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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.
Sometimes single-use kitchen gadgets aren’t really necessary, but for those who use a lot of herbs, herb-trimming scissors are worth it. They cut herbs much more quickly, especially models that have more than one blade. These scissors make it possible to slice herbs right over a simmering pan or finished dish, which means there’s no need to dirty a cutting board and knife. Good herb scissors are affordable, comfortable to use, easy to clean, and most importantly, do their job well, neatly slicing delicate herbs. Listed here are the best herb scissors to make this kitchen task less tedious.
- BEST OVERALL: Jenaluca Herb Scissors With Five Blades
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Vibirit Herb Scissors
- BEST WITH HERB STRIPPER: Zyliss Herb Snipper Scissors
- BEST MULTIPURPOSE: Oxo Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors
- BEST SPRING-ACTION: Fiskars Fast-Prep Herb Shears
How We Chose the Best Herb Scissors
Single-use kitchen gadgets need to perform well to justify their spot in our kitchen drawers, so we only chose herb scissors that are worthy of the space. The highly rated herb scissors included in our list are all easy to use and reliably cut herbs. They won’t bend, bruise, or crush herbs in the cutting process.
The top picks are on our list thanks to their quality construction. We chose scissors that won’t rust or corrode easily and will chop smoothly, even after many uses and washes. Our picks have strong and sharp blades that don’t bend and are attached with reliable rivets that hold them straight in place. We also chose scissors with a comfortable grip, preferably nonslip for safety. For ease of use, many picks on our list are dishwasher-safe and include a blade cover to protect the scissors in storage. For herb shears with multiple blades, we prioritized those that came with a cleaning comb to help clear away stuck-on herbs.
Our Top Picks
Fresh herbs add so much flavor and appeal to a dish, and herb scissors make them much easier to prepare. Check out our top picks below, and get chopping with the best herb scissors.
Best Overall
Jenaluca Herb Scissors With Five Blades
The Jenaluca herb scissors make it so simple to cut through herbs quickly. These scissors have five sharp and rust-resistant stainless steel blades to cut, chop, and mince herbs and leafy greens, creating uniform pieces. A comfortable handle with a nonslip grip makes them pleasant and safe to use.
Since they have five sharp and sturdy blades, these scissors are excellent for mincing up a few herbs over a cooking pan or finished dish. They can become jammed when cutting too many herbs at once, but they come with a cover that has a built-in cleaning comb, which makes it easier to clear the space between the blades. These herb scissors are dishwasher-safe, so they’re simple to clean after you’ve finished chopping. Just let them dry completely before storing them in the included cover.
Product Specs
- Type: 5 blades
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
- Accessories included: Cover with cleaning comb
Pros
- Sharp multiblade design cuts cleanly and quickly through herbs
- Includes a protective cover with built-in cleaning brush
- Dishwasher-safe for easier cleanup
Cons
- Reviewers note that cutting too many herbs at once can cause pieces to get stuck between the blades
Get the Jenaluca herb scissors at Amazon.
Best Bang for the Buck
Vibirit Herb Scissors
Shoppers looking for the best value will want to reach for the Vibirit herb scissors. These budget scissors come with a few accessories to handle other herb and vegetable-prepping jobs. This set includes a pair of five-blade herb scissors (with a cover and built-in cleaning comb, plus a separate cleaning brush), an herb stripper, and a vegetable peeler.
The herb stripper features eight different-size holes for stripping the leaves off herbs, plus a sharp, flat edge to use as a cutter. While the herb stripper isn’t as sharp as a knife, it can make simple chops and would also work well as a dough cutter. The peeler comes with three different blades to peel, slice, and julienne veggies, although some reviewers note that it was not too sturdy or practical. Nevertheless, these inexpensive scissors are priced comparably to other models, and the set comes with more accessories than most options on the market. Despite the peeler not being the best, this set is still a worthwhile buy, even for just the scissors and herb stripper.
Product Specs
- Type: 5 blades
- Dishwasher-safe: Not specified
- Accessories included: Cover with cleaning comb in addition to a cleaning brush, herb stripper, and vegetable peeler
Pros
- Comes with several accessories for an affordable price
- Herb stripper is useful for a range of herbs and greens and has a flat edge for cutting
- Includes a cover with a built-in cleaning comb, plus an additional brush for deeper cleaning
Cons
- The included peeler isn’t very sturdy, and some reviewers note that it broke after a few uses
Get the Vibirit herb scissors at Amazon.
Best with Herb Stripper
Zyliss Herb Snipper Scissors
While a separate herb stripper is useful, it is another gadget that takes up drawer space and can get lost. The Zyliss herb scissors have a smart design, incorporating herb strippers right into the scissor handle. Unlike our first two picks, these are single-blade scissors. They have a small and sharp stainless steel blade that’s suited for making precise cuts. While the blade may not cut through a pile of herbs as quickly as a pair of multiblade scissors, it offers more control and is easier to clean (this pair is dishwasher-safe, too).
The ergonomic nonslip handle includes three holes of different sizes to tackle most herbs. And since the herb stripper section is metal, there’s no worry about it snapping with frequent use. A cover is included to protect the blades from damage in kitchen drawers, and the brand backs up these scissors’ sturdiness with a 5-year guarantee.
Product Specs
- Type: Single blade
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
- Accessories included: Cover
Pros
- Short, narrow, and sharp blade is ideal for making exact cuts
- Handle includes a built-in metal herb stripper with 3 size options
- Sturdy and durable—backed with a 5-year guarantee
Cons
- Short blade is best suited for precise cutting jobs rather than cutting bunches of herbs
Get the Zyliss herb scissors at Amazon, Zyliss, or S. Feldman Housewares.
