Poultry shears are heavy-duty scissors designed for cutting through poultry bones, joints, and cartilage. Built with thick, serrated blades that grip rather than slip, strong pivot joints, and comfortable handles that multiply hand force, they power through backbones, rib cages, and thigh joints that would destroy ordinary kitchen scissors. Their signature task is spatchcocking: cutting out the backbone so the bird lies flat for faster, more even roasting or grilling. They also joint raw birds, trim fat, and snip through lobster shells and crab legs. Good shears come apart for thorough cleaning, essential since the crevices around the pivot trap raw poultry juices and pose a cross-contamination risk. For anyone who regularly breaks down whole birds, they are among the highest-value tools in the kitchen.