# What other cutlery options has the human race made other than "knife, fork, spoon" and "chopsticks"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 4, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813 "2017-08-04T22:48:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/1 "2017-08-04T22:48:57Z")
Most aspects of food culture (e.g. styles of cooking, pans, dishes, etc.) you could fill a book with all the varieties of ways different cultures have invented to do the same basic task.
Not so with cutlery, for all the different types of worldwide cuisine your choice is chopsticks or “western” cutlery (knife, fork, spoon)\*. What other options are there? Are these really the only two types of cutlery that mankind has invented?
-
- I know some cultures (e.g. thai) use them differently
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/2 "2017-08-04T22:49:59Z")
Sporks.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/3 "2017-08-04T22:56:42Z")
Was going to say sporks
Nutcracker and pick for lobster.
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### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/4 "2017-08-04T22:56:48Z")
Skewer:
> [@](#):
>
> A skewer is a thin metal or wood stick used to hold pieces of food together. They are used while grilling or roasting meats, and in other culinary applications. Skewers are often used for kebab dishes.
> **[Skewer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skewer)**
>
> A skewer is a thin metal or wood stick used to hold pieces of food together. The word may sometimes be used as a metonym, to refer to the entire food item served on a skewer, as in "chicken skewers". Skewers are used while grilling or roasting meats and fish, and in other culinary applications.
> In English, brochette is a borrowing of the French word for skewer. In cookery, en brochette means 'on a skewer', and describes the form of a dish or the method of cooking and serving pieces of food, espe...
Tongs:
> [@](#):
>
> Tongs are commonly used as a kitchen utensil, as they provide a way to move, rotate and turn the food with delicate precision.
> **[Tongs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongs)**
>
> Tongs are a type of tool used to grip and lift objects instead of holding them directly with hands. There are many forms of tongs adapted to their specific use. Design variations include resting points so that the working end of the tongs does not come into contact with a bench surface.
> The first pair of tongs belongs to the Egyptians. Tongs likely started as basic wooden tongs and then over time progressed to bronze bars as early as 3000BCE. Over time they progressed to what are now known as mo...
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### Author:  [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/5 "2017-08-04T23:03:18Z")
Billions of people simply use their hands. Imagine scooping stuff up in a pita.
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### Author:  [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/6 "2017-08-04T23:11:09Z")
Funnel
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### Author:  [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/7 "2017-08-04T23:12:51Z")
Tube.
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### Author:  [@Beandip478](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beandip478)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/8 "2017-08-04T23:17:04Z")
Well I saw this cooking show where a guy was eating whipped cream off a girl’s butt. Maybe it wasn’t a cooking show.
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### Author:  [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/9 "2017-08-04T23:19:12Z")
There’s also the [sporf](https://www.google.com/search?q=Sporf&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiE5eec277VAhUDziYKHSVDCKUQsAQILQ&biw=1152&bih=565), the [splayd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splayd), and the [spife](https://www.google.com/search?q=Spife&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9-IqM2r7VAhXIOCYKHW0qCi0QsAQIJw&biw=1152&bih=565).
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### Author:  [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/10 "2017-08-04T23:23:22Z")
Also, maybe we can look forward to a future where we can eat kiwifruit [with a spife made from kiwifruit](https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1472-the-zespri-biospife). Who needs flying cars?
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/11 "2017-08-04T23:26:54Z")
Hamburger bun and all the like eatable utensils . also for that matter bread as traditionally used as a utensil ( not common in the US)
Straw
Nipple
Feeding tube
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/12 "2017-08-04T23:34:20Z")
Bowls and cups are eating utensils too. E.g. Japan where they generally sip soups directly from the bowl rather than using spoons.
Some foods are designed to double as eating utensils - e.g. chips for scooping up dip.
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### Author:  [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/13 "2017-08-04T23:37:20Z")
> [@PastTense](#):
>
> Skewer:
>
> [Skewer - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skewer)
>
> Tongs:
> [Tongs - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongs)
I’ve never seen anybody eat with either of those.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/14 "2017-08-04T23:48:56Z")
> [@SCAdian](#):
>
> I’ve never seen anybody eat with either of those.
Really? Because skewers are pretty common.
[ ](https://previews.123rf.com/images/william87/william871606/william87160600015/58367975-Group-of-friends-eating-meat-skewers-on-a-pic-nic-lunch-they-are-sitting-next-to-a-table-having-lunc-Stock-Photo.jpg)
[https://1tv2o1g0gwh145y5v53ozm13-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/eating-kebabs.jpg](https://1tv2o1g0gwh145y5v53ozm13-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/eating-kebabs.jpg)
[) ](https://il5.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/635881/thumb/10.jpg?i10c=img.resize(height:160))
[ ](https://64.media.tumblr.com/ff922d3c36d793653e64783c4d7b7c69/tumblr_inline_migh49LhNc1qz4rgp.jpg)
Tongs are less common as an eating utensil. But you can find people using practice chopsticks, which are essentially tongs. They’re a set on regular chopsticks which are connected with a hinge.
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/15 "2017-08-04T23:50:13Z")
> [@SCAdian](#):
>
> I’ve never seen anybody eat with either of those.
Eating off a skewer is pretty common - [yakitori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakitori) and [satay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satay), for example. Also, corn dogs.
Also, I don’t think anyone mentioned _toothpicks_. Though I suppose you could call that a type of skewer.
Then there’s the 2-tined fork/toothpick thing that comes in packages of [yukimi daifuku](https://feedmygrumbles.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/anna-lotte-yukimi-daifuku-ichigo-fumi/) (mochi ice cream).
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### Author:  [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/16 "2017-08-04T23:51:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> Sporks.
He shoots he scores! That’s what I was going to say and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one, but Johnny got here first!
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### Author:  [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/17 "2017-08-05T02:08:28Z")
> [@scr4](#):
>
> Eating off a skewer is pretty common - [yakitori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakitori) and [satay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satay), for example. Also, corn dogs.
>
> Also, I don’t think anyone mentioned _toothpicks_. Though I suppose you could call that a type of skewer.
>
> Then there’s the 2-tined fork/toothpick thing that comes in packages of [yukimi daifuku](https://feedmygrumbles.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/anna-lotte-yukimi-daifuku-ichigo-fumi/) (mochi ice cream).
The difference is that skewers tend to be part of the cooking process. They are then used as a handy handle (howdy, howdy, howdy) to eat with. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone approach a pile of food with a naked skewer…
Toothpicks are a better example - they are sometimes used to eat food that was not cooked or prepared with toothpicks.
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### Author:  [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/18 "2017-08-05T03:01:40Z")
You can sciip up the food, you can spear it, or you can grasp it.
Are we familiar with a tool for extruding or blowing food into your mouth? Throwing? Do servents count?
I wonder what Gullford would suggest?
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### Author:  [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/19 "2017-08-05T03:08:29Z")
The hammer - perfect with bib, butcher paper covering the table and all-you-can-eat crab diners.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813/20 "2017-08-05T03:26:07Z")
What about a fondue fork? Is that just a variation on a basic fork or is it a separate utensil?
Same question with a Chinese soup spoon?
How much variation can there be in the form and use of a utensil before it becomes a different utensil?
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-cutlery-options-has-the-human-race-made-other-than-knife-fork-spoon-and-chopsticks/792813.md?page=2)