• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Short Order Cook

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Food & Fun
  • Travel & Dining
  • Meet Angela
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Food & Fun
    • Travel & Dining
    • Meet Angela
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » My Kitchen & Garden

    Published: Aug 27, 2022 by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Salad Fork vs Dinner Fork

    All the differences between the salad fork versus the dinner fork are easy to understand with this simple guide. Here is all you need to know about which is the salad fork and which is the dinner fork. This includes the order, when to use them, and more. Also be able to recognize which fork is which right away by the size, shape, & placement. Hopefully the next time you sit down in a formal place setting you will know which fork to use for each course.

    I have also shared some quick tips on other forks you may use at home or come across when dining out. Learn about frequently used ones like the dessert fork but also more unique ones like one of my favorites, the spaghetti fork. It is fun and helps you perfectly twirl up my yummy Fried Spaghetti with Eggs. So get ready to dig in and find out all you need to know about forks.

    Several forks with a white background.

    The most commonly used forks when eating are the salad and dinner forks. When at home you may use them interchangeably. I know having small kids often means they use the smaller salad forks all the time versus a larger dinner fork when eating their meals. And that is ok. But for the sake of this article, think in terms of formal etiquette, formalities, and customary usage.

    Jump to:
    • Differences Between a Salad Fork & a Dinner Fork
    • Placements for Salad & Dinner Forks
    • Which is the Salad Fork?
    • Which is the Dinner Fork?
    • Other Types of Forks
    • Special Forks to Buy

    Differences Between a Salad Fork & a Dinner Fork

    To figure out what makes these two forks different, let's start off with what makes them similar. That may help you understand why it may be confusing which one is which. Both the salad fork and the dinner fork have four tines or prongs. They are both used in formal and informal settings. In some cases, they look exactly the same except for a few small differences.

    Now for uncovering the differences between the two. Here are the characteristics dividing the salad fork vs the dinner fork. The main difference between these two forks is the size. A typical salad fork is 6 inches long. The dinner fork is a bit bigger, measuring 7 inches long. Where they are placed in a casual or formal table setting also is different.

    Another difference between the two is many salad forks have one outer tine thicker than the rest. This is used for side-cutting salads such as maybe making a sliced beet a bit smaller to fit in your mouth. Also, a salad fork may have a tiny notch out of the end of the tines making it a bit "sharper". This is for easily poking at hard ingredients, like carrots or croutons, or thin items like cold cuts.

    A salad fork and dinner fork with food on each.

    Placements for Salad & Dinner Forks

    When setting a table you may often wonder where each fork goes. Both forks are placed to the left of the table setting. Since proper etiquette dictates that you work from the outside in when dining, forks used in earlier courses go on the far left.

    Salads are typically the first course and eaten before the main course. Therefore, a salad fork will be placed on the far outside left. Next will be the dinner fork which should be placed just to the right of the salad fork. The dinner fork will be next to the plate.

    One course you will be enjoying between the salad and main entree may require its own fork as well. The rule of thumb here still applies, work from the outside going in. For example, if you are serving a shrimp cocktail after the salad, a seafood fork would go between the salad and dinner forks.

    ** Some may enjoy your salads after the main course. I grew up with this when eating with my old-school Italian family in Brooklyn. That is when the salad fork would be on the inside of the entree fork and next to the plate. We often had a fruit & fish course. So many forks! **

    Salad, dinner, and dessert fork placed left to right next to a plate.

    Which is the Salad Fork?

    Forks for salads are a shorter four-tined utensil that has multiple uses. It is mainly used when enjoying the salad course of a meal. But it is great for so much more. It is often used for enjoying appetizers, fruits, or vegetables served with a meal. You don't need a formal utensil for every item enjoyed at a feast or supper.

    Which is the Dinner Fork?

    A dinner fork is probably the most used utensil at the dinner table. This large four-tined fork is used to enjoy the main entree. It is great for meats, plates of pasta, casseroles, and more. It is typically the largest fork on the table and placed just to the left of the dinner plate.

    Formal place setting with salad and dinner forks on the right.

    Other Types of Forks

    Now that you have mastered the two most commonly used forks at the dinner table, let's keep going. A formal setting may include upwards of 6 different forks. The more courses in your meal, the more fork confusion you may have. Don't worry, these forks are easy to use and recognize once you have seen them here.

    Two-Tined Forks

    These forks have two tines or prongs on them. Tines may also be called teeth, but overall they all should do the work needed to pierce, stab, collect, or scoop up the food you are serving or eating. Here are commonly used two-pronged forks that you may own or use when serving or eating a meal.

