We can also see a difference in the length of both forks. Though this applies to the majority, that does not mean it applies to every single dinner fork. I have a set of forks that has four prongs that are not salad forks. For example, a standard salad fork has 4 tines while a standard dinner fork has 3 tines.Įven though most dinner forks have three prongs, this does not mean all forks with four prongs are salad forks. This also allows for them to easily use the fork to cut the greens of their salad if needs be.Īnother two key differences in salad and dinner forks relate to the shaping of the forks. This allows for the fork to cut without the use of a knife. Salad forks do not need to be accompanied by a knife because the left tine of the salad fork is thicker than a dinner fork. Salad forks and dinner forks are different in the way they are pronged, though.

The standard 4 tined forks became common in the early 19th century. People found it was much easier to grab the pasta with a few tines as opposed to just a single point. We see the introduction of tines with the popularity of pasta in Italy. Forks were merely sharp objects to grab things with. For example, forks did not have tines (prongs). You might wonder the difference between other types of utensils, here is one of our articles about the Difference between Bouillion Spoons and Soup Spoons! The Difference Between Salad Fork Tines and Dinner Fork Tinesįorks did not always look the way we now know them to appear. Though it seems like this will not be the case because it only has three tines compared to the four tines of a salad fork, only the three tines are needed to pick up the food you are eating. How a dinner fork is shaped allows a person to pick up their main course more easily. A dinner fork will be paired with a knife to assist in cutting, so it is not necessary to have the sharp tine of the salad fork. When eating food with a fork that is not a salad, it is expected you will use a dinner fork. In this specific instance, you will not use a dinner fork for your main course. It is a possibility to have a salad as the main course. This is the course where you will have anything from pasta to meat. What Course to Use a Dinner Fork InĪ dinner fork is most often used in the main course. You might not even need a fork for the appetizers, but if it is necessary, you will use the dinner fork. If the restaurant or the place you are eating provides a second fork, use the other fork when you dig into the other appetizers. If you have an appetizer and a salad, you will use the salad fork for the salad. Though there may be instances of when the salad is served at the same time as the main course, it is most common for a salad to be served with other appetizers if they are being served as well. The salad may be the first past of the dinner served. In most restaurants and diners, a salad will be served before the main course. In America, it is most common to have a salad as an appetizer. In this video, we’ll show you these differences so you can really see what we’re talking about.

At home, around the dinner table, we often use them interchangeably, but their design actually makes each one more useful for its main use. These forks actually each serve a different purpose. The differences between salad forks and dinner forks are intentional. The differences between these forks also have a purpose, since these forks are used in different ways. Salad forks sometimes have a thicker prong on the left for cutting, unlike dinner forks which usually pair with a knife. Dinner forks are around 7 inches long with longer and narrower prongs. Salad forks are shorter, about 6 inches long, but with a wider head and prongs. The main difference between salad forks and dinner forks is their size. Of these different fork types, dinner and salad forks are the most common, and they’re pretty different. There are actually several different forks used in meal settings and each fork has a distinct role in the meal. If you’ve ever been to a nice dinner, you’ve probably seen a place setting with more than one fork.