Best Multipurpose
Oxo Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors
For those who can’t quite justify stand-alone herb scissors, multipurpose kitchen scissors are a good choice. They can still chop through herbs and greens but have a more robust design to tackle other kitchen jobs as well. Oxo Good Grips kitchen and herb scissors combine cutting and herb-stripping functions. These scissors have herb strippers in the handle, though there are only two and they are of similar size.
Nonetheless, these scissors are a good multipurpose pick. The blades are made of stainless steel and they’re sturdy, designed to cut through meat and vegetables with a micro-serrated edge. The handle is large and has a nonslip cushioning grip, and the blades can be separated for cleaning. Oxo recommends hand-washing these scissors instead of putting them in a dishwasher.
Product Specs
- Type: Single blade
- Dishwasher-safe: No
- Accessories included: None
Pros
- Multipurpose; these are sharp and robust kitchen shears with a built-in herb stripper
- Blades come apart for more thorough cleaning
- Micro-serrated blades help grip items such as meat and vegetables to prevent them from slipping
Cons
- Not dishwasher-safe: Oxo recommends hand-washing after use
Get the Oxo herb scissors at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Oxo.
Best Spring-Action
Fiskars Fast-Prep Herb Shears
Using scissors can be difficult for some, especially when cutting tougher herbs. These herb shears from Fiskars turn the kitchen shear design on its head—with a spring-action mechanism, users squeeze the scissors to cut. The scissors then automatically open again after each chop. This design makes them easier to use compared to regular scissors, especially for those with less hand dexterity or when chopping through tough herbs. The handle is comfortably curved and has a nonslip soft grip.
These scissors have short and chunky stainless steel blades that are sturdy and precise. Their length is best suited for cutting small amounts of herbs rather than big bunches. For easy cleaning, these herb scissors are dishwasher-safe, plus they come with a sheath for safety.
Product Specs
- Type: Single blade
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
- Accessories included: Cover
Pros
- Unique spring-action mechanism reduces hand strain and improves ease of use
- Handle design maximizes power and control to chop tough herbs and greens
- Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
Cons
- Short blades are not ideal for chopping large bunches of herbs
Get the Fiskars herb scissors at Amazon, Walmart, or Fiskars.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing Herb Scissors
It can take a lot of time and effort to chop up herbs for cooking or garnishing, and herb scissors can make light work of this tedious task. While their job is straightforward, there are a few features to consider when choosing the best herb scissors, including the blade configuration, handle, and whether the scissors include a brush or cover.
Single Blade vs. Five Blade
Herb scissors come in single or multiblade designs. In the latter category, five-blade scissors are the most common, though three-blade herb scissors are also an option. Single-blade herb scissors allow for the most control. They give users the option to choose the size of each slice, an option that is lost with multiblade scissors. This makes them ideal for home cooks who want more flexibility. They’re smaller and more slender than culinary shears, so they allow users to precisely cut small and delicate herbs.
Five-blade herb scissors are efficient and fast—they create five slices with each cut instead of just one. Their design also allows them to create uniform pieces. However, since there’s no way to adjust the distance between blades, the cuts will always be the same size. Their convenience is worthwhile for those who don’t need the flexibility to cut different-size pieces.
Handle
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.
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
A brush is a convenient cleaning tool for multiblade herb scissors. Herbs can easily get stuck to the blade (especially if they’re a bit wet), so a brush or comb-like device is sometimes necessary to get them out from in between the blades. This tool is not necessary for single-blade herb scissors. For even more ease of cleaning, look for herb scissors that are dishwasher-safe.
A cover is useful for protecting the scissors when they’re in the kitchen drawer (as well as protecting unsuspecting hands from their sharp tip!). Keeping the scissors covered will help maintain the sharp edge that’s necessary for cutting herbs without damaging them. Some herb scissors have a cleaning comb built right into the cover, which is especially convenient and makes the brush harder to lose.
FAQs
Herb scissors are for the kitchen—not for the garden like your pruning shears, hedge shears, loppers, or tin snips. If you go through a lot of herbs, they’re a worthwhile and convenient way to chop up chives, basil, cilantro, rosemary, and all your other favorite herbs. Want to learn a bit more about this kitchen tool? Find answers to some frequently asked questions on herb scissors below.
Q. What is the difference between scissors and kitchen scissors?
Generally, kitchen scissors are more robust than regular or electric scissors, since they are used to cut tough items such as raw chicken or fibrous vegetables. They tend to have a stronger hinge so they can handle these harder tasks. Many kitchen scissors also come apart for easier cleaning.
Q. What scissors are used to cut ingredients such as herbs or meat?
A pair of kitchen shears will get the job done and are a good choice for those who don’t want specialized herb scissors. However, if you cut a lot of herbs, herb scissors are more suitable for this delicate task. They can also come in multiblade designs to make cutting herbs faster.
Q. What are scissors with 5 blades used for?
Five-blade kitchen scissors are often herb scissors; they have this design to make it easier and faster to chop herbs into uniform pieces.
Q. Do you need special scissors to cut herbs?
No, it’s not a kitchen necessity to have special herb-cutting scissors. However, they are affordable and convenient, so they may be worthwhile if you go through a lot of herbs.
Q. Will herb scissors save time in the kitchen?
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!
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