# Americans - are fries and bacon always finger food? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794 "2005-11-06T15:16:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/61 "2005-11-07T14:28:14Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > [This page](http://www.lythhillhouse.com/breakfast.htm) shows a picture of a (mouth-watering) traditional English breakfast, which includes a good example of the sort of bacon I am used to in England. Cooking that until it is crisp basically ruins it. As **Mangetout** says, you would want the small amount of fat to be brown and crispy, but I disagree with him about the lean part - that should not be at all crisp. Your disagreement actually bolsters my point; that there is no universally-accepted standard. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/62 "2005-11-07T17:04:17Z")
The rashers look like canadian bacon eaten with fork or our breakfast sliced ham eaten by fork also. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/63 "2005-11-07T18:05:26Z")
How the hell do you eat a nice, crisp slice of bacon with a fork??? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/64 "2005-11-07T18:07:08Z")
Ah never mind, upon closer reading there was the usual confusion between bacon as in “Canadian bacon” and bacon as in “back bacon”. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/65 "2005-11-07T18:13:52Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > How the hell do you eat a nice, crisp slice of bacon with a fork??? Despite your subsequent “Ah never mind”, I really do eat nice, crisp bacon with a fork. Contrary to what some posters think, it is pretty easy to cut with a knife to get a bite-sized piece. Sticking a fork in would crumble it, so I slide the piece of bacon between the tines. Or balance it on top of a piece of egg. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/66 "2005-11-07T18:30:44Z")
I always use my fingers for bacon but I rarely make or order it. I’m a link sausage fan, and I’ll use a fork for that. Fries? Well that depends. If it’s a relatively nice place and I get “home” or “steak” fries, I use a fork. If it’s a regular fast food joint, it’s fingers all the way, baby! ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/67 "2005-11-07T20:55:40Z")
Other than on sandwiches, I can’t think of the last time I ate bacon. Whether I use a fork or fingers mostly depends on crispiness; fingers if it’s really crispy, fork otherwise. As for fries, I usually have them at fast food places, so I just use my fingers. If they’re topped with anything or I’m in a setting where using my fingers would be obviously out of line, I’ll use a fork. Being greasy and being sticky are major peeves of mine, so I probably use utensils more often than most of my peers; for instance, I often eat pizza with a knife and fork. My girlfriend lauged at me a couple of days ago when she noticed that I was eating chicken nuggets with a fork. ---
**Author:** ![Tiggrkitty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tiggrkitty/32/17966_2.png) [@Tiggrkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiggrkitty)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/68 "2005-11-07T22:00:32Z")
If the bacon is so under cooked you can cut with a knife and fork to eat, I will have no part of. As my father use to say, cremate the bacon! I like it slightly crunchy but not burnt to a crisp. There is a difference. On the subject of fries: Steak fry cut begs to be cut with a knife and fork arrangement. Thin cut french fries begged to be picked up with the fingers. Difference is thin vs thick cut fries. What? You guys dont have steak fries where you are? For the record: When eating breakfast where bacon is served, I normally leave the fork in my right hand and pick up the bacon with the left. That way the fork doesn’t get messy if the bacon is greasy. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/69 "2005-11-07T23:05:11Z")
As an arbitrator here I’ve decided that we will all use the following method. Everyone here will now use chop sticks. That way nobody wins. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/70 "2005-11-07T23:11:29Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > I’m English - I know that. This sub-topic came about because of an implication that “rashers” were actually different from “bacon”. My point is that they are “rashers of bacon”. I’m sure “rashers” would be understood without having to mention the bacon, just as I can order “one of each” in Yorkshire and it will be understood what I want even though I have not specified the items. (Answer: one fish, one portion of chips). Well, as you know, your bacon is not our bacon. Therefore to an American, wrong as it may be, having a whole different word for your bacon makes sense. “Rashers (of bacon)” is different from “bacon.” Ok, it makes sense to me at least. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/71 "2005-11-08T00:12:16Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > Canadian, if that makes any difference. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > You, or the bacon? 😃 Harumph. A Canadian calls “Canadian Bacon” either “Back Bacon” or Ham. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/72 "2005-11-08T00:14:28Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > I wish to retract an earlier statement. If bacon is wrapped around a steak, I will cut it with a knife and eat a bite of steak and bacon with a fork. I don’t eat the bacon that comes wrapped around steak. It just tastes like steak then. No point. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/73 "2005-11-08T00:25:01Z")
