If you’ve ever wondered about the design of jeans studs or the color scheme of a barbershop pole, this article might pique your interest.
Scissors are a staple in our everyday lives, coming in a variety of shapes and sizes. Notably, many kitchen scissors have jagged metal pieces in the center of each handle.
These metal pieces are easily overlooked since they’re part of the handle, not the blade, mainly because the focus is usually on cutting the task at hand.
At the beginning of 2025, a Reddit user took to the ‘r/DoesAnyoneKnow’ thread to inquire about this feature.
On January 1, the user shared an image of their scissors and posed the question: “Does anyone know what this part of the scissors are for?”
It turns out, many people do.
Users quickly responded with insights about the feature, revealing its various functions.
For instance, if you struggle with stubborn bottle or jar lids, the metal teeth can help grip and unscrew them.
Regarding this use, one individual expressed safety concerns, comparing it to a ‘wine bottle opener with random knife blades.’ However, others reassured that with caution and by keeping blades away, it’s generally safe.
Although holiday nutcrackers might be stored away by now, your snacking doesn’t have to end.
The scissors’ center can also crack open nut shells. One Redditor cleverly remarked: “Everything’s a nutcracker if you try hard enough.”
This might sound unusual, but don’t worry.
Think of meat bones; sometimes, you need to break them down to fit a pot for stock. The scissors’ middle can crack bones efficiently, though it may feel odd.
Adding to this, one Redditor said: “Also, they are great for cracking lobster claws.”
While many Redditors knew about using scissors as a nutcracker or for opening bottles, some suggestions were surprising.
One person, amazed by the idea of opening boiled eggs with the grips, exclaimed: “What the f**k!?!? You have changed my life!!”
Another suggested using them as a ‘garlic crusher,’ and a third mentioned they could ‘cut metal wire’.
So, go ahead and explore new uses for your scissors!