How to choose a good poultry shear

When shopping for a pair, prioritize the following features:

1. Blade Design and Specialized Geometry

The blades do the heaviest work, so their design determines how easily you can break down a chicken or turkey.

The Bone Notch: Look for a deep, semi-circular notch located near the pivot point of the blades. This notch anchors round bones (like wing or leg joints) in place, providing the mechanical leverage needed to crunch through them cleanly without the bone slipping forward.

Micro-Serrated Edges: At least one of the blades should feature micro-serrations. Raw poultry skin and fat are incredibly slick; serrations grip the slippery surface so the meat doesn't slide out of the shears mid-cut.

Curved Blades: Slightly tapered or curved blades make it much easier to navigate the natural contours of a bird, such as cutting closely along the breastbone or spine when spatchcocking.

2. High-Quality Blade Material

Because poultry shears regularly encounter moisture, salt, and dense bone, the steel quality is paramount.

High-Carbon Stainless Steel: This is the ideal material. The high-carbon content ensures the blades stay sharp through repetitive bone-cutting, while the stainless steel component provides essential rust and corrosion resistance against wet meats and frequent washing.

3. Handle Design and Ergonomics

Cutting through bone requires significant hand pressure, making ergonomics a major safety factor.

Spring-Loaded Handles: Premium poultry shears feature an internal or external spring that automatically pushes the handles back open after each cut. This drastically reduces hand fatigue, especially if you are processing multiple birds.

Handle Loops vs. Presentation Style:

Loop Handles: Traditional scissor loops give good control but can pinch your fingers under high pressure.

Presentation/Spring Handles: These look more like pliers or pruners, featuring large, textured grips that allow your entire hand to squeeze together, generating maximum leverage.

Non-Slip Grip: Ensure the handles are made of a textured, slip-resistant material (like textured polymer or rugged rubber overlays) so your hands don't lose their grip when wet or greasy.

4. Safety Lock Mechanism

Because poultry shears are spring-loaded and incredibly sharp, they naturally want to spring open. A robust loop, latch, or toggle lock at the base of the handles is essential to keep the blades securely closed when stored in your drawer or knife block, protecting your fingers when reaching for tools.

HEWER offers MultiCUT HS-7324 heavy-duty, professional-grade poultry shears which are designed for:

Breaking down and spatchcocking whole chickens, turkeys, or ducks.

Trimming and cutting thick portions of meat.

Processing, finning, and filleting fish.

Visit our website www.hewersafety.com or contact me for more information.