Spatchcocking a Chicken? You Need These Poultry Shears

Spatchcock isn’t just a fun Scrabble word: By removing the backbone and flattening a chicken, it’ll cook quicker and more evenly. But to spatchcock, you need the right tools—namely, a pair of poultry shears.

Unlike kitchen shears, poultry shears have spring-loaded handles and thick blades that make snipping through skin and bone easier. And the best-of-the-best poultry shears? They’re from OXO.

Why These Poultry Shears Are Top-Notch

We’ve recommended these OXO shears for years. The serrated blades allow them to easily bite through chicken skin and bones, while the spring mechanism adds power and control, preventing the shears from opening up too much. The looped handles are grabbable and wide, providing the non-slip grip you want for a tough task like spatchcocking. The shears come apart for cleaning and have a lock on them, so they don’t accidentally open during storage.

This is all to say: These shears are really, truly great. And they’re less than $25, which makes them worthwhile even if you use them just a few times a year.

Why We’re the Experts

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the associate editorial director at Serious Eats. She’s been with the site since 2021. 
• Riddley's tested kitchen gear professionally for more than six years.