Poultry Shears Completely Changed My Thanksgiving Prep

I once tried to spatchcock a Thanksgiving turkey with a regular pair of kitchen shears. It didn’t go so well. For those who don’t know, spatchcocking is also called butterflying, and it requires that you remove the bird’s backbone in order to roast it flat instead of 3D like it is typically. In my unprepared scenario, it took two people to finally get the job done and I walked away with a blister. But spatchcocking isn’t difficult to do—with the right tools. Once I got my hands on a pair of poultry shears, it changed my future Thanksgivings forever.

Whether you’re breaking down a chicken into quarters or spatchcocking a 20-pound turkey, poultry shears are essential. Please note that these are not regular kitchen shears, nor the random craft scissors you happen to keep in the kitchen drawer—genuine poultry shears are special. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, there’s no better time to get yourself a pair. 

What are poultry shears, exactly?

Regular kitchen shears closely resemble multi-purpose scissors—they have straight blades, with thumb and finger hoops—but their shape is a bit stockier. You can use kitchen shears to trim vegetables, snip scallions into rings, or even cut pizza into slices, but these scissors are not terribly helpful for butchering. I can personally tell you that using these to cut through raw turkey bones is like using a fork to drink your morning coffee. 

Poultry shears are indeed scissors, but they’re designed specifically to slice through the meat and bone of chicken, turkey, pheasant, and other fowl. The shape, size, and design of these scissors makes this tough job a much lighter lift. The blades are fairly narrow and curved upward, making it easier to navigate the chicken cavity or get through hard to reach places while keeping your hand out of the way. The cutting edges of the blades have serrated segments, which reduces slipping and makes it easier to cut through bones. 

Crucially, poultry shears are spring-loaded. Part of what made my regular-kitchen-shears experience so unfortunate was that my grip strength was absolutely exhausted. The spring-loaded action makes cutting easier and faster. Additionally, they’re usually made of durable, hard-wearing stainless steel, so they’re easy to clean, and stay sharp and in good shape for years. 

When can you use poultry shears?

If you plan on spatchcocking a turkey this year, poultry shears are an absolute must. Doing this cooks the bird more evenly, leads to crispy skin instead of the often soggy thighs, and can knock off an hour or more from your total cooking time. Here’s how to spatchcock a chicken; you use the same steps for a turkey.

Poultry shears aren’t just for November; they’re indispensable throughout the year. You can use them to butcher fish, or crack and divide lobster or other crustaceans. Use your poultry shears to trim off loose fat from any cut of meat. Naturally you’ll want to reach for them whenever you’re breaking down a chicken into drums, thighs, wings and breasts before cooking (or freezing for easy dinners throughout the week), or after roasting to divide the bird for serving. 

If portioning or carving large chickens or turkeys with a knife has ever felt unwieldy (the bird juices can make the whole business rather slippery), you might find that using poultry shears feels safer and more comfortable. That alone is worth the purchase. Consider it a small investment for a much better Thanksgiving.