>

I'm right-handed and use the fork in my left . I have yet to lacerate myself. But I'll keep you in the loop
I don't find it particularly difficult to use my left hand to transfer food from a plate to my mouth hole with a fork... No need to swap, if that's a problem. >

I don’t swap either… but the rest of my family dose it so idk just don’t make a mess I guess >

Knives are sharp. I feel it makes sense to have as much control over the instrument as possible. >

Forks are pointy. The knife stays within the plate. What are you gonna cut? The other hand?
Id say the chance of hitting your eye with the fork is higher than cutting yourself. >

Nah you’re just slow and need supervision >

So are you if you cant help cutting people >

How else would I play knifey spoony? >

How do you play that? >

I feel like it takes more far more dexterity to do the cutting with the knife than stabbing with the fork. >

i disagree. if you're holding for example a steak with your fork, all you have to do is rub your knife in one dimension. however, to stab some pasta or roll it up, that requires true skill >

Why do you have a knife in your hand while twirling pasta? >

How else do you keep people from taking your pasta? >

Stabbing spoon.
In the left hand >

This is the only correct answer >

Your knife should be in whatever hand you want it to be in. If the food gets in your mouth without making a mess, you're doing it right. >

This whole thread is bizarre to me. As a left handed person I've always held the fork with my left and knife with the right, no swapping. Probably just because that's how tables are set.
I do use a chef's knife with my left hand when cooking though, I've never really thought much about it >

Why do people have to swap hands and put their knife down? >

Never understood this one. Just move fork to mouth dummy. >

The knife goes in the dominant hand so your able to stab your mother in law. >

Shit I really wasn't expecting to laugh, good one >

I thought people used whatever hand is dominant for knives >

Nope. I’m right handed but hold the knife in my left hand. My kids are the same. >

Lefty here... knife in the right, fork in the left. >

Same, went through a lot of life never knowing people were passing their cutlery back and forth between hands. Made me deeply question why place settings have forks on the left. >

I've always done this. I agree, it's easier and feels more natural to me. But I've been called weird or lefthanded a lot because of it. >

In cutlery etiquette, swapping is called American Style. OP is talking about Continental/European Style.
It’s all pretty well established etiquette, so it’s not really an opinion or unpopular. >

I’m American and I’ve never heard of swapping in my life. Until OP (who’s Australian) mentioned it >

Clearly you didn’t go to finishing school. >

all these rules related to etiquette are so dumb >

This, ever so much. If the only reason people can give for following some particular rule of etiquette is some variation of “that’s just how you’re supposed to act”, I’m certainly not going to feel any obligation to follow it. >

This is the true unpopular opinion of this post >

Why are people putting the knife down and swapping the fork back and forth between hands? That seems like such a faff and waste of time.
Fork in left hand knife in right hand, cut food, eat food and repeat until meal is finished, no need to put the knife or fork down unless you need to leave the table 🤷‍♂️ >

I thought I was going crazy. Are people really swapping hands? I've never seen that. >

They’re trying to say it’s an American thing? I’m an American and I’ve never done this nor have I seen it in my life.. >

Wait... you guys switch hands to cut? >

Ive heard Americans do this… never heard it from people in other countries >

You know how much anecdotes are worth, but, I'm an American in 40's and I've only ever met one person who did that. In fact, it was so odd that a table of 5 other Americans stopped eating and asked him what the fuck was up with cutting, stopping, and swapping the fork to the other hand. >

Okay. Ive only heard it on YouTube. Americans who moved to Germany talked about it 😂😂 >

In all fairness, the U.S. is huge, so maybe it's a regional thing? >

Yeah maybe >

Um, eat like a European. Saves times. Keep both utensils in hand at all times and shovel food into your mouth. >

Yeah, the utensil swapping thing is definitely an American thing. iirc it had something to do with the more privileged class ages ago tacitly showing how they didn’t need to rush and had all the time in the world to swap their fork between hands. >

As an immigrant to America, this is absolutely true. My American redneck family does this swapping and they look like they’re using utensils for the first time-so bizarre! If this was first done to make people look privileged, to the rest of the world it looks childish and awkward.
Edit: grandma will pull a gun and straight up murder you for having ELBOWS ON THE TABLE! Just grab a fork and STAB a steak like you’re putting a plunger in a toilet, then cut and gracefully switch hands…😂 >

So even the who-cares crowd will still choose between fork left or fork right and stick with it. Why aren't the knife and fork allowed to switch place mid-meal? Is this some superstition thing? Does it open a portal to a hostile dimension? >

It's useful to build a habit of having the tool you put in your mouth consistently placed. Less chance of absent mindedly cutting your tongue. >

Dining etiquette is for boomers. It’s one thing to be polite but proper dining etiquette is outdated, unnecessary, and pedantic. It literally does nothing to improve your motor or social skills. >

Left handed here with 30+ years of experience, using the fork with my dominant hand, no problem for cutting with the other hand, I totally agree with you ! >

Fellow lefty here. Just curious, if you’re using just a knife to, say, cut veggies or bread or something, like you’re preparing to cook… do you use the knife with your left or right hand? >

Am also a lefty, when doing prep like chopping veggies, etc. I use my left hand. But when eating, knife is in right hand, fork in left. >

My dominant hand is my left. What now? Also why would you ever put your knife down to swap hands? Just keep the cutlery on the hands they start in. My knife is in my right hand and my fork in the left just like everybody else I know >

Lefty here- they gotta just let us have this one thing 😩 after years of scissors, getting marker on our hands, rifle shells flying at our eyes, baseball gloves and other sports equipment being dominant, we at least have one thing for us which is the fork and knife combo. >

I like to tape my cutlery to my fingers and get some sense of what it must have been like to be Johnny Depp at his peak. >

honestly i prefer the knife in my right hand because my right hand is stronger and more coordinated. i just put the knife down and eat with my right. >

I feel like as kids we were taught to use the knife with our dominant hand to have more control over it, and then we just kept doing it. >

I've always been ridiculed at the dinner table for this. My reasoning was always that I have more control over the fork with the right because all the knife does is cut back and forth. Truthfully I have no idea why I do it. >

me too - exactly the same experience and rationale !! >

I was using them like do all the time. I don't think that's an unpopular opinion but a logical fact. >

I mean I do left fork right knife as a leftie and it's pretty ideal >

The way you've described is the way most Americans eat. >

With all due respect, I believe you’re mistaken. 
The “American” style is to hold the knife in the dominant hand, and use the fork in the non-dominant hand to hold the food in place while cutting. Then the knife is set on the edge of plate, and the fork is swapped to the dominant hand to eat the food.
With the “Continental” style, the knife is also held in the dominant hand for cutting, but after cutting you just continue to use your fork with the non-dominant hand to eat the food.
I’ve been an American for a pretty long time and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anyone use their non-dominant hand for the knife. At least not anyone who I knew well enough to know if they were right or left-handed. >

If any movies or tv shows are to be believed, the American way is to cook everything in bite size pieces and just use a fork whilst picking around everything on your plate. >

Why do you swap? Just keep your knife in right hand and use your left hand to hold the fork and eat >

Only Americans do the swapping lol >

Only Americans cut everything up and then eat with a fork. Europeans employ both hands and both utensils at the same time. This is the best way. >

Um Americans do this too lol don’t know if I’ve met anyone over the age of 10 or under the age of 80 who has everything cut up before they eat it, and that’s just cause someone has cut it up for them. Im also an American who lived in France in my childhood and don’t pay attention to how others eat so I could be wrong >

You're wrong lol. Most Americans cut up a portion of food, put the knife down and then eat with the fork. >

I'm not sure why Americans swap before eating. I think it'd be easier if you guys didn't swap >

