Top 10 Tips on How to Maintain and Take Care of Kitchen Shears

Kitchen shears and scissors are indispensable tools in the kitchen. A single tool that can take on many jobs, these scissors are often confused with kitchen knives. However, there are some key differences between the two tools that separate them into different categories.

For example, while both kitchen shears and knives cut food items, their uses vary greatly. Kitchen shears are mainly used for opening food packaging, snipping herbs or groceries, and breaking down poultry. On the other hand, knives are mainly used for cutting meat, dicing vegetables, and chopping nuts.

Groceries in a Kitchen
                       Groceries in a Kitchen

There is a bit of overlap between these kitchen cutleries as both the kitchen knife and the kitchen shears come with their own sets of challenges when it comes to maintenance and care.

Since they are frequently exposed to moisture and food debris, one must ensure that these cutleries are cleaned thoroughly after each use. In this article, the focus will be on kitchen shears and scissors since they are more challenging to maintain compared to knives.

Clean your Kitchen Shears after Every Use

After using your kitchen shears to open a package, slice vegetables and meat, or trim thyme for dinner, be sure to clean them. The last thing you want is for food residue and oils from the chicken to mix with the next vegetable you cut. Not only will that affect the flavor of what you’re cooking but it’ll also put you at risk of foodborne illnesses.

Kitchen shears have a tendency to get dirty, especially if they are not cleaned properly after each use. In fact, they can become harder to clean as time goes by since food particles and oil get stuck inside the grooves of the blades. This is why it’s important for you to clean your kitchen scissors after every use.

We recommend that you clean them with soap and warm water to remove food debris and any leftover oil. Mixing in baking soda can also help in removing tough stains on the blades. Once this is done, be sure to rinse it thoroughly with clean water.

Properly Dry the Kitchen Shears after Washing Them

Some of the worst enemies of scissors include rust and corrosion, which can be prevented by drying these cutleries thoroughly after washing them. Storing wet kitchen shears in a dry place will only lead to the growth of mold. The same goes for allowing them to sit around without drying.

One big mistake that people make is leaving their kitchen scissors lying around after they’ve used them because they are too tired to dry them right away. This increases the risk of rust forming on your kitchen shears, which can be very difficult to remove.

It is recommended that you always dry your scissors as soon as possible. Leaving them to sit wet in a cupboard or drawer will only lead to rust and corrosion of the metal parts of your shears thus culminating to stained blades and dullness from the trapped moisture.

Use Mineral Oil on the Kitchen Scissors to Prevent Rusting

Another tip to maintain and take care of your kitchen scissors is to use food grade mineral oil. Oil up your kitchen shears once every six months with mineral oil to keep them moving smoothly and prevent rusting. This substance serves as an excellent barrier between these kitchen shears and corrosive food particles while also providing an anti-rust coating.

Food grade mineral oil
                       Food grade mineral oil 

Say you’re using kitchen shears to cut some green onion, and green onion juice gets trapped between the blades of the scissors. A mineral oil barrier prevents that juice from corroding the blades by acting as a barrier.

In addition, mineral oil can be used as a lubricant to keep kitchen shears from getting stuck when you open and close the blades. Just use mineral oil as needed after thoroughly cleaning your scissors with warm water and dish soap.

Use Glycerin to Lubricate your Kitchen Shears

Glycerin is another substance that has multiple uses when it comes to taking care of kitchen shears. This substance can act as a lubricant, preventing the blade tip from getting stuck in between two objects.

However, there are some instances where this substance is not ideal for this purpose. When using glycerin, make sure to wipe off excess glycerin on the blade after each use. A thin coat of oil or cooking spray is usually more than enough to seal these kitchen shears against corrosion and rust.

It’s good to note that not all types of glycerin are ideal for lubricating kitchen shears. There’s glycerin that is used in the food and consumable products, and that is the one you should use. Beware there is also glycerin used in the cosmetic industry and other non-consumable purposes, and this can be toxic when ingested.

Heat Precautions when Washing and Drying Kitchen Scissors

Kitchen shears are also prone to warping after continuous exposure to high heat levels. When washing these tools, make sure to avoid high heat settings as they may be destructive in the long run. Additionally, ensure you dry your scissors in a low heat zone. Ensuring that these utensils are bone dry before storage is very helpful when it comes to preventing warpage after several uses.

Sharpen the blades with a sharpening stone or grinder every few months

If you are not careful, the blades of your kitchen shears will get duller and blunt over time. To maintain your kitchen scissors in good condition, it is important to sharpen the blades after every few months.

Sharpening File
A Typical Sharpening File

This process generally involves pulling the scissors straight through a sharpening tool. There are many options on how to sharpen your kitchen shears including the use of a file, electric knife sharpener, whetstone, or take them to companies which offer sharpening services. You can read this article to learn on how to sharpen kitchen shears at home.

Oil the handles and pivot points to prevent rusting

You should oil the handles and pivot points of your kitchen shears to prevent rusting. Oiling shears prevents the areas that are in constant contact with your food from sticking together, which causes stiffness when cutting and can even cause the blades to stick when you try to separate them.

You should keep your kitchen shears fresh by oiling pivot points to ensure they are not only working properly but also efficiently. Use the oil sparingly since you only need to use two drops for each pivot point and another two drops on the handle.

Store them in a safe place when not in use to avoid accidents

Kitchen shears should be stored in a safe place when not in use to avoid accidents. The best place to store them is in a drawer with a latch, a knife block or a magnetic strip, where they will be safe from the reach of children.

Knife holder
                   A Typical Holder Block

Don’t put them in dishwasher – it will dull the blades over time

Kitchen shears should not be put in a dishwasher because of the high temperatures of the water. The heat will damage blades, making them duller over time. Besides, it is believed that dishwashers are not good for knives sharpening because the strong jets of heated water may strip off some of the metal’s sharpness. The rust-resistant steel that’s used to make the shears keeps blades sharp, but dishwashers remove this finish, leaving them unprotected.

The best way to clean kitchen scissors is to put them in the sink and wash them manually, then wipe off with a clean cloth or towel.

Hand washing utensils in kitchen
          Kitchen shears should be hand-washed 

Store your shears away from other kitchen utensils so they won’t get scratched or dented

You should store your kitchen shears away from other kitchen utensils like knives because if they get scratched and dented it will be much harder to use them or you might hurt yourself when trying to use them.

In conclusion:

– Kitchen scissors should be washed after use and dried properly

– Kitchen shears should be washed by hand with no heat setting

-Blades need to be sharpened every few months but can be done more or less depending on use.

-Oil should be used (sparingly) on the pivot point and handles of the scissors for lubrication and to prevent rusting.

-Kitchen scissors are not dishwasher-safe.

-Kitchen shears should be stored away from the reach of children.

How To Sharpen Kitchen Shears And Scissors At Home