Kitchen shears are a very important tool in your tool drawer. They can make quick work of stripping herb leaves, cutting through tough sinew in raw meat, and even cut open food packaging without hurting your fingers. But they’re most likely only for right-handers to use easily. If you’re a lefty, then you probably find that specific pairs don’t work as well for you. That’s why you need specially designed ones that allow you to use the shears with your left hand instead of struggling with regular ones in your right.
In this article, we will take a look at one such device; the best left handed kitchen shears designed exclusively for the 10-percenters in this world.
Table of Contents
- 1 In a Hurry? Here Are Our Top Picks for the Best Left Handed Kitchen Shears…
- 2 What Are Kitchen Scissors Used For?
- 3 Are There Left Handed Kitchen Shears?
- 4 Left-Handed Kitchen Shears Reviews
- 5 Best High Quality Ambidextrous Kitchen Scissors for Left Handed People
- 6 How to Choose the Best Kitchen Shears for Left Handed People
In a Hurry? Here Are Our Top Picks for the Best Left Handed Kitchen Shears…
TOP TRUE LEFT HANDED KITCHEN SHEARS PICK
Seki Japan Multifunctional Kitchen Shears
- 8.46″ shears
- Lid lifting, screwdriver, nut cracking and bottle/jar opening tools
- Thick and wide blades with micro-serrated edges
OUR AFFORDABLE PICK
Lefty’s Left-Handed 8.75″ Kitchen Shears
- 8.75″ take apart shears
- Nut cracking and bottle opening tools and blade notch
- Curved outer blade with micro-serrations
TOP AMBIDEXTROUS PICK
Shun Multi Purpose Shears
- 9″ take apart shears
- Lid lifting, screwdriver, nut cracking and bottle/jar opening tools and blade notch
- Thick blades with extra-fine 16° cutting edges and micro-serrations
What Are Kitchen Scissors Used For?
Unlike a traditional pair of scissors, kitchen shears are a type of heavy-duty scissors suitable for generating significantly more cutting force. Cutting apart vegetables, meat, and sometimes even bones is a piece of cake if you’re using kitchen shears and not a standard pair of scissors. They sometimes do a better and faster job than chef’s knives, especially when it comes to cutting fatty meat and snipping herbs.
This sturdier alternative also comes with additional gripping space, so you can use more fingers to hold the shear. The relatively sharper and more extended blades also make for clean cuts you might require in the kitchen. These properties are similar to those of fabric shears that we’ve reviewed for left-handers.
Many kitchen shears have one serrated blade and one smooth and metal-teeth grippers inside the handles. There may even be an inbuilt bottle opener on the outer edge of one of the blades. So, apart from the obvious cutting and snipping properties, the best kitchen spears can also be used for the following:
- Cracking shells and nuts
- Opening a jar lid or a screw cap
- Tightening kitchen knobs and screws
- Opening bottles
Probably the only thing missing here is a wine bottle opener.
Are There Left Handed Kitchen Shears?
As we mentioned earlier, kitchen shears and traditional scissors are significantly different. However, the way each kind differs for lefties and righties is the same. While some lefties may be able to use right-handed kitchen shears pretty well, most lefties prefer to have left-handed shears in the kitchen so that there’s less hand fatigue and more efficient cutting of veggies, meats and any other hard to cut material around the house.
The difference lies in the way the blades are set in relation to each other, with the blade that’s fixed to the thumbhole placed to the left and moving downwards at the tip when the shears are held in the left hand. For a more thorough explanation, refer to our guide on the differences between right and left handed scissors.
Left-Handed Kitchen Shears Reviews
Seki Japan Multifunctional Kitchen Shears for Left-handed
With a soft-grip handle, the Seki Japan Multifunctional Kitchen Shears for Left-Handers is an excellent option to consider for all your cutting, snipping, and uncapping needs, especially if you don’t have a firm grip. The stainless steel and alloy steel materials fight against rust and make this a good pair of left handed heavy duty kitchen scissors.
These 8.46 x 3.27 x 0.55 inches kitchen shears are complete with thick, broad, serrated, and sharp blades that can support an error-free cutting experience, especially when dealing with vinyl or slippery items in the kitchen. The protrusions at the end of the handles can be used as a can/lid-opener as well as wide finger rests to add support and prevent hand strain. The teeth between the handles are perfect for twisting a bottle cap or cracking shells.
Pros
They are heavy-duty and durable.
These kitchen shears are rust-resistant.
The wide blades support cutting or snipping slippery items.
They offer a can/lid opener and a bottle opener/shell cracker.
Cons
On the heavy side.
Jikoni Twin-Pack Multipurpose Kitchen Scissors
Made of stainless steel, the Jikoni Twin-Pack Multipurpose Kitchen Scissors are available in packs of two and offer commendable cutting experiences with their sharp and smooth blades that cut through meat easily. Additionally, the serrated edge on the outer blade can help you scale or maw your fish quickly and easily. These kitchen shears also come with teeth between the handles, which can be used to crack nuts or as an opener.
