Twisting soft corks out of bottles (mainly synthetic ones)
Holding a stubborn twist-tie or stuck plastic seal to slice it cleanly
Essentially, any time both your hands are slipping, slipping, slipping, and you’re about to snap with frustration—that little grip might be your answer.
Why do manufacturers even include this?
Because they can offer more options; that is the simple answer. There are more and more kitchen tools that were inspired by multi-use tools. Their purpose is really handy for those in small kitchens (hello, apartment dwellers).
Instead of buying a jar opener, nutcracker, and poultry scissors separately, a decent pair of kitchen scissors with its built-in gripper can do the work of all three. Just a quiet space-saver that can do more than its share for the space.
Does your pair have it?
Not all kitchen scissors do. It’s most often found in:
Heavy-duty kitchen scissors
Poultry or bone shears
Utility scissors that are marked as ‘multipurpose’
Just look in the area between the handles—does it have a notched or ridged section that aligns when you close them? That’s your built-in gripper ready to roll.