Spaghetti, the long, skinny Italian noodles most famously served with red sauce, is one of the most well-known dishes on the planet.This popularity doesn't mean it's easy to eat.If you're tired of stains on your shirts, learn our quick, easy tricks for eating spaghetti to start tackling this meal.If you find yourself dining in the company of Italians, you'll learn a few advanced spaghettiiquette tips.If you want to make spaghetti in a different way, check out How to Make Spaghetti.
Step 1: Take your fork out of your hand.
Spaghetti can be eaten with a single fork, which is how the Italians do it.Any standard-sized fork will work.
Step 2: Take a few strands of spaghetti with you.
A small number of strands between the tines of the fork can be gathered with a scoop motion.To keep strands from falling out, point the fork sideways.The strands should be separated by jerking the fork upward.You don't need a lot of spaghetti here.You will get a good bite of pasta if you have two, three, or four strands.
Step 3: Place your fork in the side of the plate.
With the spaghetti still in the fork, gently press its points into a flat part of the plate or bowl.A curved lip at the edge of a plate or a bowl will work, but any smooth, flat part will do.You want to separate the strands in your fork from the rest of the spaghetti.
Step 4: The fork should be turned to wind up the spaghetti.
You can twist the fork around in circles with your fingers.The spaghetti strands that are caught in the tines will form a bundle.Continue until you have a small bundle of spaghetti.If you see other strands stuck to your spaghetti, you can bounce the fork up and down to separate them.The bundle should be on the fork.
Step 5: Put the bundle in your mouth.
Move the fork up to your mouth.Put the whole bundle in at the same time.You have to chew, swallow, and repeat!Start with fewer strands of spaghetti if the bundle is too big.It's a recipe for spills and messy sauce drips if the bundle is too big.
Step 6: Take the fork and spoon with you.
Some people only eat spaghetti with a fork and spoon.If you want to do this, you should use a standard dinner fork and spoon that is a little wider and flatter than you would use for other foods.The standard spoon is fine if you don't have one.
Step 7: There are strands of spaghetti in your fork.
This is the same as if you were using a fork.Again, you don't want too many strands, this will make for a sloppy bundle of spaghetti.
Step 8: Lift the spaghetti to separate it from the rest.
You do most of your maneuvering off of the plate when working with a spoon.Use an up-and-down bouncing motion to separate your pasta strands.The spaghetti strands don't slip off if the fork is pointed to the side or upward.
Step 9: The fork should be put into the spoon.
The spoon should be facing the fork if it is held sideways.Press the tips of the fork into the spoon.Lift them, away from the rest of the spaghetti, but keep them over the plate to avoid spills.
Step 10: The fork needs to be winded.
Start turning the fork against the spoon.The spaghetti should be wrapped around the fork.Wrap until you have a tight bundle.To wind the fork against the spoon, use it as a surface.It's the same as your plate would be used for.
Step 11: The spaghetti is in a bundle.
The spoon should be put down.If you were eating spaghetti with a fork alone, you should move the fork up to your mouth.
Step 12: Don't use a spoon.
We've shown you how to use a spoon to eat pasta.Italians don't usually do this, though there's nothing wrong with it.This is similar to using chopsticks to spear food and putting it in your mouth.To serve pasta with sauce, you can use a fork with a spoon.
Step 13: Don't cut it into pieces.
Spaghetti isn't cut or broken while it's being eaten.You shouldn't use your fork to cut spaghetti strands on your plate, and you should not break spaghetti in half before you cook it in boiling water.Don't cut your spaghetti if it's too large, just use fewer strands.
Step 14: Don't put your fork in the middle of the spaghetti.
This looks silly, but it makes spaghetti hard to eat.It will be very difficult to get to your mouth without spills if you dig right into the center of your spaghetti.It is easy to avoid this.Use your fork to gather a few strands at a time and separate them from the rest of the spaghetti.
Step 15: Your eating should be clean and dignified.
Italians don't like pasta because it's not something you put into your mouth to satisfy your hunger.It is meant to be cooked properly, cherished, and enjoyed.Don't slurp strands of spaghetti into your mouth like Lady and the Tramp, use the following tips to eat your spaghetti respectfully.Put the small bundles in your mouth.Don't put food on your plate next to pasta.The best way to enjoy pasta is as a first course.Don't lose your head if you make a mistake by eating slowly.It happens to all of us.