What’s different about these all purpose kitchen shears from the previous one is that they are dishwasher-friendly. The total scissor length and width are 8 x 3.35 inches, while the blade length is 3.55 inches, and the weight of both together is 9.6 ounces.
Pros
It is dishwasher-safe.
The serrated edge helps scale fish.
Has teeth to open a bottle top and crack shells.
Comes with a protective sheath.
Cons
If not washed with warm water and soap and dried quickly, it might form rust.
No finger rests included.
Lefty’s Left-Handed 8.75″ Kitchen Shears
The Lefty’s Left-Handed 8.75″ Kitchen Shears are micro-serrated to ensure there are no slippery accidents when using it, making it a perfect option for beginners trying to incorporate this tool’s use in the kitchen. The Japanese stainless steel is also highly durable and long-lasting.
With reversed blades and a plastic grip, these shears are easy to handle and use for lefties, even if their hands are wet. What’s more noteworthy about these shears is that you can take them apart for thorough cleaning. Additionally, the 8.75 inches long shears also have a micro-serrated edge on one blade to prevent slips when cutting and it can be used to scale fish too.
Pros
Highly durable kitchen shears with multipurpose use.
The plastic handle is suitable for beginners.
One blade has a micro-serrated edge to prevent slipping and for scaling fish.
They come apart for easy cleaning.
Cons
They don’t include finger rests.
You have to make sure the bolt is tightened properly after they’re cleaned so that the blades don’t come apart while in use.
Best High Quality Ambidextrous Kitchen Scissors for Left Handed People
In addition to left-handed kitchen shears, there are also several ambidextrous kitchen scissors that can be used by the ten percenters. These are shears with high-quality blades that are set relatively closer together and don’t have a loose hinge. Additionally, symmetrical handles and a slight inward curve of the blades to ensure that no extra pressure needs to be used to cut easily, also make them perfectly suitable for lefties.
Let’s take a look at some ambidextrous kitchen scissors that you can consider if a right-hander will also be working in the kitchen:
iBayam Kitchen Scissors Heavy Duty Meat Scissors
Weighing 10.5 ounces together, the pack of two iBayam Kitchen Scissors Heavy Duty Meat Scissors will be a great addition to your collection of kitchen tools. While it does not have lid opener protrusions, it does include shock-absorbing, highly comfortable, and soft, ergonomically designed grips.
The sharp stainless steel blades have very fine micro-serrations to ensure non-slip cutting. There are built-in bottle opener teeth on the insides of the handle.
Available in multiple color combinations, red & black and gray & black, these shears’ overall dimensions are 8.66 x 3.93 inches with the blades being 4.33 inches long. There’s also a protective sheath for safe storage in a drawer. These all purpose kitchen shears, like the Jikoni scissors, are also dishwasher-friendly.
Pros
Comes in a pack of two with a protective sheath.
They are strong, sturdy, and durable.
Built-in bottle opener teeth.
Blades stay sharp for years.
Cons
They might form rust if washed frequently in the dishwasher.
Might need a squirt of WD40 to loosen them up.
KitchenAid All Purpose Shears
Available with a protective plastic guard to protect from rust or dings on the blades, the KitchenAid All-Purpose Shears are made with stainless steel and have overall product dimensions of 8.72 x 3.62 x 0.63 inches. Additionally, the stainless steel used for the shears’ blades is also resistant to rust if you dry them immediately after washing, ensuring you can use them for several years, if not decades.
The thick blades are also micro-serrated, which makes for clean and smooth cutting. The soft and symmetrical grip design also makes it suitable for extended use for both righties and lefties. While the brand claims that these are dishwasher-safe, they may rust if they’re not taken out and dried immediately, so it’s best to hand wash them if you want them to work well for many years.
Pros
The high-quality micro-serrated blades can cut through anything.
A plastic protective case is included in the package.
The grip is soft.
They are quite light.
Cons
Tends to rust if not dried immediately after use.
They don’t have multipurpose use.
Shun Multi Purpose Shears
Featuring a 3.5-inch blade, the Shun Multi-Purpose Shears‘ overall dimensions are 9 x 3.63 x 0.5 inches and are made of high-quality materials, such as the premium Japanese 420J2 stainless steel for the blades, which means that they won’t rust and will last a very long time.
This may seem like a very expensive choice, but there’s undoubtedly a lot you can do with these kitchen scissors. Some of its other functions include jar opening, nut cracking, lid lifting, screw-driving, and even a built-in blade notch to easily strip herbs or quickly snip off thin poultry bones. The thick blades are strong enough to cut bones but also feature extra-fine 16° cutting edges that can snip the most delicate of herbs.
You can easily detach and reattach the shears for thorough cleaning and drying. The handles are made of comfortable plastic.
Pros
It’s high-quality and durable.
You can use it for several purposes in the kitchen.
It’s easy to hold and use.
Blades are thick enough for heavy jobs and the edge is fine enough for snipping herbs.
Cons
Expensive.
