Etiquette rules at the table clearly describe how to properly hold the fork, spoon and knife. It's one thing to eat at home, where you are hidden from prying eyes. But it’s a completely different matter when you are at a party or at a social event. If you do not handle cutlery properly, they may become your enemies instead of helping you.
Instruction manual
1
When you sit down at a table, you should pay attention to its table setting. All devices and utensils ideally stand in their place and play each role, which will help you not to get confused while eating. The correct and skillful use of serving items involves their use for its intended purpose. Remember that all cutlery, be it knives or forks, should be to the right of the plate. Take them and hold them with your right hand during meals. Accordingly, the devices located to the left of the plate are taken with the left hand. If dessert devices lie on the table with the handles to the right, they must be taken with the right hand, and those that are located with the handles to the left - with the left.
2
The knife should be held so that the end of the knife handle rests directly in the palm of the right hand. In this case, the thumb and middle fingers hold the beginning of the handle of the knife by the sides, the index finger is on top of the handle. When cutting a piece of food with this finger, press on the handle of the knife. The remaining fingers should be bent towards the palm.
3
Correctly hold the fork with the teeth down and in the left hand so that the end of its handle rests slightly on the palm. At the same time, the thumb and middle finger should hold the fork by its edge, and the index finger from above, pressing the handle of the fork down. The remaining fingers are slightly bent and pressed to the palm.
4
Small pieces of food and some side dishes for fish or meat (mashed potatoes, for example) cannot be eaten with a fork. In such cases, it can be used as a spoon, turning the fork upside down so that the flat part of the beginning of the handle of your fork lies on your middle finger. In this case, the handle should rest with its end against the index finger, or rather, at its base. With the forefinger, hold the fork on its side, and on top with a large one. The remaining fingers are again pressed to the palm. The food in this case is picked up with a fork, helping if necessary with the tip of a knife.
5
It is customary to hold a spoon in the right hand: the end of its handle lies on the base of the index, and its beginning - on the middle finger. With the thumb, the spoon is pressed to the middle finger from above, and with the index, it adheres to the side.
6
During the meal, the fork with the knife should be kept at an angle to the dish. If you hold these objects perpendicular to the dish, the plug may slip out of your hands. Then pieces of food can fly to the tablecloth.
7
If the dish can be cut into pieces without the use of a knife, then only the fork is served with such a dish, and hold it with your right hand.
