How to use spoon and fork knife?
author: BOSHUN
2022-09-19
Correct use of cutlery is also an etiquette, especially in more formal dining settings. You can use the cutlery any way you want, while you’re home alone eating in bed, but when you’re out at a nice restaurant or with a guest at a fancy dinner you need to know how to use your cutlery the right way. Europeans and people in the United States use cutlery differently, but You can choose one of them to learn and be able to drive it easily
Dining with a Fork and Knife European Style
1. Hold the knife in your dominant hand. Pick up the knife from table with your dominant hand. Hold it with the index finger along the top part of the handle
Has a standard place setting, Usually the knife is placed on the right side because most people are right-handed
2. Press the fork point with your non-dominant hand. Use your non-dominant hand to pick up the fork from the table. Hold it, point down towards the food, index finger on the back of the handle
For example, right-handers pick up the fork with the left hand, with the tines facing up and fork back down, otherwise, left-handers hold the fork with the right hand
3. Cut a bite of your food with the knife while using the fork to stabilize it. Place the tines of the fork against the food you want to cut and slice off a piece with the knife. Only cut a bite at a time and eat it before you cut the next piece
Never leave utensils on the table after you have cut food and started eating. It is also ceremonial taboo to cut all the food at once and then put down the knife
In some cases, eating with only a fork is acceptable. For example, there's no need to use a knife when you're just eating a salad or a bowl of pasta
4. Use the tips of the fork to spear your food and bring it to your mouth. Keep your knife in your dominant hand the whole time you are eating. It is, of course, acceptable to use your fork to scoop certain types of foods that naturally can’t be speared
You can use the knife to help push food that can’t be speared, like rice, onto your fork
5. Put your cutlery on the plate side-by-side, angled to the right, after you finish. This is the only time it is considered polite to place your fork and knife down during dining. Place all cutlery meant for that course, even if you didn’t use a particular utensil, onto the plate when you are finished
For example, if the main course was spaghetti and you only used a fork to eat it, you should still place the knife on the plate when you are finished eating
Make sure to place the fork tines-down to indicate that you are finished. For example, this is especially important if you are in a European restaurant and you want the waiter to see that you are done
5. Put your cutlery on the plate side-by-side, angled to the right, after you finish. This is the only time it is considered polite to place your fork and knife down during dining. Place all cutlery meant for that course, even if you didn’t use a particular utensil, onto the plate when you are finished
For example, if the main course was spaghetti and you only used a fork to eat it, you should still place the knife on the plate when you are finished eating
Make sure to place the fork tines-down to indicate that you are finished. For example, this is especially important if you are in a European restaurant and you want the waiter to see that you are done
Eating with Cutlery United States Style
1. Hold the fork in your non-dominant hand and the knife in your dominant hand. The United States style of dining uses the same starting grips as the European style. Hold the fork facing downward with your index finger on the back of the handle and the knife with your index finger along the back of the handle as well The United States style of eating with a fork and knife is also know as the zig-zag method
2. Cut a piece of your food and place the knife down on the top edge of your plate. Use your fork’s tines to hold the food stable while you cut a piece. Place the knife at about a 45-degree angle on the top right edge of your plate, with the blade facing in, when you are done cutting
Placing the knife on the edge of the plate is known as the resting position. Do not place the knife on the table in this method to avoid getting the table dirty.It is most suitable to cut 4-5 pieces at a time, please do not cut them all at once
3. Switch the fork to your dominant hand and flip it so the points face up. Transfer the fork from one hand to the other and reverse the position so you are holding it like a spoon. The index finger of your dominant hand will now be below the handle and your thumb will be on top.
This method of switching the fork and knife back and forth is where the United States style of using cutlery gets it’s zig-zag name.
If you are eating something that doesn’t use knife, then you would just keep your fork in your dominant hand, face up, the whole course.
4. Use your fork to scoop up the food and bring it to your mouth. The difference between United state and European is that when eating with a fork, it is used for scooping up food just like a spoon.
Hold the fork at a slight angle to the plate, rather than completely vertical
5. Put the fork and knife side-by-side on the plate when you finish at an angle. Place the fork with the tines up and put the knife right next to it. Angle the handles down and to the right of the plate
Using Spoons while Dining
1. Use a spoon with your dominant hand to eat soups or other liquids. Hold the spoon so that it is facing up with your index finger below the handle and your thumb on top. Carefully scoop the soup or liquid up with the spoon and bring it to your mouth to eat it.
2. Place the spoon on the plate that the bowl rests on when you are done eating. Most times, at least in restaurants, soups and liquid dishes are served in bowls that rest on a plate to catch spills. Place the spoon on the right side of this plate when you are done eating
If there is no plate under the bowl, then it is acceptable to place the spoon in the bowl
3. Use a spoon to help push food onto your fork instead of a knife. Hold the spoon in your non-dominant hand and the fork in your dominant hand with the points facing up. Turn the spoon on its side and use it to gently push food onto your fork to help you scoop it up
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