The OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the best kitchen scissors for herbs because their sharp, slightly curved blades snip basil, chives, and parsley cleanly without bruising, and they take apart for washing. Chopping delicate herbs with a dull knife crushes the leaves and blackens the edges. Good scissors cut clean, work right over the pot, and skip the cutting board entirely, which is why they earn a drawer spot in most kitchens.
The OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the best overall, cutting herbs cleanly and disassembling for a proper wash. The Jenaluca 5-blade herb scissors are the fastest for big chive and green-onion piles, and KitchenAid’s all-purpose shears are the durable budget pick.
- Best overall: OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors
- Best value: Jenaluca Herb Scissors
- Best budget: KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears
- Avoid: Multi-blade scissors with no cleaning comb, wet herbs jam between the blades
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Quick Picks
- Best overall: OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors, Clean single-blade snips that never bruise, and they come apart to wash.. Check price on Amazon
- Best value: Jenaluca Herb Scissors, Five blades turn a pile of chives into confetti in seconds..
- Best budget: KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears, A solid everyday shear that handles herbs and everything else..
Comparison Table
| Scissors | Blade design | Best for | Cleanup | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors | Single sharp stainless blades, cushioned grips | Precise snipping of basil, parsley, cilantro | Blades separate, dishwasher safe | Check Price |
| Jenaluca Herb Scissors | Five parallel stainless blades | Bulk chopping chives and green onions | Cleaning comb included | Check Price |
| KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears | Single stainless blades with sheath | Herbs plus general kitchen cutting | Hand wash recommended | Check Price |
| Zwilling Kitchen Shears | Forged-quality stainless, take-apart design | Cooks wanting one premium shear for everything | Pull-apart, easy wash | Check Price |
How We Chose These Kitchen Gadgets Picks
We compared blade sharpness, disassembly for cleaning, comfort, and rust resistance across popular kitchen and herb scissors, then weighted owner feedback on the failure points specific to this category, blades that bruise instead of cut, herbs jamming multi-blade designs, and pivots that loosen within months.
Key Takeaway: For herbs, sharpness and washability beat gimmicks. A single sharp pair that disassembles will outlast and outcut most novelty designs, though a 5-blade pair genuinely earns its slot if you cut piles of chives weekly.
Best Overall: OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors
Best for: Cooks who finish dishes with fresh herbs several times a week and want clean cuts, comfortable grips, and a tool they can actually wash properly. Why it made the list: The blades are sharp enough to shear soft basil without bruising it black, the cushioned handles stay comfortable through a big prep session, and the blades separate completely so herb sap and residue never build up in the pivot.
- Key specs: Sharp stainless steel blades, take-apart pivot design, cushioned non-slip grips, dishwasher safe when separated, herb-stripping notch in the blade.
- What we like: Clean cuts on delicate leaves, a built-in notch that strips thyme and rosemary stems, and the take-apart design that makes proper cleaning painless.
- What we do not like: They are bulkier than plain shears, the cushioned grips can trap grime in their seams, and they are more expensive than basic scissors for what is still a scissor.
- Who should buy it: Anyone who cooks with fresh herbs regularly, and gardeners who harvest and snip in one motion straight over the dish.
- Who should avoid it: Occasional herb users, a sharp chef knife handles a monthly parsley garnish fine, and minimalists who refuse single-category tools.
- Common complaints: Owners note the pivot can loosen with heavy use, and the grips discolor over years of dishwasher cycles.
- Size note: Slightly larger than standard kitchen scissors, check your utensil drawer divider before assuming they fit.
- Cleaning note: Separate the blades and wash after cutting sappy herbs like basil, dried herb resin is what dulls scissor performance fastest.
- Alternative: The Zwilling Kitchen Shears if you want one premium take-apart shear for herbs, poultry, and packages combined.
Herb Scissors Buying Guide
Single blade versus five blades
Single-blade scissors give precise, controlled cuts and handle every herb type, while 5-blade designs like Jenaluca are pure speed tools that excel at chives, green onions, and cilantro but jam on wet basil and struggle with woody stems. Many herb-heavy cooks end up owning one of each.
Washability decides lifespan
Herb sap is sticky and mildly acidic, and it collects in the pivot where you cannot scrub. Take-apart designs solve this completely. For multi-blade scissors, a cleaning comb is not an accessory, it is essential, so avoid any 5-blade pair that ships without one.
Blade steel and the bruise test
Cheap soft stainless dulls within months and starts crushing herbs instead of cutting, which turns basil edges black and bitter. Look for hardened stainless from an established brand, and retire any pair the moment cut edges start bruising, resharpening scissors rarely restores them.
Safety Notes
- Store herb scissors with a sheath or blade guard, drawer-diving onto open blades causes real cuts.
- Keep multi-blade scissors away from kids, five edges look like a toy but cut like five knives.
- Wash promptly after cutting herbs near raw meat prep areas.
- Dry blades fully before storage, pivot rust is the top cause of early failure.
What to Avoid
- Five-blade scissors sold without a cleaning comb.
- Scissors with painted or coated blades, coatings flake into food as they wear.
- Ultra-cheap soft steel pairs that bruise herbs within months.
- Non-separating designs if you cut sappy herbs like basil often.
FAQ
Are 5-blade herb scissors actually worth it?
Yes for high-volume soft herbs, no as your only pair. They cut chives and green onions five times faster than a knife, but they jam on wet leaves, cannot handle woody stems, and take longer to clean. Owner reviews consistently show they complement, not replace, a single sharp pair.
Do scissors bruise herbs less than a knife?
Sharp scissors bruise delicate herbs less than an average home knife because they shear cleanly in one motion without dragging. A properly sharpened chef knife matches them, but most home knives are not that sharp, which is why snipped basil stays greener than chopped for many cooks.
How do I clean herb resin off scissor blades?
Wipe the blades with a paper towel soaked in cooking oil to dissolve the resin, then wash with dish soap and dry fully. For take-apart models, separate the blades first so you can clean the pivot area where residue concentrates.
Final Verdict
The OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the best kitchen scissors for herbs with their clean-cutting take-apart design, with the Jenaluca Herb Scissors earning a slot for bulk chive work and the KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears covering herb duty and everything else on a budget.
