Those “metal teeth” between the blades are almost certainly a built-in multi-purpose tool, and you’re not the first person to get surprised (or mildly injured) by them.
Most kitchen scissors are designed to do more than just cut, and manufacturers pack extra functions into the hinge area. Those teeth usually fall into one of these roles:
🦷 1. Bottle opener / grip teeth
On many kitchen scissors, the jagged metal section near the handle is used to:
- Grip bottle caps so you can twist them open
- Hold slippery items more securely
- Add leverage when opening jars or tight lids
The teeth increase friction so things don’t slip.
🐟 2. Fish scaler (on some models)
In some traditional kitchen shears, those teeth are used to:
- Scrape scales off fish
- Provide a rough surface for cleaning tasks
This is more common in older or Asian-style kitchen scissors.
🥜 3. Nutcracker / bone grip section
On heavy-duty scissors, that same area can:
- Crack small nuts
- Hold chicken bones steady while cutting
- Apply extra pressure without the blades slipping
⚠️ Why you’re cutting your fingers
You’re not doing anything wrong—the design is just not very “finger-friendly.”
The risk usually comes from:
- Reaching too close to the hinge while adjusting grip
- Using the scissors in a way that exposes the teeth
- Thinking it’s just a smooth handle area when it isn’t
Some models place these teeth right where your fingers naturally move, which is… honestly bad ergonomic design.
🛑 Safety tips (important in your case)
Since you’ve already cut your fingers twice, a few practical fixes:
- Avoid sliding fingers near the hinge area when adjusting grip
- Use only the handle loops for holding—not the middle section
- Consider switching to scissors without built-in tools if you don’t use them
- If they’re removable-style scissors, you may be able to separate and clean more safely
If the design keeps causing cuts, it’s not you—it’s the tool.
🟡 Bottom line
Those metal teeth are there for extra kitchen functions like gripping, opening bottles, or cracking small items—but they can be poorly placed and unintentionally sharp.
They’re useful in theory, annoying in practice, and occasionally finger-hostile if you’re not expecting them.
If you want, you can describe or send a photo of your scissors and I can tell you exactly which type you have and what each part is meant to do.