    • Carving Fork - this long-handled fork is wide and bulky to ensure a solid hold on large pieces of meat and roasts. They are used to stabilize meats like ham, turkeys, & roast beef, when carving slices.
    • Cheese Fork - a small stubby fork with a short handle. They are used to hold down large wedges or slabs of cheese when slicing or breaking off pieces to enjoy on a cheese platter or charcuterie board.
    • Chip Fork - small wooden chip forks used to eat fish and chips, helps keep the hands clean & safe while enjoying them while they are fresh & hot.
    • Escargot/Snail Fork - it's about 4 ½ inches long with two long pointed prongs that are sharp. The narrow fork is ideal for removing the escargot meat from the round shells. It is different from a seafood fork as it does not have 3 prongs.
    • Lobster Fork - a long-handled fork that is narrow which makes it ideal for removing meat from lobsters.
    • Marshmallow Forks - these long forks are roasting sticks where you can extend them over a campfire to roast perfectly toasty marshmallows.
    Cooked snails with an escargot fork.

    Three-Tined Forks

    Here are the most often used forks that have 3 prongs. If you enjoy shellfish, dessert, or pasta on a regular basis these may be a fork you want to add to your utensil drawer.

    • Cocktail/Oyster/Seafood Fork - a small fork with a slightly round base and narrow prongs that is useful for digging the meat out of shellfish.
    • Dessert Fork - typically has 3 tines but sometimes has 4. Used to eat your dessert and a smaller version of the salad fork. May also be called pie or pastry fork. Typically placed above the plate but sometimes may be between the plate and the dinner fork.
    • Spaghetti Fork - a fork used for eating spaghetti. It has ridges on the sides of the tines to help twirl and hold the spaghetti for that perfect mouthful without making a mess. I admit this is the most fun fork on the list and I just bought some. A great gift for any spaghetti lover you know.

    Four-Tined Forks

    The most commonly used forks with four prongs are the dinner and salad forks. However, there are a few other forks that have four tines on them. You may not own any but just in case you come across them in a fancy restaurant or event, here are a few to make note of.

    • Dessert Fork - some dessert forks will have four tines though most will have three.
    • Fruit Fork - common in Europe and used to spear fruit for cutting and eating.
    • Fish Fork - the four wide prongs are useful when separating delicate fish meat from the bones when eating.
    • Spork - a combination of a spoon and a spork is one of my favorites! It has a bowl-shaped base with four tiny & short tines on the end for the ultimate scoop and poke utensil. Anyone that ever had a school lunch in America has used a plastic spork. Good silver ones are a must with foods like Hula Pie!
    Spork on a white background.

    Special Forks to Buy

    Now that you learned more about all kinds of forks, there may be a few new ones you want to buy. Here are some great deals for budget-friendly forks of all kinds. These will cover any and all informal and formal place settings.

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    « Toaster Oven Grilled Cheese Sandwich
    Best Pots & Pans for Gas Stove »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Angela the short order cook on a step stool reaching into the top kitchen cupboard.

    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. I have been cooking since I could pull up a stool to finally reach the counter. I still rely on my trusty stool every day. I am a former personal chef turned blogger that hopes you find something new & tasty to love while you are here.

    More about me →

    This site has links to products/services that may make us a commission. #ad

    Popular

    • Slow Cooker Corned Beef featured close up
      Slow Cooker Corned Beef
    • A set of black pots and pans.
      Best Pots & Pans for Gas Stove
    • Teriyaki chicken on a stick stacked on a plate with dipping sauce
      Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
    • Homemade Snickers Bars featured 5 stack
      Homemade Snickers Bars
    • Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup overhead
      Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup
    • Overhead of cast iron skillet with creamy coconut chicken thighs ready to top with cilantro, green onion, and hot sauce.
      Creamy Coconut Chicken 
    • A bun topped with 3-ingredient sloppy joe meat and cheese.
      3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes (Gluten-Free)
    • Best Ever Mango Ice Cream featured two bowls close mango bottom corner
      Best Ever Mango Ice Cream (with Ice Cream Maker)

    The Short Order Cook LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

    #ad The Short Order Cook LLC is an affiliate of ButcherBox. I have been a customer for years and cannot recommend it enough. Great prices & even better meat! Sign up today.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclosure Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Meet Angela
    • Meet the Family

    Copyright © 2023 The Short Order Cook LLC All recipes, photos, and articles on this site are the property of The Short Order Cook LLC. You are welcome to share a photo ONLY with an accompanied do-follow link back to this site. Publishing any items as if they were your own is prohibited.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT