[Marisa K.]

Why is it that Americans don’t use a fork and knife when they eat? A grown-up person eating with a fork only looks weird.

User Detail :  

Name : Marisa K., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 24, City : Helsinki, State : NA, Country : Finland, Occupation : student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Lucy22401]

Why is it that Eurpoeans eat with a knife in one and and a fork in the other? Are they incapable of getting food into their mouths without using both hands? No. It’s just the custom. In the US it is the custom to use the knife, put it down and then eat with a fork. Many Mexicans eat without utensils, using a tortilla to pick up their food instead. Our customs may see odd to you, just as your customs may seem odd to us. That doesn’t mean one method is better than another, just different.

User Detail :  

Name : Lucy22401, Gender : F, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 26, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Enginner, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dan27383]

It depends on what you’re eating. If you’re chowing down on a big slab of beef, you’ll have to saw through it with a good-sized steak knife. However, most Americans only eat a good steak on occasion, because of the cost and because the rates of heart disease would be much higher than they already are. Usually, the food we eat (beans, rice, macaroni and cheese, turkey sandwich, Cheerios, sliced up meat with vegetables, soup, stew, etc.) don’t require a knife. Either it’s pre-sliced (as is virtually all Asian food, a courtesy of the cook to people who use chopsticks or their fingers for the most part) or slicing doesn’t apply (no point in slicing individual beans). However, sometimes we use knifes for things like pancakes and waffles. Sometimes we use knives, sometimes we don’t.

User Detail :  

Name : Dan27383, Gender : M, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 23, City : Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Rick29801]

Americans are very talented and so we are able to perform such feats of dexterity with ease. Seriously though, why use a knife unless you need to cut something?

User Detail :  

Name : Rick29801, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, City : Springfield, State : OH, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Karl]

I’m an American living in Europe. I know both sides of this, and it fascinates me. Americans do it their way because they think that is the ‘proper’ way. After all, Emily Post said so. She wrote the book on manners. Most Americans have no idea that Europe does it different. The roots of this are probably a way used to denigrate newer immigrants in America.

User Detail :  

Name : Karl, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 44, City : Duesseldorf, State : NA, Country : Germany, Occupation : retired computer jock, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dan-Cubrich27322]

Marissa, I personally use a fork only unless I’m eating a steak or sometimes a salad. A man named OJ Simpson used a serrated edge knife ‘only’ when he butchered those two white people in Los Angeles California, USA. I realize OJ’s horrific crime has nothing to do with eating but I thought I’d mention it! By the way, the fine judicial system in California aquited OJ! He murdered two people and he’s free as a bird! DC.

User Detail :  

Name : Dan-Cubrich27322, City : Omaha, State : NE, Country : United States, 

[Michael20717]

Marisa: I think people start out with whatever they grew up with. If later they discover something that works better, they go with it. I suppose it’s just a preference of function over form. Personally, I find using a knife rather useful when trying to scoop food onto a fork. Americans: I think Marisa is referring to a dinner knife, which most Americans call a butter knife. Haven’t you ever wondered why ‘butter’ knives have tiny teeth on them? Side Note: This brings up a question I’ve had regarding steak knives. I’ve found them only useful if you’ve ruined… err… cooked a steak well done. How common is a well done steak outside the U.S.?

User Detail :  

Name : Michael20717, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 26, City : Columbus, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : Computer Programmer, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower class, 

[Holly T.]

I’ve spent some time in Sweden and noticed this little ‘phenomenon’. Myself, I eat with just a fork unless I’ve got some food that can’t be cut with the side of my fork. And even then, I cut ALL of my meat at once. Just makes it easier to enjoy my food, I think 🙂 But I do realize this isn’t really the ‘correct’ way of eating. It’s the way most Americans are taught to eat though, and we don’t even realize we’re doing anything wrong unless we travel outside the US. Hopefully any Europeans out there can overlook this little problem. As I’ve told my Swedish boyfriend and many Swedish friends, it’s a bit difficult to adjust our eating habits. I think it’s a bit like any non-Asian person learning to eat with chopsticks.. It’s not comfortable, but with time we might pick up the habit 🙂 Anyways, hope that helps a little!

User Detail :  

Name : Holly T., Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 23, City : Lapeer, State : MI, Country : United States, 

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