I m asian (use chopstick only) and i dont know if it s just me but I m struggling putting food to my mouth if I use left hand, so always swap. >

or just raw dog it the american way and use your incredibly dominant right hand to cut your steak with your fork and huge hand muscles and determination. >

Knife in your dominant hand, because its the tool doing the work.
And why are you putting the knife down?
What's with all this swapping?
Keep your knife in your dominant hand, so you control the most dangerous utensil, don't put it down..
You only put cutlery down to drink, or when you finish your meal. >

I don't get why they don't get it. >

OR just eat with knife and fork, there is zero reason to put the knife down and switch hands for the fork, its incredibly easy >

Wasn’t this just posted? >

You do know its just a weird american thing to be swapping your utensils hands during the meal. In the UK we just use both hands and keep each utensil in one hand, no need for "swapping"
difference shown here >

I actually do this, i don't know why - but it has always felt natural, + i'm...lucky (?) enough to have ambidexterity ( being able to use both left and right hand with the same precision ) >

Do you use your left hand to hold kitchen knives? >

My left hand is too dumb to cut anything other than mashed potatoes yo >

“it doesnt require a great deal of dexterity”
tell that to one bad steak I ate last time it was so chewy the meat is complaining in my mouth >

Lolol >

I'm American and I cut one bite at a time, so I never swap/always keep knife in right hand. I put my index finger on the back of the fork and use it to push down on whatever I'm picking up. >

I can’t remember when it happened but I switched to using my fork with my left hand (tines usually faced down) and knife with my right. When not using a knife, I use my right hand for my forking. Seems pretty easy to switch around. Don’t even know why this is an opinion, unpopular or not. >

What the fuck are these comments? I swap utensils because my right hand has better dexterity for cutting while my left hand has better strength for gripping, but it sucks for lifting shit into my mouth. Why is this so hard for people to understand? >

I think it's weird how people assert how to "eat properly" with cutlery, as long as food doesn't run off the place or fall out of your mouth.
I prefer it the same way you do, but I stopped as I had a controlling parent that meant I should do it the right way, so now I'm not used to the way that felt natural to me anymore.
All in all, I think people should be allowed to eat using utensils however way they want, as long as previously mentioned conditions are met. >

You're going to not use your dominant hand on the manipulation of a sharp object? Ok, lol >

Friendly reminder that high society "proper" dining etiquette was completely made up and to some degree ment or be unintuitive and had to be learned as the ruling class used it as one of many means to separate themselfes from peasants. >

Or... Y'know... Whatever the person is most comfortable with? Didn't realize physical ability was up to opinion now... >

I always believed you cut then swap hands so you don’t eat so fast. It’s like eating soup you slide the spoon to the back of the bowl instead shoveling it into your mouth. >

Stfu nerd i hold my fork and knife however i want >

Why would I swap my fork to my dominant hand? Just put the food in the mouth with the left dummy. >

I can't cut good with my left hand so when I have a knife i put the fork in my left >

Counterpoint, your knife should be in your left hand and your bigger knife should be in your right hand >

I have always eaten this way. I thought it was normal. Right hand dominate, hold fork in right hand. >

a fork is a dumb tool, a knife is a smart tool.  You need better fine motor skills to use a knife than you need for a fork.    
Watch young children try to cut their own meat.  a 2 year old can use a fork no problem, but cutting meat requires a lot more fine motor control than they can muster even with their dominant hand at that age. >

Or (now hear me out) I just stab my fork into whatever I'm eating and just take a giant ass bite out of it. >

I can’t believe this is unpopular. >

Just eat the food? I don't see how the order of your hands mean anything. >

I just cut all my food first then put the knife down and eat. I don't feel like cutting one piece, eating that piece, then cutting another and repeating the entire time. Just cut it all at once then forget the knife >

The only reason I can think of that would possibly make you swap is because you aren’t using your fork facing down. Fork curve facing up is actually kind of annoying but face down you shouldn’t ever have to swap >

EXACTLY >

You are not supposed to either put your knife down or swap. Fork left, knife right. It's really not that hard. Basic etiquette, no wonder people nowadays behave like apes. >

I agree completely. I've been doing it this way my entire life. >

My wife eats like this and it drives me insane, congratulations on you unpopular opinion lol >

This is how I eat and I don’t care what anyone says >

When knife is being used, the knife becomes the dominant tool while the fork becomes the support that holds the food down. That’s the logic anyway. Many here are saying these etiquette are stupid and/pointless but these things have been designed with more than old manners in mind. >

Where my British people at? Fork stays in the left, knife in the right the entire time. It’s how I learned to eat with utensils. >

Yeah because we're not neanderthals lmao >

Or you could just use your fork with your left hand without swapping, because it is not that hard and it is how most people outside USA do it. >

I'm an American in my 40's, and I've only ever seen one person put the knife down and then swap the fork to the other hand, and every one else at the table commented on how odd it was. Every other American I've ate with in my entire life just chooses a hand to hold the utensils in and doesn't swap. I go fork left, knife right. >

Isn't this the standard already? Am I missing something? And I'm a right hander too >

My knife stays in my right hand because that’s the hand that does the most work. How the fuck am I meant to cut into a steak with my weaker, non dominant hand? >

With a knife… a knife does most of the work, or should be doing most of the work… >

Exactly what I do for as long as I can remember. >

You're doing more work with the knife so for me it's logical to be in your dominant hand. >

If you're getting tired because your non-dominant hand doesn't have the energy to cut your food, then there are problems with how that food is cooked :P >

Using a knife and fork is a dying art. Most people have never been shown nor been in a situation where they needed to anyway. 
So at this point it don't matter. Just stab your chips and nuggets and nom nom nom >

"A dying art". Lol really? That's some pompous nonsense. >

When you've eaten dinner with enough people who have never used a knife and fork, let alone properly you can say whether it's a dying art or not. 
Then again, if you'll never be in company of those that know how to eat with a knife and fork it doesn't matter, does it? 
Stab, stab, stab, nom, nom, nom. >

When you roll a 0 in dexterity >

Agreed. The fork does the most complex work. And the most work. Picking, sorting  , stacking tiny bits for the perfect bite and transfer food to your mouth. 
Knives barely do anything unless you eat some kind of overcooked shoesoul steak. Just a tiny simple motion. Most knives arent even remotely sharp. The fork is pointy. I would rather take a slap with a dull knife than a pointy fork. >

This is how i use my cutlery, so naturally i think you are correct. >

I just eat whatever way it is comfortable I even use hands >

I m always with the two. I cut while a eat. >

does that mean that etiquette favors the left handed? i always cut with my left hand and use the fork with my right, but i am left handed >

The only thing you do with the fork is stick it in the food or use it as a shovel, and bringing it to your mouth.
The knife is used to push, cut and much more, which is why it's in the right hand, which is to be presumed is the dominant hand. >

The fork is the shepherd, the knife is the sheep dog >

This is weak af 😅 It's not even an opinion lmao you're just giving basic table etiquette lesson. >

I’m right handed so nah >

I'd rather have my knife in my dominant hand so that way I can be ready to stab anyone that tries to tell me how to eat! Just kidding OP, efficiency is a good reason, but I still have an easier time with the basic movement of a fork in my non-dominant hand. >

Noooo oh god no please stop noooooo >

Knife in right hand because sometimes you need brute strength to cut through things. Fork in left because I play guitar so I am no stranger to doing fiddly dexterous things with my non-dominant hand. >

Use whatever hand you like for whatever cutlery you want bro >

This is how
I eat. I’ve been surprised to find it’s more common than you’d think. >

i mean, whichever the most comfortable for you and you can handle the knife probably with that hand, use it >

