Fork: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:28, 5 February 2007

Revision as of 23:50, 10 February 2007

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[[Image:assorted_forks.jpg|right|thumb|Assorted forks. From left to right: dessert fork, relish fork, salad fork, dinner fork, cold cuts fork, serving fork, carving fork.]]

As a piece of [[cutlery]] or [[kitchenware]], a '''fork''' is a tool consisting of a handle with several narrow [[Tine (structural)|tines]] (usually two to four) on one end. The fork is sometimes referred to as the "king of [[utensil]]s."{{factFact|date=February 2007}} The table fork used as an eating utensil was a feature primarily of the West, whereas in East Asia [[chopsticks]] were more prevalent. Today, however, forks are increasingly available throughout [[East Asia]] as well.

The utensil (usually [[metal]]) is used to lift [[food]] to the [[mouth]] or to hold food in place while cooking or cutting it. Food can be lifted either by spearing it on the tines, or by collecting it on top of the tines, and holding it atop the tines horizontally. To allow for this spoon-like use the tines are often curved slightly upward.