It’s Not Just for Show
That toothed section is called a grip or serrated notch, and it’s designed to help you handle tough kitchen tasks that regular blades can’t manage easily.
Its main job is to grip and crush, not cut.
What You Can Use It For
1. Cracking Nuts and Shellfish
The ridges give you a strong grip, making it perfect for cracking nuts or shellfish shells without them slipping out of your hand.
2. Opening Stubborn Lids
That toothed area can help loosen tight jar lids by giving you extra leverage and friction—especially useful when your hands are wet or oily.
3. Holding Slippery Foods
Need to hold something round or slick, like sausage casing or small bones? The serrated notch helps secure items while you work.
4. Breaking Down Poultry Bones
Some sturdy kitchen scissors use this feature to help snap small poultry bones, making meal prep quicker and safer.
Why It’s So Often Overlooked
Most people use kitchen scissors only for cutting—herbs, packaging, twine—so the extra feature goes unnoticed. Since it doesn’t look sharp, it’s easy to assume it has no real function.
In reality, it’s a clever multipurpose tool built right into something you already own.
A Small Feature with Big Benefits
Kitchen tools are often designed to do more than one job, and this toothed section is a perfect example. It saves time, reduces strain on your hands, and keeps you from reaching for extra tools.
Next time you’re cooking, take advantage of that hidden helper—it might become one of your favorite kitchen tricks.
Final Thought
That weird toothed part on your kitchen scissors isn’t weird at all—it’s smart design. Once you start using it, you’ll see why it’s been there all along.
If you’d like, I can: