If you’ve ever noticed the small toothed section between the handles of kitchen scissors, you might have wondered what it’s for since it doesn’t cut like the blades. That jagged area isn’t meant for slicing—it’s designed for crushing, gripping, and holding items while you work. It can crush garlic cloves quickly, crack nuts or shells, hold chicken bones steady while deboning, and secure thick-skinned foods like squash or citrus.

Unlike the sharp blades, this blunt notch never fully closes, acting as a built-in multitool for tough or slippery ingredients. To use it, press garlic under the notch to crush and peel, crack nuts or lobster claws, grip bones or citrus, and even strip herb stems efficiently. Many overlook this feature, assuming it’s useless, but chefs and home cooks swear by it for speeding up prep and reducing extra tools. Kitchen scissors aren’t just for cutting—they’re ergonomic, often dishwasher-safe, and versatile, with the toothed part providing hidden functionality that saves time and effort in everyday cooking.