WHO on earth thought three-pronged forks were a good idea? I’ve had a terrible time trying to eat my cake.

[Wendyer]

Well it’s not actually my cake but we won’t go into that …

This isn’t one of those purpose made pastry type dainty fork things. I think it’s from a 1970’s set of cutlery that I’ve inherited from my mother. In fact, give me a minute and I’ll treat you all to a picture of it!

I’ve had a terrible time trying to eat cake - crumbs everywhere, much dropping of forkfuls, great difficulty spearing/pronging, significant reduction in plate to mouth speed. I should’ve used a shovel, um I mean spoon …

I love my cake forks, few things make me happier than an excuse to use them

My partner's parents have 3-pronged forks for their everyday cutlery. I go hungry at every meal! They are impossible.

@Wendyer

Here he is in his entirety (so that *@StrychnineInTheSandwiches* can see!), next to a cheapy modern relative.

Never have I spoken/photographed forks so much!

I beg your pardon @SkiingIsHeaven - it was you, not Strychnine, who spotted my photography deficiencies.

I’ve had a proper look at @SinoohXaenaHide’s lovely diagram. Why do strawberries get a special fork of their own? What happens if you try and eat one with the bog standard fruit fork? And, what’s this - a fork for icecream?

Maybe you need a runcible spoon.

Cake forks are supposed to be small enough that you can make a slice of cake last for half an hour though. Remember that a refined lady has very little to occupy her time between luncheon and dinner time and whilst it is good to enjoy a cup of tea and some cake to mark the midway point of this period, perhaps doing some watercolours or sketching beforehand and some needlepoint or tapestry afterwards - and if the cake only takes 2 minutes to eat then one is in serious danger of taking a second slice which would not be good.

Here is one of the cake forks I inherited from my grandmother, doing its work very well.

That’s a fine looking fork @SinoohXaenaHide. I’m very impressed at the cake eating lengths you have gone to in order to demonstrate your fork in action!

I've never seen a 3 pronged fork like that but I can;t imagine it would be any good for getting cake into your mouth really quickly.

As a small child I ate everything with what was known as a spoon and pusher (see photo) it was pretty good for everything, in fact now I am old I might go back to using it.

I did receive a set of cake forks for a wedding gifts, but they were too slow for cake so I used them for doling out the dogs food. I think they are all lost now, does anyone actually buy cake forks these days ?

Haven't even read the full thread, just jumping in to say I love a cake fork. Wonderful things. So stressful trying to eat some cakes with a teaspoon. I will admit to having poor table manners and not being above a bit of hand action, mind. Perfectly natural.

@hotmeatymilk

Have you tried picking the cake up with your hands, as prehistoric people would have had to do

^This. Just grab the bloody cake and shove it in! For forks sake. 😂😂

This is what I use for eating sticky, gooey, creamy cakes. I think that it’s called a spork, works perfectly.🙄

@Tomasinabombadil

This is what I use for eating sticky, gooey, creamy cakes. I think that it’s called a spork, works perfectly.🙄

I’d call that a runcible spoon. 😁

Omg!! I remember those cake forks! I never knew they were a proper cake fork!!
I've got small forks but I now have no idea what they are for?

Hmm. I thought forks were supposed to have 3 prongs. I'm my parents' posh canteen (a 1960s wedding present) only the fish forks have 4 prongs.

@Wendyer thanks for completing the fork striptease.

Cake forks are made for right handed folk! I can't use them.

I’ve given up cake. Maltesers present no forking issues :)