As a lefty i sometimes get confused.. not just with regard to using cuttlery 😉
But, yes... i will start eatingand have to figure out sometimes what my dominant hand is, over how I see others eat. Very weird when that happens...and i promise i finished my lower edication   😀 >

My left arm is for holding heavy things. My right hand is for things that require manual dexterity. >

Yess, I’ve found my people! Always felt a bit weird using fork with my dominant hand (right) but to be honest the “correct” way just doesn’t feel right. 
I’ve also found I’m not comfortable with watch on left wrist, I also need to have it on my dominant wrist. >

Or you can eat however you want simple as that 
Why do we always need to make norms everywhere for things that aren't critical >

Ettiquete rules are completely pointless and stupid, everyone must use the healthier and skiller hand they have and feel more comfortable with. 
You don't need to give explanations to anyone.
Being worried about this banal goatfart instead about real problems that attempt against yours/other's well-being, it's unforgivable.
(Anyway, who uses the knife all the time when the fork can perfectly bring the strick into your mouth and your teeth can cut it? Not even every meat is meant to be eaten with cultery). >

Or... And hear me out... Whatever gets the food into your mouth is fine... >

If you want food all over the table, then i'll do it. Otherwise i'll just stick to the way i usually do it. >

I do that anyway. Have I been doing it wrong? >

I always do it that way and only learned a few years ago that it wasn't the norm >

I do this as well. I remember a teacher in middle school trying to force me to use the knife in my right hand but I refused and I've been using it in my left hand ever since. >

It looks funny when somebody uses their non-knife-dominant hand for cutting a steak. You can clearly tell that they are trying hard to impress >

The knife should be in the hand that is able to apply more force with better precision and dexterity, which is often right hand given you are not a left handed person >

Lefty here and using the right way. Always seen my right hand as the force hand. Left for the other stuff.
But I am also European.
The knife is guided by the fork is how I see it. >

this is how I use a knife and fork..I was not aware others didn't use them the same >

I do that and i just think it's superior (I'm right handed btw) >

“You no only need your knife to cut things back and forth” - tell me you’re American without telling me you’re American! >

All you need is a fork.  Stab the meat, hold it up to your mouth, bite off what you want and grin menicingly at everyone else at the table.  Done. >

So what i heard is that when everyone holds the knife in the right hand and you are sitting closer together you dont disturb your neighbour as much because cutting needs more space and you dont want to knock each others elbows. Makes sense for me. And on top i see no disadvantage in keeping my utensils in the hands they started in.
This is from germany though so might be different. >

This is unpopular opinions not opinions no one gives a fuck about - you do you, stick your fork up your ass for all we care. >

Ive been using cutlery this way my whole life, actually my whole family does except my mom lol >

I agree, I’m left-handed, but I eat the “proper” way for this exact reason, everyone just thinks (not really, but hey) I’m right-handed and eating in the usual order. >

LOL,... how regarded is anyone who can't put food in their mouth with their non-dominant hand. >

YES, my parents mention it almost everytime but i dont understand how can you be precise with your fork when using it with your left hand when you're right-handed. >

How uncouth the unwashed are. >

Agree. I’ve always used it this way. People ask if I’m a leftie - I’m not. What you describe is logical and why I’ve always did that. But I get mocked at events for doing it wrong. >

I'm right hand dominant guy and use a knife in my left since I can remember. >

It depends on what I'm eating. Sometimes you need the extra force and control with the knife, sometimes the fork is more important. >

My mother thaught me to eat with the right hand, that's why I also hold fork right and knife left, because the final eating action is done with the fork. I am a right handed person. >

I'm left handed, I hold my fork with my left hand and knife in my right. >

I'm right-handed and use the fork in my left . I have yet to lacerate myself. But I'll keep you in the loop >

"Without swapping" is confusing me lol. What's difficult about continuing to eat with your left hand if you're cutting with your right? (How I eat) >

This is the way the majority of the world eats, except for Americans >

I eat like this, I'm right handed but my mum was left so guess I picked it up off her >

i'm left handed and i go fork in left hand and knife in the right. if i'm cutting food for cooking prep, though, knife in the left. i really can't use a fork for shit in my right hand haha >

This is the way I do it and people act so surprised when they see it. It’s just so much more comfortable for me >

I eat with my left hand for the fork and right hand for the knife but with no knife i end up eating with the fork in my right hand >

I'm left handed. I have my fork in my left and my knife in my right >

I know right! I agree, wish I realised this was unpopular sooner. Although I do have to down vote because I agree, not that it will make a difference. >

Hahahaha it's just the more elite way!!
Good on you for following the rules and downvoting me because you agree!! I've been downvoted quite hard by people who I gather disagree with me (against the suggestion in the sidebar), which is quite funny because that should make it a more valid opinion for this sub! >

I'm left handed, that's how I have always held them >

???? 
This is my normal way of using cutlery. Didn't realize people swapped to use a knife. 
Carry on OP >

I just keep using my less dominant hand with the fork...? It's not rocket science >

I use the fork with my non tominant hand so i don't have to switch and it's easier to use knife in dominant >

Jokes on you I’m left handed so I’ve been doing it that way 🦊 >

This is how I have always used them. For decades now. >

I don’t understand why there are rules for these kind of things, pointless. >

I am left handed so this is false. >

People dont do it like this? Thats how i've done it my whole life >

Well the rule kind of says the more dangerous tool gets into the right hand. Thus the fork is left if you have a knife, yet the fork is right if you have a spoon.
Dont know what you mean with swapping, and Im also not sure in which situation it matters. Unless you eat your steak like a small child (first cutting everything into small pieces so that you never need the knife again).
Also you actually need more dexterity and force one the knife side since you only use the fork to pin it down to the plate in order to cut it.
In the end its just what you are used to. Imo neither way does make "more sense" than the other. Esp since there are also leftys >

Idk about any of you but cutting with my left hand requires a lot of dexterity, and i know how to yo-yo, play video games, etc. all that neat stuff that required hand dexterity. It’s almost impossible actually, because putting enough pressure on the knife while keeping it straight is so difficult >

How about this. I use it how I want to >

Is that not how your supposed to do it? Becuse that's what I do >

Yup. That's how I do it. Im lefty 🤣 >

I'm not left handed though >

i’m left handed so i already do this >

Seriously do people really need to swap hands? I mean you've literally been doing it that way your whole life! >

It's because cutting takes more effort and dexterity than stabbing... And most people are right handed. >

I've done this naturally since I was a child and everyone and their dog tried to force me to change - parents, teachers, doctors, family members, everyone. Threatened me with not eating. Pleaded with me. I never understood what the big deal is and still eat with fork in the right hand. Can't say I've met many that do though. Maybe we should start a secret society. >

I'm a lefty, but I'm from a country that historically has had superstitions about left-handed people. My dad was born a lefty but was forced to use his right hand so is now ambidextrous. He wasn't anywhere near as rough with me and I still use my left hand for most things but he did always tell me I need to hold my knife and fork "properly" because "if we go to a restaurant and they see you holding them the wrong way around they'll look down on us, it's embarrassing". He's since admitted how ridiculous this was lol, but no matter, I'm now very much used to holding cutlery "properly" and it's pretty comfortable.
I also brush my teeth mainly with my right hand, I didn't realise it until I was a teenager, I'm guessing it's because I used to brush my teeth alongside my two siblings in a tiny shared bathroom and didn't want to bump elbows. >

For self-defense, your knife goes in your left hand because your gun goes in your right. The more you know >--===☆ >

I’m right handed and use my left hand for knife and right for fork. Always have >

I learnt to eat this way, even though I’m right handed. My mum is left handed, but eats like she’s right handed. ?? >

