How often do you use chopsticks?

[Jennifer W]

I don't use them, although my father insisted I learn to use them correctly. Last time I used them was when I visited Japan, and the time before that I was in Singapore. There just isn't much call for them here, sadly. It's very hard to get Asian food here that hasn't been turned into the strange ubiquitous stuff that Scottish people fondly imagine is Chinese food. "Chinese food" is incidentally a catch-all term here, for anything that isn't European, American or Indian. We really aren't very good with world cuisine outside of the cities, sadly. (Don't get me wrong, it is delicious, it just wouldn't likely be recognised in China...)

 

[kefira]

Growing up, I couldn't use them correctly (holding them like an x problem). It was a battle for every bite, so I just gave up and never used them at all. Once I was taught the proper way, it was awesome. I don't like the sound of silverware on dishes, so I use them whenever possible now. No more battles - I can pick up ice cubes from a glass of water with those babies now.

 

[ForteKitty]

I have proper chopstick skills, but carpel tunnel causes my hand to cramp up when I use chopsticks so I only use it once a week when we get sushi. Forking it just doesn't seem right.

 

[4ever]

At least a couple of times a month. I use them to each sushi and also anything asian and noodle-y.

I also use them wrong and I know it. I've never managed to get the real hang of them but if it can pick up the food with them I'm all good, and If I can't, I will eventually get frustrated and stop eating, and thus I will get skinnier

if your chopsticks cross into an X ( wife does that ) then you are using it incorrectly.

Yep, they cross and I hold them like I'm holding a pen.....I also grab the food with the chopsticks moving in a kind of sideways motion At least I've progressed past stabbing the food and then pushing it into my mouth real fast before it falls off the chopstic

 

[4ever]

Growing up, I couldn't use them correctly (holding them like an x problem). It was a battle for every bite, so I just gave up and never used them at all. Once I was taught the proper way, it was awesome. I don't like the sound of silverware on dishes, so I use them whenever possible now. No more battles - I can pick up ice cubes from a glass of water with those babies now.

THIS! I passionately hate that sound! However I think my most feared noise is when people are carving meat and the carving knife scrapes agaist the carving fork I always carve the meat because if someone starts doing this I have to leave the room.

Perhaps this will be my motivation to master chopsticks.

 

[SomethingSinful]

I use chopsticks 2-5 times a week

 

[Lew Lew]

I use chopsticks 'correctly' with either hand. Something that I learned during a particularly dismal package tour when I was young.

But I use appropriate cutlery for the food I'm eating. Chopsticks for noodles, chinese food japanese and korean fare. Forks and knives for well, most everything else. Hands for some middle eastern food, and when I sit down with people who prefer to eat indian/malay food that way...

The caveat is that even chinese eat food in chinese restaurants that are served on plates with a fork and spoon. Like fried rice topped with a fried egg for example. If it is rice, and it is served on a flat plate... you're usually meant to use a spoon and fork. It is odd when caucasians step into chinese restaurants and insist on eating everything with only chopsticks. If it was meant to be eaten with chopsticks, the rice would be served in a bowl. But if it is noodles... then even on a flat plate you still use chopsticks.

Wonder if that made any sense?

about 2X a week when i eat noodles out of a bowl,and you know what is weird? ...when i see people using chopsticks eatting off a plate..

So, which is correct? Chopsticks for a plate of noodles or not?

 

[mrswahs]

I only use them when eating chinese food or sushi which we have been cutting back on since we bought the house. We have a beautiful new kitchen (and now a beautiful new grill!) so we have been cooking a lot more. I'd say probably once a month at this point.

 

[Dancing Fire]

[quote="Lew Lew|1336648943|

So, which is correct? Chopsticks for a plate of noodles or not?[/quote]


i only use chopsticks when i eat out of a bowl.

 

[Lotus99]

DH doesn't like most types of Asian food (and most international cuisines), so we don't eat Asian food often. So, I put down "once a year."

 

[TravelingGal]

At least a couple of times a month. I use them to each sushi and also anything asian and noodle-y.

I also use them wrong and I know it. I've never managed to get the real hang of them but if it can pick up the food with them I'm all good, and If I can't, I will eventually get frustrated and stop eating, and thus I will get skinnier

if your chopsticks cross into an X ( wife does that ) then you are using it incorrectly.

Oh good.
So I'm using them correctly.
They look like a V, where the point opens and closes as the stick furthest from my body is the only one that moves.
I feel so cool.

good for you Kenny!...sounds like you are a chopstick master ..

Not quite. My husbands chopsticks don't cross, but he has wrong finger placement. Lack of X does not a chopstick master make!

 

[TravelingGal]

I have proper chopstick skills, but carpel tunnel causes my hand to cramp up when I use chopsticks so I only use it once a week when we get sushi. Forking it just doesn't seem right.

I can't use metal chopstick or long chinese ones for that reason. Only the medium sized Korean wooden ones will do!

 

[mrs jam]

I used to use them all the time during my Cheeto addiction. I used to eat the hot Cheetos with lime (the bright red Cheetos), and I got tired of having orange fingers.

 

[lospants]

As I'm Chinese, I use chopsticks practically every day...even when I was at college. Random fact: I used to use them the incorrect way, but I got tired of my mom making fun of me so I corrected myself. I also taught myself how to use them correctly with my left hand, whooo! My sister and all my cousins use it the incorrect way so I get to feel all smug and superiory when I'm around them lol.

One of my non-Asian friends says that chopsticks are the most useful for salads...I tried it once and while it's true, it was also REALLY strange.

ETA: I was never aware there's an etiquette to chopsticks re: bowl or plate? I've always been taught that you use chopsticks to eat any food in front of you (well except for like burgers and hot dogs and stuff obviously). I also usually use them to eat Thai food if I'm doing takeout though so I guess I have no boundaries when it comes to my little sticks

 

[lospants]

I used to use them all the time during my Cheeto addiction. I used to eat the hot Cheetos with lime (the bright red Cheetos), and I got tired of having orange fingers.

THIS IS LITERALLY THE MOST BRILLIANT THING I HAVE EVERY HEARD. I will definitely keep this in mind for the future!