1. Place your cutlery on the table in the order of use, starting from the outside and working inwards with each course. 2. Forks should be set to the left of the plate, with knives placed to the right, blade edges facing inwards Soup spoons should be placed on the right of the knives.
Put it right next to where you usually chop things ... on your right if you use knives in your right hand, to the left if you prefer to chop with your left hand.
Never place knives at the edge of counter tops or tables. 4. Never leave knives in soapy water in the sink. This is a bad habit that easily leads to accidents.
Near the main prep area
The most practical place to put your knife block is close to your main food preparation area. This location allows for easy access to your knives while you're chopping, slicing, and dicing ingredients. Ideally, you want your knife block within arm's reach of your cutting board.
The knife should be in the right hand and the fork in the left. However, if a knife is not needed – such as when eating pasta – the fork can be held in the right hand. Bread is always served and can be placed on the table cloth itself. It is considered unacceptable to use one's fingers to taste the food.
Most traditional etiquette guides recommend holding the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left, as this is the standard practice in both American and Continental dining styles. However, if you are left-handed, you may naturally find it easier to reverse this order.
In the Western Dining Style, knives are used for cutting (where more power is required), and forks for spearing. ✅ We always hold the knife in the dominant hand, which for the majority of population is the right hand. The fork that follows suit and is held in the non-dominant, left hand.
Cutlery placement
2. Forks should be set to the left of the plate, with knives placed to the right, blade edges facing inwards Soup spoons should be placed on the right of the knives.
Handling a knife:
Keep fingertips curled under the hand that is holding the food. Point the blade away from your body when cutting, washing, or drying a knife. Always use a cutting board. Secure your cutting board with a damp paper towel or non-slip mat.
The basic rule is: Utensils are placed in the order of use; that is, from the outside in. A second rule, with only a few exceptions, is: Forks go to the left of the plate, and knives and spoons go to the right. And finally, only set the table with utensils you will use.
Don't leave your dirty knives lying in the sink.
Not only can this be dangerous for whoever washes the dishes, it's also bad for your knives — the blade can get scratched, the tip can bend or break and corrosion can start if you leave them for a long time.
How do chefs store their knives? Leather knife rolls are a popular knife storage choice for chefs. This is because often a chef will bring their own personal set of knives to different jobs. As one of the most important tools of their trade, chefs can be fiercely protective over their personal knives!
Knife Grips and Fulcrum Placement
The proper way to hold a chef's knife is to grasp the blade firmly between the pad of your thumb and the knuckle of your index finger just in front of the bolster, curling your remaining fingers around the bottom of the handle.
The cleanest way to store your knives is in a drawer block or a magnetic strip.
1. Kitchen hygiene 101: wash hands. Making sure your hands are clean is at the top of the kitchen hygiene rules list. It's easy for bacteria to be transferred, so wash your hands throughout prepping and cooking food.
The napkin always goes to the left of the dinnerware... unless you're using cloth napkins and napkin rings or folding the napkin into a special shape. In that case, the napkin goes on top of the plate. Place your flatware in the order they will be used, with the items that will be used first on the outside.
If we want to communicate to the waiter that we have finished the course on the plate and are using two pieces of cutlery, such as fork and knife, according to the English style these should be positioned as if the hands of the clock were at 6:30. Place the handles on the plate and always keep the blade inside.
A correct place setting will have the forks on the left and the knives on the right, so if you're right-handed all you have to do is pick them up and they will be in the correct hands! If you're left-handed, feel free to switch them so the knife is in your left hand.
The fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right. The fork should have the prongs facing down, and the knife is used to move food closer to the fork or support food so the fork can pick it up. Formally rest your knife and fork (prongs down) on your plate during mouthfuls and whilst chit chatting.
It's bad luck to close a pocket knife unless you were the one who opened it. You should always cut bread with a knife rather than breaking it with your hands. It's said that your life will be broken otherwise. Never hand a knife directly to another person.