What Are the Metal “Teeth” Between the Blades of Kitchen Scissors?

If you have ever looked closely at a pair of kitchen scissors and noticed small metal teeth built into the blades, you may have wondered whether they are simply part of the cutting mechanism—or whether they have a specific purpose.

Those serrated sections are usually intentional, and they can make kitchen shears considerably more useful than ordinary scissors.

1. They Help Grip Slippery Foods

One of the main purposes of the serrated sections is to hold food securely while cutting.

Smooth scissor blades can allow slippery foods to slide toward the tip. The small ridges provide additional friction, helping the blades grip the material instead of allowing it to escape.

This can be useful when cutting foods such as:

• Raw or cooked meat
• Poultry
• Fish
• Herbs and leafy vegetables
• Tough packaging
• Small pieces of food with slippery surfaces