how to use fork and knife
When eating Western food, the use of knives and forks can be divided into European and American styles. The American knife and fork uses food with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right to cut the food. After cutting a piece of food, the knife is lowered, and the fork is in the right hand.
The European style of using knives and forks is to always keep the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right (this way of eating saves the time of changing tableware, and the efficiency of the dining room is undoubtedly much higher). There is no difference between these two ways of eating. You can choose the way you like best, or you can follow the customs and choose the same way of eating as the local.
European style
Step 1:
Hold your fork in your left hand and your knife in your right hand. You should know that the European-style dining method is also called “the Tibetan mango method”. Because the handles of the fork and the knife are hidden in the palm of the hand during the meal.
The correct way to hold a knife and fork is: hold the knife in the right hand, the handle is completely hidden in the palm of the hand, and the index finger of the right hand is against the back of the knife; Hold the fork in the left hand, the tines of the fork pointing down and the index finger of the left hand against the handle of the fork. Bottom.
Step 2:
Bend your wrists and point at the food. Bend your wrist down and your index finger will naturally press against the knife and fork. Because the etiquette of eating in Western food is to naturally hang your elbows at your sides and not put your elbows on the table. When your wrists are bent, the pressure on your elbows during eating can be reduced.
Step 3:
Hold the left and right forks against the food and cut the food with the right knife. The food is cut into small pieces, just enough to eat in one bite.
Step 4:
Put the food in the mouth with the fork. Similarly, with the tines of the fork pointing down, hold the fork in your left hand (do not leave the knife in your right hand at this point) and bring the cut food to your mouth.
American style
Step 1:
Hold your fork in your left hand and your knife in your right hand. The grip of the knife and fork is the same as the European style.
Step 2:
Cut the food. Hold the fork on the left and the knife on the right and start cutting the food from the left. The action of cutting the food is the same as that of the European style.
Step 3:
Shift the fork to the right. After cutting a small piece of food, place the knife on the right side of the plate (slightly tilt the knife with the blade at 12 o’clock and the handle at 3 o’clock). Shift the fork to your right hand, bud up, and bring the food to your mouth.
Step 4:
Switch the fork back to your left hand. After eating a small bite of food, put the fork back in your left hand, then pick up the knife with your right hand, and then cut a bite out of the food you want to eat, and the cycle repeats.
The correct way to use the spoon.
The spoon is held in the same way as the pen. When drinking soup, take the spoon in your right hand to scoop the soup from the outside in (ie, to place the soup toward the center of the soup bowl). When the soup on the spoon is about to reach your mouth, tilt the spoon slightly before drinking the soup, and don’t snore when you eat it. When the soup bowl is about to reach the bottom, the left hand can slightly lift the soup bowl, and then use a spoon to scoop out the soup.
How to use a knife and fork when the difference is food
- Eat spaghetti: Eating spaghetti usually rolls a handful with a fork. If you have a spoon, you can also roll up a handful with a fork and put it on the spoon, then use the spoon to lift the pasta into your mouth. If the pasta is too long to roll, you can cut it with a dining knife and eat with a fork. Please note that when you eat noodles, do not drip the sauce on the table or clothes, and do not chuckle.
- Eating rice, corn, green beans and other small grain foods: Forks are used instead of spoons at this time. Gather the small eating knife into the hollow of the fork and pull it out to consume.
- Eat salad: When you eat salad, try not to chop the salad with a knife. Instead, use a fork to roll or pick up the salad.
- Eat fish and other thorny foods: To eat fish, you have to eat a piece and cut one. When eating whole fish with head, tail, and bones, you can remove the head, tail, and fins first, and leave the severed head and tail fins on the side of the plate before eating the fish. Also, after eating the top layer of the fish, never turn it over, use a knife and fork to peel the keel before eating the bottom layer of fish. If you have lemon slices stuck to it, use a knife and fork to squeeze out the lemon juice, don’t use your hands directly. If you have a fishbone in your mouth, you can remove it from your closed lips with your hand and place it to the side of the plate.
- Eating lobster: When eating half a lobster, first insert the fork into the meat, and then press the lobster shell at the other end with the knife so that the fork can drag the meat for consumption. Lobster legs can be eaten after peeling the shell with your fingers.
Eat cookies, chips or small fruits: you can eat them directly with your hand. - Eat large fruits like apples and pears: don’t bite into them directly with your mouth. First cut it with a dining knife (or fruit knife), and then send the cut fruit to your mouth with a dining fork (or fruit fork).