I’d say I put the knife in my dominant hand and then because it easier to use. >

Nah there should be no rules for holding silverware >

Or you can just use the side of your fork like a true champion. >

Dexterity required to use a fork: 3/10
Dexterity required to use a knife: 8/10
This highly scientific explanation is why the knife goes in the dominant hand. I think. Or something, idk w/e >

I cut with my right. Eat with my left. But I should try this to help stave off dimentia >

Left handed person enters the chat, gets multi hand slapped by ambidextrous. Leaves chat >

Idk if it is because I am left handed, but I always take my knife in my left hand. >

but if your eating a cut of steak you won’t be able to cut with your beat force >

I use my left hand to cut with the knife and keep the fork in the right. I am right handed. >

i orginally read that as "your wife should be in your left hand and your fork in the right" and was really fuckin confused for a bit there >

I'm righthanded, I have the knife in my right hand and fork in my left hand.
I usually either eat like this, and hold both the knife and the fork in my hand continuously, or I pre-cut the food and then put down my knife, and swap the fork to the right hand.
I can't cut for shit with my left hand, so I need to have my knife in my right hand. 
Both my hands are very shaky, but my right hand is a bit milder than the left hand so it's way easier to cut with it. >

Muslims: Way ahead of ya, buckaroo. >

Do you really want to be using a sharp knife with your weaker hand? >

Sword and board rules, sword goes in the dominant hand same applies for knives >

I swap my fork when im using my knife and swap it back when i dont use it. I never learned any order >

As a right handed person, I always use a knife in my right hand for any cutting task. Why would I change that just because I need to also use a fork? >

This is how I’ve always done it. Cut with my left, eat with my right. >

What the fuck are you on about? >

I’ve does this my whole life and people poke fun asking if I need help or if I know how to use a knife lmao. To each their own. >

I 100% agree with this. Been eating like this since I am able to eat with a fork and knife. Never understood the "regular" order. (I am right handed) >

Agree. I’ve had many an argument with my late granny about this, for some reason it pissed her right off that I didn’t “eat properly”. While I could never understand why you wouldn’t hold your fork in your dominant hand 🤷🏻‍♀️ >

completey agree have always done this when I was younger they told me left hand for right hand knife but I couldn't really do it that way round at all so I had to do it opposite >

Yes I do it like this and sometimes get weird looks >

I agree, it takes more dexterity to use the fork, so I put it in my dominant hand (right). For some reason, it's really easy to cut with the non-dominant hand (left). >

I can't believe people even think about how themselves and others are using forks and knives. Just get the damn food in your mouth by any means necessary. >

Agree.Just feels better for me to hold my knife with my left hand, and im right handed. >

When I’m cutting something I use the knife in the right, when I’m eating it’s in my left hand. >

You ever tried cutting a steak with your non dominant hand? >

Or you just learn to eat with your left hand. Don't put either your knife or fork down >

Knife has to go in my right hand, I'm right handed and my left hand is basically useless. If I try to cut with my left hand, I would be better off letting a toddler >

Or hear me out here , the utensil in motion go in dominant hand and the stationary utensil be in the non dominant hand and we not give a shit about a .2 second swap >

But like, as a right hander, my left hand would literally just be holding the food down while I slice which is much more pleasant than using my non dominant hand to cut >

Isn’t this how most people use cutlery? Am I just now learning this? I’ve always had my fork in my right hand >

Fine dining vs. shuffling down the eats.  
I do both. >

I've always used my left hand for the knife and right hand for the fork.  I was comfortable with it until my stepfather slammed his fist on the table and called me a feral pig.  Nobody taught me table manners beyond these three things - don't burp, don't fart and never ever lick the plate or knife.  
Now, I use my cutlery left-handed only at home on my own and when I go out, I already feel anxious about how fine or casual the establishment is and how refined the company might be.  I get extremely preemptively self-conscious about it and know my snobberies in other areas of dining.  In fact, I excel at them. 
I've practiced hard to use the knife in my right hand, but it isn't the same and the food falls off the fork due to the shaking, if I don't hit my face with it.  I just cannot do it.
To my recently deceased stepfather, rot in Hell.  Your Austenian affectations messed me up for life. >

laughs in left handed >

I have my knife in my right hand and fork in left for when I'm carting the food, then I just switch them to use the fork to eat with my right hand. >

I do this too >

How about eating however you want? We're not living in the 1800s >

Makes sense >

I find eating with two knives, one in each hand, gives you a lot of options you never experience with a knife and fork. >

Tbh I do this anyway as I never really paid attention to which hand people hold their cutlery in. People should just do it how they like it best >

Yes >

Damn an unpopular opinion i actually agree with >

If I have to cut things like a steak, knife in the right hand. If I use the knife to mostly shove food on the fork , knife in left hand. >

I'm mostly ambidextrous and have never switched hands. I never understood the need to until I watched my brother try and cut steak with his left hand like some sort of savage.
I actually thought he was fucking with me, but apparently a straight line with pressure was difficult for him to achieve with his non dominant hand, was like watching a running sawsall trying to cut a 2"x4" >

I still remember when my dad went to Europe when I was like 7-8 years old, he came back and showed us a different way of holding out fork, like you turn it over and out your finger on the back or something, drove my mom nuts cause we wouldn’t stop doing it lol >

You want your dominant hand for control and the left to hold the food while you cut it. Would you hold a piece of wood to carve with your right hand and whittle with the left?
But i see your point,i usually just cut everything in bite sized bits and then use the fork with right hand... >

I think I do both, if it is harder I swap >

As an American, I say that we need to pause to chew longer and eat less >

I only eat with the right hand. It's a religious thing. >

As an ambidextrous person, I am confused and intrigued. >

I’m just now learning that people eat with specific hands…? I guess I normally eat w my left hand because when you set the table properly, the fork is on the left >

Or just learn to use a fork in your non-dominant hand.
Being ambidextrous with certain tasks isn't hard, and i believe has benefits beyond just eating >

I don't understand  your point. Dominant hand does the cutting ( force and control) non dominant hand does the easy bit. If ya left handed then change the order...... >

Surely this all just depends on the person. I hold my fork with my right hand and knife in the left. Don't think i could do it the other way around. >

The "American style" thing is bs. I have never personally never seen someone swap hands. 
Knife goes in your dominant hand, fork in the other. That simple. >

You need more force and dexterity for the knife so that makes no sense. >

I'm left handed so this won't benefit me >

I absolutely agree, I see a lot of friends who are right-handed that use fork on the left but they keep it in a strange way and seems like they try really hard to eat like that.
Fork on the right, since you are right-handed and you have full control of that part and knife on the left since it requires you only to cut, it’s so much easier like that >

I require more precision to cut than i need to transport the food to my mouth. I use the knife in dominant hand and fork in non-dominant and never swap. >

Tbh I don’t really think about it. I just pick up my utensils. I think I use my right hand for the fork but I’m not 100% on that. >

This unpopular opinion only amplifies right handedness privilege. >

i usually go by the old standard of eating where i hold the knife fork however the fuck i want >

I’m a lefty, I’m already using my dominant hand for the fork >

The knife is in the right hand because if the meal turned violent, you had a weapon handy. >

I cut all my meat before I eat any of it. >

Spoon and fork
I rest my case >

I agree I been saying this for years but my mother in law firmly disagrees and calls me a cave man  when will the rest catch up to us? >

is this unpopular? this is the only way i eat with utensils. >

It's not just an American thing, I know a lot of people in Canada how do the swapping.
Makes no fucking sense to me >

Yea, that would be much more simple, but my non dominant hand is too dumb to cut with a knife. >

