Using A Knife And Fork Correctly

[dave50]

Has anyone else noticed how a lot of young people these days don't know how to hold a knife and fork correctly? Especially the fork, they have some strange ways of holding it.

[jno]

what is "correct"? They're just tools to get food into your mouth with. Does anyone insist that you have to curl your little finger while using a screwdriver?

[gingejbee]

And who says which way is correct? As long as the food gets into your mouth...does it matter?

[Deskdiary]

I don't know about young people in particular, but people who hold their knife like a pen deserve to be publicly flogged.

[gingejbee]

jno...same thoughts...!

[Sqad]

dave....I agree entirely........etiquette, good manners, protocol..........who cares now anyway?

[Mamyalynne]

I have never ead the book on how to hold my cutlery and the way I hold it has changed following broken wrists - but needs must better than perishing through lack of food.

[EcclesCake]

To be clear it might be useful if you could clarify what you consider the proper way of using a knife and fork and what you consider to be strange.

[ummmm]

I have noticed the Americans only seem to use a fork.

My son uses his cutlery incorrectly, it drives me mad. He holds his fork in his right hand...

[Mamyalynne]

^^ - I have never read the book

[andy-hughes]

Table manners do vary, and tend to lessen as fewer people grow up eating meals around a table, as was the custom up to a generation or so ago.

i think as long as people are eating in a reasonable manner, the way of holding cutlery is not a deal-breaker.

[tamborine]

Younguns nosh on finger fast foods

[BlackadderV]

Table etiquette was drummed into me from an early age. There was only one way to hold a knife and fork and to invert the fork to scoop up peas was taboo. The only solution was to mix them with the mashed potato. Also, when spooning up the last of the soup the bowl had to be pushed away from you, never towards you.

[DTCwordfan]

Use chopsticks.....

[BlackadderV]

For pushed read tilted.

[snags]

Cutlery positioning is overrated... I eat from the right hand side of the trough.

[DTCwordfan]

Summed up by this ditty from 'On the Road Again'

How was it this morning?
The eggs were too soft,
Difficult to lift
Says Fork to Knife.
The toast was too hard,
Says Knife to Fork.
They clatter together.

The dinner was worse,
The steak was too hot,
Too leathery to cut
Says Knife to Fork
And my prongs were bent
On the bones
Says Fork to Knife.

It’s all about work,
In terms of better or worse,
Knife is blunt,
Fork is bent.
Manipulated,
By other hands,
They cannot tell
How the food tastes.

[janbee]

I'm left handed when I eat so I have the fork in my right hand and knife in my left. It's very awkward when I set a table as I always forget.

[bhg481]

Some table manners are sensible - don't eat with your mouth open; don't speak with your mouth full etc. Others are completely unnecessary - tip your soup bowl away from you; crook your little finger when using a cup etc.

[The Builder]

Nothing to it, Dave ................

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iYG4IC1qOI

[vakayu]

I agree with blackadder table manners was also drummed into me when young and I detest seeing people using just a fork in their right hand to eat food,unless something physical prevents using both hands with a knife and fork!