How many types of forks are there and what are they for?
Knowing all the types of forks that exist and the use of each of them is essential in any hospitality business. It is important to differentiate the cutlery to offer the right ones according to the type of dish that the customer requests. This can give your restaurant a more elegant and quality image.
Top 10 Types of Restaurant Forks
It is important to know which forks to serve your customers, always paying attention to the use for which they have been designed and the specific order. And there is a wide range of forks , each one for a specific type of food: fish, meat, oysters, fruit, desserts… Here we give you a summary of the 10 most common types of forks.
1. Table forks
The table fork is the best known and used. It has three or four teeth and, in general, its size is usually the same as that of the spoon. Accompanied by a table knife, it is commonly used to cut meat and fish.
2. Salad forks
Salad forks are medium in size and their main feature is their slim shape . They are perfect for eating very light foods and for use in salads with mango, cucumber or watermelon.
3. Meat forks
This type of fork is characterized by its size, larger than that of starters, and has four sharp points . Taking into account that meat as a main dish is in high demand by diners, for catering businesses specialized in this type of gastronomic offer, such as steakhouses, it is an essential cutlery.
4. Carving forks
Carving forks are almost certainly the easiest to identify. They are characterized by having only two teeth , with a wide central opening, that is, they are quite separated. Also, they are very long forks. As its own name indicates, they are used to hold those foods that must be cut into slices, such as a roast loin.
5. Fish forks
Fish forks are wider and flatter than table or meat forks, and have a total of four tines .
6. Oyster forks
Oysters are highly prized for their flavor and excellent nutritional properties. To taste them properly, specific forks are needed. They are some of the smallest that exist, with three very resistant and thick teeth . Thanks to them it is much easier to extract the mollusks from the shells.
7. Snail forks
Any restaurant that has snails on its menu must have specific forks to remove the snail from the shell. They are small tools, with two long and narrow teeth .
8. Serving forks
Serving or serving forks are used to accompany the spoon as an aid . It is a wide piece, with four or five points in the vast majority of cases. Restaurants must provide diners with these types of forks when they want to share entrees or pasta dishes, for example.
9. Dessert Forks
Dessert forks are very similar to table forks, although much smaller in size. They are characterized by having three blunt teeth . As its own name specifies, they are used to make cakes and all kinds of desserts.
10. Fruit forks
Fruit forks are small in size and generally have a total of three prongs . They are used to hold the pieces of fruit while they are being peeled or cut with a knife.
These are some of the forks that a hospitality establishment that seeks excellence in its service must have. It is important to offer the most appropriate cutlery for each dish, so that your customers get the best possible impression of your restaurant. In addition, the presentation is essential, so it is very useful to know how the cutlery is placed on the table .