My left hand is my dominant hand tho >

I'll keep my fork in the left hand, thank you. >

This unpopular opinion is dumb. Just fucking eat your food how it feels comfortable. If your less dominant hand can't reach your face to eat, that's a weird problem. But I'm not putting a knife in a hand I can't trust. Like OP. I don't trust you, with your shitty opinion. No knife for you.
But seriously. If I use my left hand, I'm gonna have food sliding all over the place, not cutting the entire way through, and just an overall bad experience. And I'm a drummer, so believe me, I can use both hands, while both of my feet are moving. 
But when it comes to eating? I'm going to eat comfortably. Why does taking 1 second to switch a fork and a knife hurt you so badly? >

Can you think of a reason why people would want their knives in their dominant hand? >

I have to agree, but only by circumstance because I'm cross-dominant. I can only ever use my fork with my left hand, and I can only ever cut things with a knife with my right hand. >

Dominant hand gets the dangerous object how am I supposed to deflect the bullets unless I'm using my most trained hand >

I’m just gonna keep doing it the other way.. as a lefty >

...Why is it an "American" thing to hold your cutlery in a way that's comfortable to you?
You're right, it doesn't require a great deal of dexterity to cut, say, a steak, but it does require more dexterity than holding the steak in place with the fork. So it makes infinitely more sense to nail that steak down with your non-dominant hand while you use your dominant hand to deftly cut it up. >

Or, and get this, use your cutlery however you feel comfortable. >

I find it hard to get the slicing rhythm right with my left. A bit like strumming a guitar or masturbating. >

I’m left handed and just hold the knife with my right fork with my left. Never have to switch. I also hold fork with left spoon with right for pasta. Chopsticks with left and soup spoon with right for ramen/pho. >

I am australian.
I swap it out unless I am 'in company' (read, at a function where table manners are VIEWED) >

I do it like that. Pretty sure that’s the left handed way of holding cutlery >

Swapping is not an American thing. Lol. I don't know anyone who does that. I'm an American.  Americans don't put that much thought into how we eat, we just eat. If more did put thought into how they are eating, there wouldn't be so many overweight Americans. >

a fatty is going to be a fatty, regardless of their etiquette. >

Left-handed and use my left to cut with the knife and switch to the fork in my left hand when I scoop things up. It's weird, I guess, but just how I have always done it. >

You cut a few bitesize pieces then put the fork on your right hand to eat. >

someone explain to me the swapping. am i understanding that people will let's say use knife on right hand/fork left hand and then when they need to use only the fork they would switch fork into the right hand to eat? >

I cut with my right (dominant) hand and eat with my left hand. No swapping necessary. >

If you aren’t able to put food in your mouth using a fork in your left hand I’d be seriously concerned >

Lol that is how i eat, and I am left handed. >

I'm a leftie so my fork will always be in my left hand >

American here, I actually eat like this! Only time I have a knife in right hand is if im ONLY using a knife (such as buttering bread or just cutting something) >

I can use a fork with my left hand.  I am right handed and been doing this my whole life. >

Civilized folk switch hands after they cut their food. >

That's exactly how I do it my whole life. I don't care what other people say I should do, I want my main cutlery in my main hand and secondary one in the secondary hand.
Tbh, I would have a problem cutting stuff with right hand. That's weird.
I totally agree with Your opinion. >

No, the knife should be in your dominant hand. If you're left handed the fork goes on the right. >

Thats how I do it and it makes much more sense >

I’m already ahead since I’m left-handed >

I have 4 different sizes of forks in my cutlery drawer, they all get used the same way as just the first fork I happen to grab.  I just use one fork for whatever I'm eating.  My brother's wife is absolutely horrified by this concept, wait until she learns that the majority of the time the fork is not only not Stirling silver but is in fact the plastic one that came with the cheap meal. >

Indian here (so the British way is what you see here mostly) which says you never put down the knife. 
The switch has always felt a little awkward. I believe, "Cut with the knife eat with the fork" is the root of the problem that the switch solves.
Instead, when you're always holding both, using both to prep the bite on the fork just feels like better mechanics than putting one down to eat. >

That’s exactly how I’ve always done it, and thought it should be done, and taught my children to do.  Is my etiquette off?  Where’s Miss Manners? >

U sure? How u holding the fork in your left hand? The way I am picturing it mean it is very easy to life it to my mouth.  Could be me >

This is how I’ve just naturally ate >

Wait, you are supposed to hold your knife with your right hand? I didn't know that. I've always felt comfortable having my knife on the left and my fork on the right. >

As a lefty I agree. >

You can always just use your left hand to place the food in your mouth. 
Knife in the right hand makes more sense because I'm using fine motor skills to cut. The left can take care of the simple up to mouth motion. >

No silverware needed, use your hands! >

i swap them back and forth depending on the placement of food on plate at the certain time.   
And I am not American or Australian >

I routinely switch back and forth...
I'll hold meat with fork in left hand while right cuts. Then I'll swap and eat with my fork in my right and left holds the knife... >

I am right-handed and have always used my cutlery the ‘wrong way round’. Using them the ‘right way’ feels wrong to me. I did used to be properly ambidextrous as a kid though so that might have something to do with it. >

I do this all the time >

Following closely. Please let me know how this turns out. 🍿 >

Omg yes. I'm so bad at this, I just cut my food and then proceed to eat it with my fork in my right hand and don't touch my knife until I need it again. Really don't care if it looks like I'm 10 years old, I just want to eat my dinner without dropping everything in my plate because I can't do shit with my left hand lol >

Me as a left-hander : *visible confusion >

Always done this and still do, just like having more control over the fork in case it slips away for some reason and stab whatever im eating with more force >

My fork and my knife should be where the fuck i want them to be, that's all >

I do this way actually. The goal is putting food in the mouth, not cutting it therefore Lost useful hand should be used for this purpose >

As a left hander: Bro let us have this one thing >

I just Dual wield the knifes >

insert left-hand people who can do both without any problem >

This opinion has me furious. Upvoted. >

THANK YOU!!!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 >

I absolutely agree. >

laughs in the ability to use either hand interchangeably >

Have to agree just because it's what I've been doing my whole life >

You are literally describing right handers in this post.
I'm a lefty and my fork stays in my left hand, whilst I do my cutting with my right.
In order for me to not knock elbows with a righty, I need to be sat on their left. >

I disagree. Upvote. >

100% >

I have done this as long as I can remember. I’ve explained it to family and they think I’m weird. I think they’re weird for swapping hands. >

You should not give a fuck about how I hold my utensils. The unpopular part is you thinking you know what’s more comfortable than I do. >

White trash people eat that way >

Haha you guys can argue about cutlery. I mainly eat with my hands. >

I'm not holding a knife with my non dominant hand tf >

Right hand has the power. Knife goes in right hand. I’d rather not flail around trying to eat. >

Totally agree. Left hand knife, right hand fork. You need more control of the fork since you need to bring the food from the plate to your face. Where as the knife you just move back and forth at plate level. >

An actually unpopular opinion. Good stuff.
And also fuck you. Dominant knife hand for life >

i need to have as much control as possible when it comes to knives. i have mobility issues, so i feel the most dangerous cutlery should be in my dominant hand. that being said, i’ve absolutely hurt myself with forks. 
i think this should extend to other people who have full control over their muscles too! which would you rather have slip into your hand, a knife or a fork? >

Wrong. >

Nope, not unless you're a left-handed person. Sorry. Just tyr using a knife with your left hand. Seriously, try it. As the brother of two lefthanded siblings, I tried it many times. I could pull it off, but it's not natural or comfortable, and more often than not, it simply results in meat being torn rather than cut. 
Sheer asininity. >

