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How do you use knife and fork elegantly

Pulished on Feb. 01, 2023

When eating Western food, the use of knives and forks can be divided into European and American styles. The American knife and fork use the food with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right to cut the food. After a piece of food is cut, the knife is put down and the fork is in the right hand. The European style of use of knives and forks is to always keep the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right (this way of dining saves the time of changing the tableware, and the dining efficiency is undoubtedly much higher). There is no difference between these two ways of dining. You can choose the way you like, or you can follow the customs and choose the same way of dining as the local

.How do you use knife and fork elegantly

European style


Step 1: Hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. You should know that the European-style dining method is also called “the Tibetan handle method”. Because the handles of the fork and 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 with 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 with the left hand, the tines of the fork are facing down, and the index finger of the left hand is against the handle of the fork. Lower part.

How do you use knife and fork elegantly

Step 2: Bend your wrists and aim at the food. Bend your wrist down, and your index finger will naturally press against the knife and fork. Because the etiquette way of eating in Western food is to hang your elbows naturally at your sides, and not put your elbows on the table. When your wrists are bent down, the pressure on the elbows during the meal can be reduced.

How do you use knife and fork elegantly

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 be eaten in one bite.

How do you use knife and fork elegantly

Step 4: Put the food into the mouth with the fork. Similarly, with the tines of the fork facing down, hold the fork in your left hand (don’t put down the knife in your right hand at this time), and deliver the cut food into your mouth.

American style


Step 1: Hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. The grip of the knife and fork is the same as European style.

Step 2: Cut the food. Hold the fork in the left and the knife in the right, and start cutting food from the left. The action of cutting food is the same as European style.

How do you use knife and fork elegantly

Step 3: Change the fork to the right hand. 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). Change the fork to your right hand, with the cocoon facing upward, and deliver the food into your mouth.

Step 4: Change the fork back to your left hand. After eating a small bite of food, switch the fork back to your left hand, then pick up the knife in your right hand, and then cut a bite of the food you want to eat, and the cycle repeats.

How do you use knife and fork elegantly

The correct way to use the spoon
The spoon is held in the same way as the pen. When you drink soup, take the spoon in your right hand to scoop the soup from the outside to the inside (that is, to scoop the soup toward the center of the soup bowl). When the soup in the spoon is about to be delivered to your mouth, tilt the spoon slightly before drinking the soup, and do not make a snoring sound when drinking the soup. 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 the soup.

How to use the knife and fork when the difference is food
1.Eating spaghetti: eating spaghetti usually rolls up a handful of it with a fork. If you have a spoon, you can also roll up a handful of it with a dining fork and put it in the spoon, and then use the spoon to put the pasta into your mouth. If the pasta is too long to roll, you can cut the pasta with a dining knife and eat with a fork. Note that when eating noodles, do not drip the sauce on the table or clothes, and do not make a chuckle.How do you use knife and fork elegantly
2.Eat rice, corn, green beans and other small-grain foods: instead of spoons, forks are used at this time. Gather the small food dining knife in the recess of the fork and scoop it for consumption.
3.Eat salad: When eating salad, try not to chop the salad with a dining knife. Instead, use a fork to roll up or scoop the salad.
4.Eat fish and other thorny foods: To eat fish, you have to eat one piece and cut one piece. When eating whole fish with head, tail and bones, you can first remove the head, tail, and fins, and put the cut head and tail fins aside the plate before eating the fish. Moreover, after eating the upper layer of the fish, never turn the fish over, but use a knife and fork to peel off the keel before eating the lower layer of fish. If there are lemon slices attached, use a knife and fork to squeeze the lemon juice, do not use your hands directly. If there is a fishbone in your mouth, you can remove the fishbone from the closed lips by hand and place it on the side of the plate.How do you use knife and fork elegantly

  1. Eating lobster: When eating half a lobster, insert the dining fork into the meat first, and then press the lobster shell at the other end with the dining knife, so that the fork can drag the meat out for consumption. Lobster feet can be eaten after peeling off the shell with fingers.
    6.Eat biscuits, potato chips or small fruits: you can eat directly by hand.
  2. Eat large fruits such as apples and pears: Do not bite directly with your mouth. First cut it with a dining knife (or fruit knife), and then send the cut fruit into your mouth with a dining fork (or fruit fork).How do you use knife and fork elegantly