Fork

A fork was an eating utensil often made of metal. It is comprised of a handle and at least two sharpened ends on which food can be impaled. The metal tines vary in width and length, and have been sharp enough to pierce Human skin.
The utensil was used to lift food to the mouth or to hold ingredients in place while they are being cut. Food can be lifted either by spearing it on the tines, or by holding it on top of the tines.
The use of the fork was common on Earth, although other cultures have been known to use them.
In 2270, one of the practical jokes the computer of the played was to supply the senior staff with forks that allowed the food to slide off before they could lift it to their mouths. ()
In 2366, Beverly Crusher was denied a fork to eat with by Kyril Finn during her tenure as a hostage. ()
Later that year, Guinan stabbed Q's right hand with a fork, as evidence that he was indeed Human. ()
In 2370, after Beverly complained about the lack of edibles on Kesprytt III, Jean-Luc Picard promised her that she could "plant yourself in front of a replicator with a knife and fork" once they returned to . ()
In 2374, Benjamin Sisko improvised a broken tine from a metal fork in the survival kit into a tool to work the communication system circuitry. ()
== Fork etiquette ==
The rules that specify how a knife, fork, and spoon must be used in a social situation is known as utensil etiquette. Utensil etiquette is intended to prevent the utensils in use from appearing threatening. Most Humans have used a traditional style, in which they keep the fork in in their right hand throughout the dining situation. () However some have preferred to use a hybrid utensil style when eating.
Human etiquette includes a hybrid utensil style which involves holding food to the plate with the fork tines-down, until a single bite-sized piece is cut with the knife. The knife is then set down on the plate, the fork transferred from the left hand to the right hand, and the food is brought to the mouth for consumption. The fork is then transferred back to the left hand and the knife is picked up with the right. ()
Sub-commander T'Pol used a fork and knife to eat her salad. Doctor Phlox showed her to eat her celery sticks by hand. ()
The Aldeans used forks with two sharpened ends to eat their fruits. ()
Klingons also used forks and knives sometimes. ()
Lwaxana Troi and Jean-Luc Picard used decorated forks during their dinner aboard the in 2365. ()
The social skills Data taught Lal in 2366 included eating food with a fork. ()
== See also ==
* Knife
* Spoon
* Spork
* Chopstick
Category:Culinary tools