I don't find it particularly difficult to use my left hand to transfer food from a plate to my mouth hole with a fork... No need to swap, if that's a problem. >

Same. I went to a seminar for young professionals where they taught us a bunch of stuff, including the "continental" style of using your fork and knife (i.e., using it in your left hand). It took no time to figure out, and I've been doing it that way ever since.
I don't know if it's true, but during the seminar, they said that one of the ways the Russians used to catch American spies was that they swapped their knife and fork when eating. Now that I type that, it's probably a lie, but I'll go with it anyway. >

Reminds me of Inglorious bastsrds where the British guy gives himself away by using the "western" three-fingers up instead of using the "german" three-fingers up. >

I find it fascinating that such small things could give someone away. >

Knives are sharp. I feel it makes sense to have as much control over the instrument as possible. >

This initially sounds intuitive, yet somehow as a right-hander the one thing my left hand is very adept at is slicing steak. >

That is why your pasta spoon goes in your left hand, and your fork is in the right. >

Spoon? What do you need a spoon for >

To help twirl the spaghetti >

Wait, that spoon isn’t to drink all the fanta remaining in the spaghetti bowl? >

You buffoon, the fanta is for cooking the pasta in the first place. It's not thick enough to be a sauce. >

Why do people have to swap hands and put their knife down? >

It's the barbarian way. Civilized people know that you don't put the knife down and you have no trouble using your left hand to get food into your mouth. >

You should have no problem using the knife in your left hand. >

Why would I want to put a cutting tool into my worse hand? The only thing my left hand is better at is peeling things for some reason. Knife stays in my right and I'm fully capable of shoving food into my mouth with my left. >

If you can manage to cut yourself while eating, you might be the barbarian you speak of lol. And the dexterity for the fork isn't to move the food from plate to mouth, it's to pick the food in the first place. Some foods are hard to pick up if you're not using your dominant hand, it just feels awkward. >

Your knife should be in whatever hand you want it to be in. If the food gets in your mouth without making a mess, you're doing it right. >

This whole thread is bizarre to me. As a left handed person I've always held the fork with my left and knife with the right, no swapping. Probably just because that's how tables are set.
I do use a chef's knife with my left hand when cooking though, I've never really thought much about it >

The knife goes in the dominant hand so your able to stab your mother in law. >

Shit I really wasn't expecting to laugh, good one >

I feel like it takes more far more dexterity to do the cutting with the knife than stabbing with the fork. >

i disagree. if you're holding for example a steak with your fork, all you have to do is rub your knife in one dimension. however, to stab some pasta or roll it up, that requires true skill >

Why do you have a knife in your hand while twirling pasta? >

How else do you keep people from taking your pasta? >

Stabbing spoon.
In the left hand >

This is the only correct answer >

I've always done this. I agree, it's easier and feels more natural to me. But I've been called weird or lefthanded a lot because of it. >

A lot? Really? 
I can't think of a single time anyone has commented on which hand I hold my utensils in >

When you're at a restaurant with people in suits, and there are 4 forks, knives, and spoons lined up around your plate, people notice it a lot more. >

I thought people used whatever hand is dominant for knives >

Nope. I’m right handed but hold the knife in my left hand. My kids are the same. >

Lefty here... knife in the right, fork in the left. >

Same, went through a lot of life never knowing people were passing their cutlery back and forth between hands. Made me deeply question why place settings have forks on the left. >

all these rules related to etiquette are so dumb >

This, ever so much. If the only reason people can give for following some particular rule of etiquette is some variation of “that’s just how you’re supposed to act”, I’m certainly not going to feel any obligation to follow it. >

This is the true unpopular opinion of this post >

Wait... you guys switch hands to cut? >

Ive heard Americans do this… never heard it from people in other countries >

It's the norm in Colombia. >

To switch hands? 
It sounds extremely complicated >

Yeah, but it's very simple. You hold the fork with your dominant hand, and when you're gonna cut something, you just take the fork with your non-dominant hand, the knife with the dominant, cut, eat, and then swap again (and put the knife down) if you're not going to keep cutting.
It does sound like a complicated process, but it's done almost automatically. >

Its way to much work. Just eat with your left hand >

No thanks >

My dominant hand is my left. What now? Also why would you ever put your knife down to swap hands? Just keep the cutlery on the hands they start in. My knife is in my right hand and my fork in the left just like everybody else I know >

Lefty here- they gotta just let us have this one thing 😩 after years of scissors, getting marker on our hands, rifle shells flying at our eyes, baseball gloves and other sports equipment being dominant, we at least have one thing for us which is the fork and knife combo. >

Why are people putting the knife down and swapping the fork back and forth between hands? That seems like such a faff and waste of time.
Fork in left hand knife in right hand, cut food, eat food and repeat until meal is finished, no need to put the knife or fork down unless you need to leave the table 🤷‍♂️ >

I thought I was going crazy. Are people really swapping hands? I've never seen that. >

They’re trying to say it’s an American thing? I’m an American and I’ve never done this nor have I seen it in my life.. >

Left handed here with 30+ years of experience, using the fork with my dominant hand, no problem for cutting with the other hand, I totally agree with you ! >

Fellow lefty here. Just curious, if you’re using just a knife to, say, cut veggies or bread or something, like you’re preparing to cook… do you use the knife with your left or right hand? >

Am also a lefty, when doing prep like chopping veggies, etc. I use my left hand. But when eating, knife is in right hand, fork in left. >

So even the who-cares crowd will still choose between fork left or fork right and stick with it. Why aren't the knife and fork allowed to switch place mid-meal? Is this some superstition thing? Does it open a portal to a hostile dimension? >

It's useful to build a habit of having the tool you put in your mouth consistently placed. Less chance of absent mindedly cutting your tongue. >

lol, I can't imagine being THAT absent minded. Switching your knife and fork after cutting just happens on autopilot out of habit. >

I mean I do left fork right knife as a leftie and it's pretty ideal >

I've always been ridiculed at the dinner table for this. My reasoning was always that I have more control over the fork with the right because all the knife does is cut back and forth. Truthfully I have no idea why I do it. >

me too - exactly the same experience and rationale !! >

Um, eat like a European. Saves times. Keep both utensils in hand at all times and shovel food into your mouth. >

Yeah, the utensil swapping thing is definitely an American thing. iirc it had something to do with the more privileged class ages ago tacitly showing how they didn’t need to rush and had all the time in the world to swap their fork between hands. >

Could you explain what the swapping entails? I’m Italian and I’m not sure I understand. Say a “swapper” is eating a steak - how do they go about it? I only know the “fork in left, knife in right, cut piece, utensils remain held in same hands, bring morsel to mouth with left hand, repeat” >

I’ve got you covered. This lady shows the difference between the 2 styles at around 1:28. The swapping style was never meant to be efficient but rather to be as inefficient as possible, odd as that might sound. >

Thank you! I couldn’t believe that swapping the way I was understanding it from other comments entailed putting things down so often, so I was confused but - nope, that’s it, indeed! I can’t help but find it extremely odd that this has survived into modern times, huh >

I like to tape my cutlery to my fingers and get some sense of what it must have been like to be Johnny Depp at his peak. >

honestly i prefer the knife in my right hand because my right hand is stronger and more coordinated. i just put the knife down and eat with my right. >

I feel like as kids we were taught to use the knife with our dominant hand to have more control over it, and then we just kept doing it. >

I was using them like do all the time. I don't think that's an unpopular opinion but a logical fact. >

Haha you guys can argue about cutlery. I mainly eat with my hands. >

You put the dangerous one, the knife, in your dominant hand. Stabbing and holding the forking still is easy for either hand. Keeping the knife straight and moving back and forth is much more difficult for the non-dominant hand.
As a righty, I cut with the right hand, just like when using a kitchen knife. >

