by Kate Flaxx

Created on: November 21, 2010   Last Updated: November 22, 2010

A spork is an eating tool that’s a cross between a spoon (the ‘sp’) and a fork (the ‘ork’). This piece of cutlery is rarely seen in its metal form and is more commonly seen in plastic form as a provided utensil for eating take away foods. A Spork can also be in packaged foods such as open up and eat meals including foods like pre-prepared salads and meal kits like those containing tuna, especially tuna with extra flavourings such as mayonnaise or oil.

The spork has a few different forms. Plastic sporks tend to have 3 or 4 tines (the pointy fork-type part) while the metal version can have 2 or 3. Their appearance can be a little strange looking at times especially for people who aren’t familiar with the metal version.

Sporks are a likely accompaniment to dishes that contain solid foods as well as a sauce. They allow the user to eat the dish with the ability to eat the food using a similar action to a fork but allow the rest of the meal to hold while eating in a similar action to a spoon. The user of a spork will not see there food falling through any cracks or openings which is likely to occur especially if they attempt to eat something like the flavoured tuna with a fork. 

Take aways are absolutely correct in providing consumers a spork for eating their take away foods.  A plastic spork is comfortable to eat with compared to a fork alone and saves the mess that could be made from certain foods.  But one of the best ways to use a spork is to supply it as an eating utensil for a solid dessert. Cheesecake and sponge-type cakes can be eaten very easily using a spork rather that just a spoon or just a fork but for desserts, try and get your hands on a metal spork. Metal sporks are great for desserts.

Sporks can also be a really handy utensil to take camping. They’re small and easy to carry around and give you two utensils in one.  They’re a versatile utensil that can be really handy when eating canned meals, again, those foods that have both solid and saucy ingredients.

Metal sporks are rarely seen and as strange as they appear, they are really easy to eat with. If you want to get your hands on a metal spork to add to your cutlery drawer, try asking your parents or grandparents.  It’s likely they’ll have one or two tucked away somewhere like the kitchen drawer or even the backyard shed.

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