How to Use a Knife and Fork in England

In England, silverware is called cutlery. Americans are very easily spotted in restaurants, as they use the fork with their right hand. This is considered bad etiquette in England. The British won't mind if you eat your way, but they'll realize you're American! Follow these steps to eat like a Brit.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Fork
• Fodd
• Plate

1. Pick up the knife with your right hand and the fork with the left, with the handles in the palms of your hands.

2. Ensure that the sharp edge of the knife and the tines of the fork are pointing towards the plate.

3. Place the index finger of your right hand along the top edge of the knife. Position the index finger of your left hand on the back of the fork.

4. Spear food with the fork and cut with the knife, pushing the food with the knife against the tines of the fork.

5. Lift food to your mouth with the fork, always keeping the tines pointing down.

6. Rest the cutlery on your plate at a position of 20 past 8, if you want to take a drink. After drinking, pick up both knife and fork again simultaneously.

Tips & Warnings

• Forks can be used by spearing the food. But always balance the food on the fork with the knife.

• When you have finished eating, rest the knife and fork together on the plate, at a slight diagonal, with the tines of the fork pointing upwards. This indicates that your plate can be cleared away.

• Never make scraping noises against the plate with your cutlery.

• Never put the knife down and swap the fork to your right hand.

• Never use the fork like a spoon (with the tines pointing upwards.)

• Never put the knife near your mouth.