I’m picturing a dinner party with prime rib. Picturing everyone trying to cut said meat with the non-dominant hand. Now picturing meat sliding and flying around the table because have you ever tried to cut prime rib with the wrong hand? This would never work because it would be far, far too messy. >

Yeah that's kind of what it boils down to, I can handle fork duty just fine with my left hand but left-handed knife work gets real sketchy real fast. >

Why do you swap? Just keep your knife in right hand and use your left hand to hold the fork and eat >

Only Americans cut everything up and then eat with a fork. Europeans employ both hands and both utensils at the same time. This is the best way. >

Um Americans do this too lol don’t know if I’ve met anyone over the age of 10 or under the age of 80 who has everything cut up before they eat it, and that’s just cause someone has cut it up for them. Im also an American who lived in France in my childhood and don’t pay attention to how others eat so I could be wrong >

The way you've described is the way most Americans eat. >

With all due respect, I believe you’re mistaken. 
The “American” style is to hold the knife in the dominant hand, and use the fork in the non-dominant hand to hold the food in place while cutting. Then the knife is set on the edge of plate, and the fork is swapped to the dominant hand to eat the food.
With the “Continental” style, the knife is also held in the dominant hand for cutting, but after cutting you just continue to use your fork with the non-dominant hand to eat the food.
I’ve been an American for a pretty long time and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anyone use their non-dominant hand for the knife. At least not anyone who I knew well enough to know if they were right or left-handed. >

If any movies or tv shows are to be believed, the American way is to cook everything in bite size pieces and just use a fork whilst picking around everything on your plate. >

I'm not sure why Americans swap before eating. I think it'd be easier if you guys didn't swap >

I've seen people swap while eating, cutting with the utensils in the proper hands, then putting down the knife and swapping the fork to their right hand to bring the food to their mouth, then swapping back and picking up the knife again.  It's so weird. >

or just raw dog it the american way and use your incredibly dominant right hand to cut your steak with your fork and huge hand muscles and determination. >

Knife in your dominant hand, because its the tool doing the work.
And why are you putting the knife down?
What's with all this swapping?
Keep your knife in your dominant hand, so you control the most dangerous utensil, don't put it down..
You only put cutlery down to drink, or when you finish your meal. >

I was always told if your knife and fork are together, it means you’re finished. If they’re on opposite sides, it is not yet finished. I often put both utensils down opposing towards the end for assessing. Also the knife has a simple back and forth motion and then rests while the dominant hand does all of the work. It’s constantly in use. The knife is there for the hard bit and that’s it? By having the most dangerous utensil in your non dominant hand you’re signifying not threat. Like shaking with the left as a sign of lowering guard. Also its like starting a nail with your hammer in your non dominant hand? I will agree on the swapping tho, I’ve never seen it and I never hope to. >

OR just eat with knife and fork, there is zero reason to put the knife down and switch hands for the fork, its incredibly easy >

Wasn’t this just posted? >

You do know its just a weird american thing to be swapping your utensils hands during the meal. In the UK we just use both hands and keep each utensil in one hand, no need for "swapping"
difference shown here >

I actually do this, i don't know why - but it has always felt natural, + i'm...lucky (?) enough to have ambidexterity ( being able to use both left and right hand with the same precision ) >

Do you use your left hand to hold kitchen knives? >

My left hand is too dumb to cut anything other than mashed potatoes yo >

“it doesnt require a great deal of dexterity”
tell that to one bad steak I ate last time it was so chewy the meat is complaining in my mouth >

Lolol >

I'm American and I cut one bite at a time, so I never swap/always keep knife in right hand. I put my index finger on the back of the fork and use it to push down on whatever I'm picking up. >

I can’t remember when it happened but I switched to using my fork with my left hand (tines usually faced down) and knife with my right. When not using a knife, I use my right hand for my forking. Seems pretty easy to switch around. Don’t even know why this is an opinion, unpopular or not. >

What the fuck are these comments? I swap utensils because my right hand has better dexterity for cutting while my left hand has better strength for gripping, but it sucks for lifting shit into my mouth. Why is this so hard for people to understand? >

I think it's weird how people assert how to "eat properly" with cutlery, as long as food doesn't run off the place or fall out of your mouth.
I prefer it the same way you do, but I stopped as I had a controlling parent that meant I should do it the right way, so now I'm not used to the way that felt natural to me anymore.
All in all, I think people should be allowed to eat using utensils however way they want, as long as previously mentioned conditions are met. >

You're going to not use your dominant hand on the manipulation of a sharp object? Ok, lol >

Friendly reminder that high society "proper" dining etiquette was completely made up and to some degree ment or be unintuitive and had to be learned as the ruling class used it as one of many means to separate themselfes from peasants. >

Or... Y'know... Whatever the person is most comfortable with? Didn't realize physical ability was up to opinion now... >

I always believed you cut then swap hands so you don’t eat so fast. It’s like eating soup you slide the spoon to the back of the bowl instead shoveling it into your mouth. >

Stfu nerd i hold my fork and knife however i want >

Why would I swap my fork to my dominant hand? Just put the food in the mouth with the left dummy. >

I can't cut good with my left hand so when I have a knife i put the fork in my left >

Counterpoint, your knife should be in your left hand and your bigger knife should be in your right hand >

I have always eaten this way. I thought it was normal. Right hand dominate, hold fork in right hand. >

a fork is a dumb tool, a knife is a smart tool.  You need better fine motor skills to use a knife than you need for a fork.    
Watch young children try to cut their own meat.  a 2 year old can use a fork no problem, but cutting meat requires a lot more fine motor control than they can muster even with their dominant hand at that age. >

Or (now hear me out) I just stab my fork into whatever I'm eating and just take a giant ass bite out of it. >

I can’t believe this is unpopular. >

Just eat the food? I don't see how the order of your hands mean anything. >

I just cut all my food first then put the knife down and eat. I don't feel like cutting one piece, eating that piece, then cutting another and repeating the entire time. Just cut it all at once then forget the knife >

The only reason I can think of that would possibly make you swap is because you aren’t using your fork facing down. Fork curve facing up is actually kind of annoying but face down you shouldn’t ever have to swap >

EXACTLY >

You are not supposed to either put your knife down or swap. Fork left, knife right. It's really not that hard. Basic etiquette, no wonder people nowadays behave like apes. >

I respect your point. But some people are used to knife right and fork left. While others (like me) are used to knife left and fork right. Depends for me whether you're left or right handed and where/how you've been raised. >

It shouldn't matter what hand the fork spoon or knife go in. We have two hands why does it have to make a difference, besides looking "fancy". use whatever hand it's more useful in at the moment. like most people switch hands anyway because they prefer using their dominant hand for more intricate stuff and the other hand for a helper. >

Only Americans put down their knife and swap hands with the fork. >

If you're that concerned with the most efficient way to shovel food into your pie-hole, just go without utensils. >

'Should' sounds silly to me - use whatever is best for you (likely primarily based on whether you are left- or right-handed. >

As a left handed person I completely agree thats how it should be for right handed people. I ate the normal way for like 15 years before finding out I ate “right handed” >

(I'm left handed) wait do you people need to use the knife in your dominant hand?? Omg lefties are superior >

I've eaten this way since forever. Nobody taught me which hand to use, this was just natural to me. So that proves your point. >

I couldnt agree more, as a left hander this is one of the only times i feel im on the lucky side of the rules. I also think its weird right handers will hold their fork in their left hand when using a knife but if they are only using a fork or spoon it goes in their right hand. >