Messermeister Take-Apart Stainless Steel Utility Kitchen Scissors
Available in a few different designs, the Messermeister Kitchen Scissors, like the rest of the scissors reviewed here, are also made with stainless steel, making them resistant to rust, durable, and long-lasting.
You will need to decide which pair you need from the options and how much you’re willing to pay. Don’t pick the offset design because that will only work for right-handers. You will have to choose from two kinds of symmetrical shears instead – both are 8″ long.
The affordable option for lefties, the Messermeister Take-Apart Utility Kitchen Scissors, consists of a soft plastic black or red grip over symmetrical handles, while a more expensive one, the Messermeister Spanish Take-Apart Utility Kitchen Scissors, is made in Spain and each half of the shears is a single piece made from hot-drop forged steel. The latter could be the best food shears you can buy and will last you a lifetime with its 56 Rockwell hardness and micro-serrated edge that’s good enough for cutting through poultry.
You can take both versions apart for cleaning and use them as multipurpose tools, such as a nutcracker, screwdriver, pliers, lid and bottle opener, and bone/twig cutter.
Pros
They are long-lasting, durable, and multipurpose tools.
They can be easily detached and cleaned.
You have an option where the shears are made of forged steel entirely.
Cons
Might form a few rust spots if left wet for too long but they can be cleaned pretty easily.
You may have to tighten the holding bolt so it doesn’t fall apart during use.
HENCKELS Heavy Duty Kitchen Shears
With 10.25 x 3.75 x 2.75 inches overall product dimensions, the HENCKELS Heavy Duty Kitchen Shears are among the longest shears on this list. They are resistant to corrosion and are made of high-grade stainless steel. The shears are also resistant to slipping while cutting, courtesy of their micro-serrated, sharp, and wide blades.
The handle grips are heavy-duty and won’t break easily and the teeth on the inner edges of the handles and neck of the blades work well to crack nuts and open bottom tops.
Relatively more budget-friendly than some options on this list, these shears are also dishwasher-safe. The shears can be taken apart when it’s time to clean them. However, you might need to be extra careful and only wash it occasionally or use warm water and dry it immediately after washing. Additionally, it’s incredibly lightweight, at only 3.98 ounces of product weight.
Pros
Durable and made with high-quality materials.
Has slip-free micro-serrated blades.
The tips are thin enough to do delicate work like deveining shrimp.
Smooth opening and closing action.
Cons
It is incredibly lightweight.
Not meant for cutting thick bones.
Wusthof WU5558 Kitchen Shears
Made with high carbon stainless steel, Wusthof WU5558 Kitchen Shears can be detached and easily reattached for intensive cleaning and drying to ensure there’s no rust formation. Moreover, their overall product dimensions are 8 x 0.5 x 3 inches, while their weight stands at mere 4 ounces. Its light weight means you’ll be better off not using it for heavier and harder objects in the kitchen.
However, it still offers a secondary function, i.e. a jar and bottle opener. These can also be washed in a dishwasher with precautionary measures and come with a micro-serrated blade. In addition to being resistant to rust, they also offer bacteria-resistant properties.
Pros
It’s easy to use and perfect for beginners.
Good for those with small hands.
They are durable and long-lasting.
Cons
Not suitable for those with large hands.
Some may find the movement of the blades too tight.
How to Choose the Best Kitchen Shears for Left Handed People
There are several ways to determine which of these kitchen shears will serve you the best, and it often comes down to each user’s preferences, needs, and budget. However, there are some core qualities that set the best left-handed culinary shears apart from the regular ones. Let’s take a look at what they entail:
Include Multipurpose Functions
Some of the best left-handed kitchen utility shears are also ones that have built-in tools to use as jar and bottle openers, screwdrivers, lid lifters, nutcrackers, and bone crashers. In addition to the obvious high-quality and comfortable cutting and snipping experience, your left-handed kitchen shears may also help ease your time in the kitchen with such additional functions and you won’t need to get separate tools for these functions.
They Are Easy to Clean
Most high-grade kitchen shears are extremely easy to clean. This could mean that they can be hand-washed and dried thoroughly or cleaned in the dishwasher. However, most brands advise against dishwashing as it can lead to corrosion or rust. You can continue using the dishwasher for your shears if you use warm water every time, remember to take them out promptly, and dry them right after with a cloth to ensure there are no remnants of water.
If you’re going to use the shears for cutting meat, poultry, or fish then it’s best that you get kitchen shears that come apart for cleaning to ensure they’re completely sanitized after each use.
They Are Sturdier and More Durable
High-grade kitchen shears are made of sturdy materials such as stainless steel. However, their weight and size also play a significant role in determining how and when they can be used. When investing in left-handed kitchen shears, make sure to compare their weight, blade size, and blade thickness with other shears that are available on the market. Heavier and thicker blades are best for cutting through cartilage and bone, while sharper tips and fine edges are best for delicate jobs like deveining shrimp or snipping herbs.
They might often include micro-serrated blades to add a non-slip feature, and handles that are both shock-proof and slip-proof.
