Forks

A dinner fork is a necessary utensil when it comes to serving dinner — unless you’re having soup, of course. With such regular use it’s important to purchase a set of forks that will hold up to cutting, stabbing and every other use you could find for them.

What types of forks are there?

If you’re big on etiquette or even just mildly curious about why some forks are smaller than others, you may be interested to know that there are in fact six main types of forks. The all-purpose mainstay you’re probably going to use at dinner is simply called a dinner fork, but other styles have more specific purposes and names.

• European: The European dinner fork is much larger and heavier in comparison to those made in the U.S. They tend to be used mostly for formal occasions.


• Salad: Smaller in size than a dinner fork, your salad fork is used for, you guessed it, eating salads! It can also be used to eat other small foods like fruit.


• Cocktail: Also known as an oyster fork, these smaller forks only feature three tines and a small head. They’re intended to separate the oyster from its shell, but can also be used to eat small appetizers like cheese.


• • Fish: Another three-tined design, the head of the fish fork is a bit larger than that of the cocktail fork and is used to separate fish from the bone.


• Dessert: Smaller and thinner than salad forks, dessert forks are used to help yourself to a delicious slice of cake or pie.

What do the numbers 18/10 or 18/0 mean?

While you’re shopping for a stunning set of forks and other silverware pieces, you may encounter the numbers “18/0” and “18/10.” If you’re curious about what these mean, you’re not alone. These numbers simply refer to the amount of chromium and nickel in the stainless steel. Chromium, more commonly known as chrome, is durable and stain resistant, while nickel is corrosion-resistant and shiny.

• 18/10: If your flatware features these numbers, they’re made of 18 percent chromium and 10 percent nickel. These tend to have a brilliant, shiny luster, are rust resistant, durable and are easy to maintain.


• 18/0: If your silverware is marked with these numbers, it has 18 percent chromium and 0 percent nickel. These have a softer shine than their nickel-infused counterparts and are economical but are also prone to staining.

How do I care for my forks?

When it comes to taking care of your silverware, there are certain rules you can follow to keep them from showing their age too soon.

• Don’t leave your utensils sitting in water. This can permanently damage the metal and cause rust spots to form.


• If you’re cleaning sterling silver and stainless steel flatware at the same time, place them in separate baskets inside your dishwasher. Sterling silver requires minimal detergent and should be removed before the dry cycle begins, then promptly dried.


• Make sure you polish any sterling silver pieces at least once or twice a year to remove tarnish and prevent corrosion.


• Your stainless steel flatware is fairly hassle free and can be cleaned and dried in the dishwasher after each use.