This is exactly how I have always held my cutlery... Have always been told by my friends and family that I'm backwards 😅
Good to know I'm not the only one! 🤣🤣 >

Dining etiquette is for boomers. It’s one thing to be polite but proper dining etiquette is outdated, unnecessary, and pedantic. It literally does nothing to improve your motor or social skills. >

Only Americans do the swapping lol >

I agree completely. I've been doing it this way my entire life. >

My wife eats like this and it drives me insane, congratulations on you unpopular opinion lol >

This is how I eat and I don’t care what anyone says >

When knife is being used, the knife becomes the dominant tool while the fork becomes the support that holds the food down. That’s the logic anyway. Many here are saying these etiquette are stupid and/pointless but these things have been designed with more than old manners in mind. >

Using a knife and fork is a dying art. Most people have never been shown nor been in a situation where they needed to anyway. 
So at this point it don't matter. Just stab your chips and nuggets and nom nom nom >

"A dying art". Lol really? That's some pompous nonsense. >

When you've eaten dinner with enough people who have never used a knife and fork, let alone properly you can say whether it's a dying art or not. 
Then again, if you'll never be in company of those that know how to eat with a knife and fork it doesn't matter, does it? 
Stab, stab, stab, nom, nom, nom. >

Where my British people at? Fork stays in the left, knife in the right the entire time. It’s how I learned to eat with utensils. >

Yeah because we're not neanderthals lmao >

Or you could just use your fork with your left hand without swapping, because it is not that hard and it is how most people outside USA do it. >

I'm an American in my 40's, and I've only ever seen one person put the knife down and then swap the fork to the other hand, and every one else at the table commented on how odd it was. Every other American I've ate with in my entire life just chooses a hand to hold the utensils in and doesn't swap. I go fork left, knife right. >

My knife stays in my right hand because that’s the hand that does the most work. How the fuck am I meant to cut into a steak with my weaker, non dominant hand? >

With a knife… a knife does most of the work, or should be doing most of the work… >

Agreed. The fork does the most complex work. And the most work. Picking, sorting  , stacking tiny bits for the perfect bite and transfer food to your mouth. 
Knives barely do anything unless you eat some kind of overcooked shoesoul steak. Just a tiny simple motion. Most knives arent even remotely sharp. The fork is pointy. I would rather take a slap with a dull knife than a pointy fork. >

Isn't this the standard already? Am I missing something? And I'm a right hander too >

Exactly what I do for as long as I can remember. >

You're doing more work with the knife so for me it's logical to be in your dominant hand. >

If you're getting tired because your non-dominant hand doesn't have the energy to cut your food, then there are problems with how that food is cooked :P >

When you roll a 0 in dexterity >

Wrong. >

This is how i use my cutlery, so naturally i think you are correct. >

I just eat whatever way it is comfortable I even use hands >

I m always with the two. I cut while a eat. >

does that mean that etiquette favors the left handed? i always cut with my left hand and use the fork with my right, but i am left handed >

The only thing you do with the fork is stick it in the food or use it as a shovel, and bringing it to your mouth.
The knife is used to push, cut and much more, which is why it's in the right hand, which is to be presumed is the dominant hand. >

The fork is the shepherd, the knife is the sheep dog >

This is weak af 😅 It's not even an opinion lmao you're just giving basic table etiquette lesson. >

I’m right handed so nah >

I'd rather have my knife in my dominant hand so that way I can be ready to stab anyone that tries to tell me how to eat! Just kidding OP, efficiency is a good reason, but I still have an easier time with the basic movement of a fork in my non-dominant hand. >

Noooo oh god no please stop noooooo >

Knife in right hand because sometimes you need brute strength to cut through things. Fork in left because I play guitar so I am no stranger to doing fiddly dexterous things with my non-dominant hand. >

Use whatever hand you like for whatever cutlery you want bro >

This is how
I eat. I’ve been surprised to find it’s more common than you’d think. >

i mean, whichever the most comfortable for you and you can handle the knife probably with that hand, use it >

As a lefty i sometimes get confused.. not just with regard to using cuttlery 😉
But, yes... i will start eatingand have to figure out sometimes what my dominant hand is, over how I see others eat. Very weird when that happens...and i promise i finished my lower edication   😀
Edit: Ha! I do this... fork is left.. in dominant hand..so... begs to wonder... is this different for lefties? We grew up in right hand dominated society >

My left arm is for holding heavy things. My right hand is for things that require manual dexterity. >

Yess, I’ve found my people! Always felt a bit weird using fork with my dominant hand (right) but to be honest the “correct” way just doesn’t feel right. 
I’ve also found I’m not comfortable with watch on left wrist, I also need to have it on my dominant wrist. >

Or you can eat however you want simple as that 
Why do we always need to make norms everywhere for things that aren't critical >

Ettiquete rules are completely pointless and stupid, everyone must use the healthier and skiller hand they have and feel more comfortable with. 
You don't need to give explanations to anyone.
Being worried about this banal goatfart instead about real problems that attempt against yours/other's well-being, it's unforgivable.
(Anyway, who uses the knife all the time when the fork can perfectly bring the strick into your mouth and your teeth can cut it? Not even every meat is meant to be eaten with cultery). >

Or... And hear me out... Whatever gets the food into your mouth is fine... >

If you want food all over the table, then i'll do it. Otherwise i'll just stick to the way i usually do it. >

I do that anyway. Have I been doing it wrong? >

I always do it that way and only learned a few years ago that it wasn't the norm >

I do this as well. I remember a teacher in middle school trying to force me to use the knife in my right hand but I refused and I've been using it in my left hand ever since. >

It looks funny when somebody uses their non-knife-dominant hand for cutting a steak. You can clearly tell that they are trying hard to impress >

The knife should be in the hand that is able to apply more force with better precision and dexterity, which is often right hand given you are not a left handed person >

Lefty here and using the right way. Always seen my right hand as the force hand. Left for the other stuff.
But I am also European.
The knife is guided by the fork is how I see it. >

this is how I use a knife and fork..I was not aware others didn't use them the same >

I do that and i just think it's superior (I'm right handed btw) >

“You no only need your knife to cut things back and forth” - tell me you’re American without telling me you’re American! >

All you need is a fork.  Stab the meat, hold it up to your mouth, bite off what you want and grin menicingly at everyone else at the table.  Done. >

So what i heard is that when everyone holds the knife in the right hand and you are sitting closer together you dont disturb your neighbour as much because cutting needs more space and you dont want to knock each others elbows. Makes sense for me. And on top i see no disadvantage in keeping my utensils in the hands they started in.
This is from germany though so might be different. >

This is unpopular opinions not opinions no one gives a fuck about - you do you, stick your fork up your ass for all we care. >

Ive been using cutlery this way my whole life, actually my whole family does except my mom lol >

I agree, I’m left-handed, but I eat the “proper” way for this exact reason, everyone just thinks (not really, but hey) I’m right-handed and eating in the usual order. >

LOL,... how regarded is anyone who can't put food in their mouth with their non-dominant hand. >

YES, my parents mention it almost everytime but i dont understand how can you be precise with your fork when using it with your left hand when you're right-handed. >

How uncouth the unwashed are. >

Agree. I’ve always used it this way. People ask if I’m a leftie - I’m not. What you describe is logical and why I’ve always did that. But I get mocked at events for doing it wrong. >

I'm right hand dominant guy and use a knife in my left since I can remember. >

It depends on what I'm eating. Sometimes you need the extra force and control with the knife, sometimes the fork is more important. >

My mother thaught me to eat with the right hand, that's why I also hold fork right and knife left, because the final eating action is done with the fork. I am a right handed person. >

I'm left handed, I hold my fork with my left hand and knife in my right.