Poultry shears are designed for jobs that can be awkward or unsafe with ordinary kitchen scissors. Their stronger blades, spring-assisted handles, curved cutting geometry, serrations, and bone notches can make it easier to break down chicken, turkey, duck, and other poultry.
They are particularly useful for spatchcocking a whole chicken, separating joints, trimming skin and fat, cutting through cartilage, and working through thinner poultry bones.
The six poultry shears below include forged stainless-steel models, take-apart designs, spring-loaded options, bone breakers, micro-serrated blades, and more affordable choices for occasional home use.
Best Poultry Shears at a Glance
| Poultry Shears | Length | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZWILLING TWIN Select 42931-000 | 9.25 in | Forged, take-apart, bone crusher | Best Overall |
| Messermeister Push Button PB118-10 | 10 in | Push-button take-apart | Best Premium Take-Apart Pick |
| WÜSTHOF Poultry Shears 1069595005 | Poultry shear format | Curved blades, internal spring | Best Everyday Pick |
| OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears | 9.5 in | Bone notch, take-apart | Best Value Take-Apart Pick |
| Messermeister Poultry Shear 118 | 10 in | Forged, bone notch | Best Heavy-Duty Pick |
| ZWILLING Deluxe 42914-001 | 10.04 in | Forged, serrated, bone breaker | Best Traditional German Pick |
1. ZWILLING TWIN Select Poultry Shears — Best Overall
ZWILLING TWIN Select 42931-000
The TWIN Select combines several features that are especially useful when breaking down poultry: forged construction, a serrated cutting edge, a dedicated bone crusher, spring assistance, and a mechanism that lets the two halves come apart for cleaning.
The serrated edge helps keep meat, tendons, skin, and bones from slipping away during the cut. ZWILLING also incorporates a bone crusher specifically intended to separate poultry bones.
An internal spring supports repeated cutting, while the safety bar helps prevent the shears from opening unintentionally during storage. The detachable construction also gives better access around the pivot when cleaning after raw poultry preparation.
- Forged stainless-steel construction.
- Dedicated bone crusher.
- Serrated blade helps reduce slipping.
- Take-apart design for thorough cleaning.
- Premium price compared with basic poultry shears.
- Manufacturer specifies hand washing.
2. Messermeister Push Button Poultry Shears — Best Premium Take-Apart Pick
Messermeister Push Button Take-Apart PB118-10
Messermeister’s PB118-10 is built around an unusual push-button pivot system that allows the blades to separate without relying on a conventional removable pivot screw.
The blades use Daido 1K6 steel with a titanium coating for additional stain resistance. A micro-serrated edge and bone notch help position poultry securely while the blades cut.
Messermeister also uses an internal torsion spring to assist opening and offset blade geometry intended to increase cutting force. The handles use a soft-grip material, while a lock keeps the blades closed during storage.
- Push-button take-apart mechanism.
- 4 mm high-carbon stainless blades.
- Micro-serrated edge and bone notch.
- Spring-assisted cutting.
- More complex than basic fixed-pivot poultry shears.
- Not dishwasher safe according to manufacturer care guidance.
3. WÜSTHOF Poultry Shears — Best Everyday Pick
WÜSTHOF Poultry Shears 1069595005
WÜSTHOF’s poultry shears use a straightforward spring-loaded design intended for chicken, turkey, duck, and goose preparation.
The slightly curved blades are designed for skinning, jointing, and spatchcocking. WÜSTHOF also states that the shears can work through thinner poultry bones.
An internal spring pushes the handles open between cuts, helping reduce the hand effort required during repeated squeezing. That makes the design particularly useful when working through an entire bird rather than making only one or two cuts.
- Dedicated poultry design.
- Curved stainless-steel blades.
- Internal spring reduces repeated opening effort.
- Suitable for thinner poultry bones.
- No take-apart cleaning mechanism listed.
- Hand washing and immediate drying are recommended.
4. OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears — Best Value Take-Apart Pick
OXO Good Grips Poultry Shears 1072292
OXO’s poultry shears combine several practical features without moving into the heavy premium construction of forged European models.
The blades are curved and tapered to improve precision around poultry. A notch near the cutting area helps secure bones rather than allowing them to slide forward between the blades.
OXO also uses a handle loop and bolster to help stop the hand from sliding toward the blade. A storage lock keeps the shears closed, and the blades separate for easier cleaning.
- Dedicated bone notch.
- Curved and tapered blades.
- Comes apart for cleaning.
- Handle lock for closed storage.
- Not positioned as a forged premium tool.
- Less specialized for very heavy bone cutting.
5. Messermeister 10-Inch Poultry Shear — Best Heavy-Duty Pick
Messermeister Poultry Shear 118
Messermeister’s traditional 10-inch poultry shear emphasizes heavy stainless-steel construction and a strong spring-loaded cutting action for chicken and turkey preparation.
The sharp curved blades are designed for poultry meat, while the bone notch provides a more secure position when additional cutting force is required around bones.
An industrial-style flush-mounted pivot is designed to provide smooth cutting action. The spring-loaded handles reopen automatically, and a lock holds the blades closed for safer storage.