> [@](#): > > I must admit, the whole using the fork tines down looks better, and using the knife to guide the perfect bite onto it appeals to me, but I haven’t gotten the hang of it yet. See, this has always seemed bizarre to me. Why would you use the _convex_ side of the fork, when gravity thusly provides _two_ ways for it to fall into your lap? Silly, backward Brits. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/74 "2005-11-08T00:32:36Z")
Ok, I have more on “your bacon is not our bacon.” What is British bacon in American terms? IMHO, it is ham, or Canadian bacon if it is smoked. The stuff I have had in B & Bs and at my in-laws pretty much tastes and looks like ham. Is there a true equivalent to American bacon in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/75 "2005-11-08T00:50:09Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Is there a true equivalent to American bacon in the UK? Yep - [streaky bacon](http://www.mettricksbutchers.co.uk/cgi-bin/mettricks_details.pl?dcsstreakybacon001). ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/76 "2005-11-08T00:55:27Z")
Just guessing here…streaky bacon is eaten with a knife and fork, right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/77 "2005-11-08T01:27:00Z")
The fork points down so you don’t poke your nose. ---
**Author:** ![Nimue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Nimue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimue)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/78 "2005-11-08T01:53:40Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Yep - [streaky bacon](http://www.mettricksbutchers.co.uk/cgi-bin/mettricks_details.pl?dcsstreakybacon001). I would be thrilled to find that much meat on American bacon. Alas. I haven’t seen anyone clearly and fully spell out the differences between standard American bacon and standard British bacon, so here goes. American bacon is mostly fat with a very little bit of meat on it. When cooked till crisp, the way I’ve generally seen it, it is nearly impossible to eat with a fork. Very crumbly and brittle. British “back” bacon, OTOH, is very meaty, almost ham-like to Americans. There is a thin rind of fat around the edge, but otherwise, it is all meat. The rashers are also rather large in comparison; since they don’t contain as big a proportion of fat, they don’t shrink as much when cooking. I think any American who encountered it for the first time as part of their breakfast would eat it with a fork, just as they would other softer breakfast meats. I really miss British bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/79 "2005-11-08T02:35:12Z")
Unless the fries are covered with chili and/or cheese, they will be eaten with fingers. If I order a steak, I’ll get a baked potato and eat it all with a fork. If I order a burger, I’ll get fries and eat it all with my hands. Basically, I’d only get fries with another finger food. I don’t see how you could possibly eat just bacon with a fork, unless it was so undercooked that I’d be afraid to eat it, or you balanced it between 2 tines of a fork, which would look far more idiotic (IMHO) than using fingers. Ribs are finger food, but not first date food. (IME) Asparagus with fingers _only_ if nobody’s looking. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794/80 "2005-11-08T04:07:52Z")
> [@Nimue](#): > > I would be thrilled to find that much meat on American bacon. Alas. The picture I linked to does indeed show a particulalrly lean example. However, English streaky bacon is the same cut as standard American bacon. > [@Nimue](#): > > American bacon is mostly fat with a very little bit of meat on it. When cooked till crisp, the way I’ve generally seen it, it is nearly impossible to eat with a fork. Very crumbly and brittle. People keep saying this but it is simply not true - you just haven’t been brought up in a background where to pick up your food with your fingers is almost a mortal sin. I have _ **always** _ eaten American bacon with a knife and fork. I like the stuff. I have had it cooked by many different people and in many different restaurants/hotels. I have always managed quite adequately with a fork except for when I have had plastic “silverware”. > [@Nimue](#): > > I really miss British bacon. I will be cruel: bacon sandwiches. Think about 'em. Imagine the smell. The taste… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-fries-and-bacon-always-finger-food/329794.md?page=5)