry shears, on the other hand, are specialized for cutting through bones and meat. They usually have heavy-duty, serrated blades for bearing down on thick bones as well as spring-loaded handles to reduce hand strain. That said, we at Serious Eats have used kitchen shears to break down a chicken, so in some ways they are interchangeable.

Can you use poultry shears for more than breaking down poultry?

Other than their eponymous use, poultry shears can be used to cut through hardy vegetables and fruits, cooked meat, whole fish, thick plastic packaging, and crustacean shells. Mine sees the most use in cutting thick-stemmed flowers for tabletop bouquets. They can also conquer most things you would use kitchen scissors for, although repeated use can hasten the blades' dulling over time.

Why We’re the Experts

• Ashlee Redger is a writer for Serious Eats. She’s been testing and writing about kitchen gear since 2022. Her other reviews include boning knives, carbon steel chef’s knives, and portable induction cooktops.
• For this review, Ashlee tested 14 poultry shears by spatchcocking chickens and turkeys. She found the best ones by ranking their sharpness, sturdiness, and handle comfort.
• Editorial director Daniel Gritzer originally tested poultry shears in 2017. Ashlee has tested two more rounds of shears since then. While the original winners—the OXO and Henckels pairs—still reign supreme, she’s added two more high-performing shears to our recommendations.