- Heavyweight stainless-steel construction.
- Bone notch.
- Spring-loaded handles.
- Safety lock for storage.
- Heavier than compact kitchen shears.
- Does not use the push-button take-apart system of PB118-10.
6. ZWILLING Deluxe Poultry Shears — Best Traditional German Pick
ZWILLING Deluxe 42914-001
The ZWILLING Deluxe takes a traditional heavy-duty approach with forged stainless-steel blades, serration, a bone breaker, and reinforced synthetic handles.
Its serrated blade is intended to work through poultry skin, fat, and bone while reducing slipping during the cut. The dedicated bone breaker helps separate wings, joints, and bones.
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic handles provide a more conventional enclosed grip than all-metal poultry shears. The manufacturer also lists this model as dishwasher safe.
- Forged stainless-steel construction.
- Made in Germany.
- Serrated blade and bone breaker.
- Dishwasher safe according to manufacturer.
- Availability can vary.
- Does not use a take-apart cleaning design.
How to Choose the Best Poultry Shears
Poultry shears need to provide more leverage and control than ordinary kitchen scissors. Chicken skin can be slippery, cartilage is tougher than meat, and the tool may need to work around joints or thinner bones.
Look for Curved Blades
Curved blades can help follow the shape of a bird and keep the cutting area positioned between the blades. They are particularly useful for trimming around joints and making longer cuts through skin and meat.
Serrations Improve Grip
Poultry is often wet and slippery. Serrated or micro-serrated cutting surfaces can grip skin, tendons, and meat instead of allowing them to slide toward the tips of the shears.
For frequent poultry prep, blade control is just as important as raw cutting force. Serrations, curved blades, and bone notches can all help keep the material positioned while you squeeze.
Bone Notch vs Bone Breaker
A bone notch is a recessed section of the blade that helps hold a bone or joint in place while cutting. A bone breaker is a more dedicated feature intended to concentrate pressure on poultry bones and joints.
Neither feature means the shears should be used indiscriminately on large, extremely hard bones. Follow the manufacturer’s intended use and use heavier butchery tools when necessary.
Spring-Loaded Handles
Many dedicated poultry shears use a spring to reopen the handles after every cut. This reduces the repetitive hand motion involved in manually spreading the blades apart.
Spring assistance can be especially useful when spatchcocking or breaking down multiple birds.
Take-Apart Construction
Raw poultry makes cleaning particularly important. A take-apart design allows direct access to both sides of each blade and the surfaces around the pivot.
ZWILLING TWIN Select, Messermeister PB118-10, and OXO all provide separable designs, although their mechanisms differ.
Safety Locks
Spring-loaded shears naturally want to remain open. A locking mechanism keeps the blades closed when stored in a drawer or utensil container.
Always engage the lock before storage and keep sharp poultry shears away from children.
Handle Shape
Unlike normal scissors, many poultry shears use open spring handles rather than two enclosed finger loops. This allows a stronger whole-hand squeeze and can provide more leverage during heavier cuts.
Forged vs Standard Stainless Construction
Forged shears such as the ZWILLING models and Messermeister 118 use heavier construction aimed at demanding work. Simpler stainless-steel designs can still be effective for home cooks who break down poultry less frequently.
Forging alone does not determine how easy the tool is to use. Blade geometry, leverage, spring tension, handle comfort, and the location of the pivot all influence real-world cutting performance.
Poultry Shears for Spatchcocking
Spatchcocking typically involves cutting along both sides of the backbone so the bird can be opened and flattened. Strong spring-loaded poultry shears with curved blades and good leverage are particularly useful for this job.
Work slowly, keep your non-cutting hand clear of the blades, and position the shears around manageable sections rather than trying to force one oversized cut.
Cleaning After Raw Poultry
Wash the shears promptly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pay special attention to serrations, bone notches, the pivot, springs, locks, and overlapping blade surfaces.
If the shears come apart, clean both halves individually and allow them to dry fully before reassembly and storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Poultry shears are designed for tasks such as spatchcocking chicken, separating joints, trimming skin and fat, cutting cartilage, and breaking down chicken, turkey, duck, and other poultry.
For breaking down whole birds, usually yes. Dedicated poultry shears typically provide stronger construction, spring assistance, curved blades, and bone-control features that general kitchen scissors may not have.
Many dedicated poultry shears are designed to cut thinner poultry bones, joints, and cartilage. Use the exact manufacturer’s guidance and avoid forcing the tool through bones larger than it is designed to handle.
Look for strong curved blades, comfortable spring-loaded handles, secure grip on slippery material, and enough leverage to cut along both sides of a chicken backbone.
They can be particularly useful because raw poultry residue can collect around the blade overlap and pivot. Separating the blades makes those areas easier to wash directly.
Serrations are useful because they help grip slippery skin, tendons, meat, and other material during cutting. However, blade geometry, leverage, and overall construction are also important.
It depends on the exact model. Some manufacturers list individual poultry shears as dishwasher safe, while others explicitly recommend hand washing and immediate drying. Follow the instructions for the specific shears you own.