Forks are a go-to utensil for nearly every restaurant table setting. They are available in different types and offer function as well as contributing to the dining beauty. The differences among the various types of forks may be small, but they have a huge impact on how you eat. To help make the meal feel complete, you’ll find several of the main types of forks and maybe some that you want to add to your collection with a well-rounded menu.
Major Types of Forks
Dinner Fork
Dinner forks (also referred to as a table fork) is the universal fork for its multipurpose and function. They are the sort of forks that people commonly use on a dinner table, to eat the main part of their meal. The tines of dinner forks are short and straight which makes poking foods easy, without destroying them. Typically the largest and heaviest of dining implements, table forks are used for food at dinner--fingers were considered disgusting and vulgar until the early 20th century. The dinner fork is the workhorse of your best cutlery set.
- Number of times: 4
- Size: Large
- Pair with: laden meats, pasta dishes
Salad Fork
Salad forks are just for salads and salad-type foods. They’re pointy but very minimalistic prongs, slightly rounded at the tip, so you can stab into your lettuce bunch and not really maul the leaves. They’re equally great at stabbing salad mix-ins, vegetables, croutons and cheese chunks. When one places olives on the plate, they pick with a fork which is known as salad fork and taken from outside. This places it in a convenient location so diners don’t have to reach if you’re serving salad. The salad fork tines is frequently one feature that clearly marks a high-quality knife and fork set from lower-quality options.
- Number of tines: 3-4
- Size: Small
- Used for: Salads, leafy greens
Dessert Fork
Pastry fork (pie fork) The pastry fork (or pie fork, commonly used in the UK) is a fork cutting piece 10.5-15 cm long that tapers to two sharp tines for about 4–5.2cm at the tip; it is intended to be used with the left hand to hold down pastries so that fingers are not damaged by touching them. These forks have a wide prong with open cut tines and flat tips allowing you to easily remove the small food item from its base. A dessert fork has shorter tines and the curve of the teeth is somewhat wider than that of a dinner fork, so it can have more solid sturdiness. Most dessert forks are produced and sold as right-handed, but can be specially made for left-handers. For a full dessert cutlery set, consider the INOX ArtisanHelix Hammered or Whorl Hammered cake forks with gleaming, hand-hammered edges.
- Number of tines: 3-4
- Size: Small
- Usages: Cakes, tart and pies- Dessert
Fish Fork
Fish forks, known as seafood forks, are small forks for eating fish. The fish fork is available in 2 styles, the first with a larger wider left tine for cutting delicate fish meat and the second style which has a deep inside notch that is designed to fit over the bones of the fish to lift out flesh. To fully enjoy a delectable fish dinner, most places provide a fish knife setting of the table. For a more specialized table, INOX Artisan has more options including the Spiral Drop fish fork and fish knife set for an elegant seafood course.
- Number of tines: 3-4
- Size: Large
- Used for: Fish
Oyster Fork
Oyster forks are used to eat oysters and also other shellfish. They’re breaking free all the goodness inside an oyster shell to flush out unwanted bits that are not tasty, to allow you to enjoy in its entirety and without any effort delicate meat. Oyster forks are stubby, with a curved back side that fits into the oyster shell and allows you to pull out the meat. The tines of such an oyster fork likewise are short, broad and blunt to provide for this loosening effect on the meat. These forks are presented with an oyster knife that doubles as a shucking tool for guests who can open the shell with ease.
- Number of tines: 3
- Size: Medium
- Used for: Oysters, shellfish
Serving Fork
Serving forks serve food from platters and other serving dishes to one's plate. These are great for using around the dinner table, at buffets, and catering. They also have big, wide tines for stability when stabbing big cuts of meat and other foods. Table forks come in different styles; so that you can select a fork which best suits your menu and facilitate delicious food like the chef. When choosing forks and spoons for serving, you’ll want something durable; always use 18/8 stainless steel to guarantee these larger tools will hold up to weight.
