To spear or to scoop?

[RiverRose]

Shameless taat but DH and I were just talking about how to 'correctly' use a fork. Neither of us seem to know which is the acceptable way!

Do you scoop food with your fork, using it almost like a spoon?

or

Do you spear the food (if required) and mash food onto the back of the curve of the fork?

Depends what I'm eating. Risotto I'd scoop and steak and chips I'd spear!

It depends on the food really, but I suppose generally spear. Things like peas I probably scoop. Until you get down to the last few and they run away from you across the plate. Then they get speared.

Spear and mash if I'm at a restaurant or anywhere I feel I should be polite. Shovel it in as fast as I can otherwise. The former is I think the correct way (per Debretts or similar) but there are special rules for things like peas iirc

Spear is the right way including for peas.

So that's what I do when I'm out...

If the fork is in my left hand and knife in the right, spear / mash everything. Never ever ever shovel food onto the fork using the knife!

But for casual eating - like tonight's pasta in a bowl - putting the knife down, transferring the fork to the right hand and scooping is quite acceptable. American style.

Spear is the correct use unless you are living in the USA.