Americans commonly cut food with the fork in the left hand and knife in the right, then set the knife down and switch the fork to the right hand to eat. Europeans typically keep the fork in the left hand at all times and avoid switching hands. The continental method usually keeps the fork's tines facing down when transferring food, whereas Americans often use tines-up. Forks have existed in Europe since the 11th century and were once considered an expensive and unnecessary luxury. Both Europeans and Americans developed distinct fork customs independently, and U.S. etiquette accepts both methods though international rules favor the continental style.
You start eating the way you always have: with your fork in your left hand, and knife in your right. After cutting the food, you set the knife down, passing the fork over to your right hand, where you lean in to take your bite. Across the table, though, you notice the bewildered glances of your European dining companions, who never once let their forks leave their left hand.
As such, both Europeans and Americans independently developed their own fork-based customs and behaviors. Neither dining style is "wrong" per se, especially in the United States, where either method is considered proper and acceptable. However, Americans traveling abroad may realize that international dining etiquette rules usually favor the European, or "continental," method, which lacks any fork-hand switching. Not only that, when transferring the food to their mouths, Europeans tend to keep the fork's tines down at all times, whereas Americans keep them upward.
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