- Number of tines: 3
- Size: Very large
- Used for: Serving large batches
Ice Cream Fork
The ice cream fork is an original design eating utensil for ice cream and toppings. You’ve already met the spork’s big brother; now meet that same, compact relationship all over again. The spoon-like shape at one end is useful for many things. These forks have four quite short tines. In this sense, it appears to be a fork in shape and use. The tines are extra wide and curvy for easy eating. While these forks are typically used at gourmet restaurants to add elegance and class to a dining experience, an ice cream parlor could use them as well. But instead of appearing on the table at the beginning of the meal, they arrive with ice cream some time later.
- Number of tines: 3
- Size: Medium
- For: Ice cream, frozen yogurt
Cocktail Fork
So, at no time do you eat with the cocktail fork; it's reserved for serving appetizers like bite-size food and canapes. Its small and delicate shape is perfect for serving appetizers at weddings, receptions, parties, catered presentations, bridal and baby showers, birthdays. They are eye-catching at your event and can even easily penetrate through small pieces of food. They usually come with an app set and are essential for any tapas style restaurant.
- Number of tines: 2-3
- Size: Small
- Used for: Appetizers
Fruit Fork
Smallest of all was the fruit fork, a slim, very long handled fork with fine tines for skewering soft bits of fruit without destroying or mashing them. Fruit forks are often part of high-end dining where you eat with your eyes. These forks are balanced to give you a good feel in the hand and pleasant dining. You can use them for appetizers, entrees, desserts.
- Number of tines: 2-3
- Size: Very small
- Best for: Tiny fruit pieces
Deli Forks
Deli forks work best for picking up slices of deli meat or cheese. They’re small and feature short handles along with sharp tines, so your caterers can stack little deli morsels on guests’ plates without ruining how they look. Deli forks are not for eating, rather for making charcuterie boards look nice and filling catering trays, among other commercial uses.
- Number of tines: 2
- Size: Small
- Used for: Charcuterie boards
Cheese Fork
Cheese forks hold the cheese and keep it in place while cutting bite size chunks of the cheese to enjoy; wedges, layers or sticks. Being used as serving utensils for a variety of foods from cheese and charcuterie board to cheese servings, their sleek appearance provides that elegant feel to your presentation. They commonly accompany cheese knives for complete serving ambiance. Perfect for weddings, work parties or fancy shindigs: cheese forks bring out the cheese’s full potential. INOX Artisan cheese tools, including Laurel Polished or Twirl Hammered collections, come with speciality cheese forks to match their broader best cutlery set offers.
- Number of tines: 2
- Size: Small
- Used for: Serving cheese
Parts of a Fork
Forks have seven main components. Every item is crucially important and can drastically alter how the fork works.
- Handle: The long, flat piece that you hold on to in order to use the fork.
- Neck: Slants downward between the handle and everything else.
- Back: Connects the two legs and gives a general shape.
- Tines: Pointed prongs on a fork, which help to impale and scoop up food.
- Slots: The voids between the tines.
- Roots: The bottom of the slots, necessary for stability and balance.
- Tine points: The ends of the tines; what touches the food.
Fork Features
Forks have a lot of features that help set them apart and give you certain advantages.
- Adaptive forks: Designed for those who have trouble gripping utensils. These have wide handles with weighted shafts for a firm grip.
- Antimicrobial forks: Prohibit the growth of bacteria, keeping food safety a top priority in homes and healthcare facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What’s the best type of durable forks?
Ans. Premium 18/8 stainless steel, highly regarded for its rust resistance and hand-polished finish, is used in every best cutlery set by INOX Artisan.
Q2. How can I recognize a salad fork vs. dinner fork?
Ans. The salad fork is smaller than the dinner fork and is placed on the outermost part of the setting.
Q3. Why is a dessert fork occasionally broader at the tine?
Ans. The wider left tine allows the fork to function as a mini knife so cakes and pastries are easier to cut.
Q4. Can you put the INOX Artisan in the dishwasher?
Ans. Yes, all INOX Artisan collections are dishwasher safe, though hand washing is recommended for exceptional finishes.
Q5. What makes a fork seem “balanced”?
Ans. Balance is derived from the even distribution of weight between the handle and the tines, a trait of all handmade premium utensils.
