Do you like to use disposable forks, spoons, knives or chopsticks?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
Singapore
June 11, 2007 11:03am CST
I know it is Monday today but let us strive to be forward looking. Let's think about the weekends for that is the time when we relax and party. I am not going to ask when you eat takeaways as opposed to home-cooked meals. I am just assuming that if you cook at home, it would likely be the weekends for takeaways. If you don't cook, then it's always takeaways anyway.
Today, I am curious to know if you like using disposable forks, spoons, knives or chopsticks? If you are eating burgers, fries or pizza, then fine, I think you will likely use your fingers. I also know some races prefer using their bare hands.
But otherwise if you do use cutlery... when you buy a takeaway, you can normally get those plastic cutlery. It may be forks or spoons or knives or chopsticks. If you happen to be at home anyway, will you still use these plastic wares? The reason for not using is that they may not be as comfortable as what you use at home. Or that they may be dirty or unhygienic despite their clean looks. Or that they are too small for comfort.
So what say you? Half the time, I use my own metal fork and dump the plastic one away. :P
What about you?
36 people like this
128 responses
@aidonia (4209)
• Greece
11 Jun 07
I don't like use anything plastic when I eat,not plate ,forks,spoons or glasses.I use when can't do anything else because there is nothing else except one use plastics and then again if I can use my fingers like eating french fries I prefer do.Never at home,even when I go for picnic I don't use plastics.
The chopsticks are something we don't use very often at my country.Only when we go eat to any Asian kind restaurants and again you gonna find many people don't know use chopsticks at all.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
Well, we have different utensils for different food. ;-)
2 people like this
@curvychick77 (1084)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I use disposables when I order take out, or chopsticks. Chopsticks are the easiest and neatest to use when eating. Unless your order pizza then the hands is what I eat with, also burgers I eat with my hands. Salads either chopsticks or a regular fork. It just depends on my mood.
5 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Jun 07
Ok, so you won't use your "houseware". :P
4 people like this
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
11 Jun 07
LOL My kids are the worse at losing our silverware! I have decided that it is cheaper to buy the disposable kind. That way if they lose them or take them outside and they are left, we will still be able to eat!
I even wash the ones that make it to the sink. I still have a few metal ones left, but they are going slowly to where ever it is they take them to. I remember a book I read as a teen about the borrowers, and it was also a movie. I wonder if they have all my silverware!?
4 people like this
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
12 Jun 07
We use them over. I wash what makes it to the sink. Compare prices on silver to plastic, and remember that my kids lose them BOTH. I would rather spend the $2 for 100 forks than the $33 for cheap metal ones. So yes we do save money on the disposable. They might break a little more often than metal, but I still believe we come out ahead!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
But if you eat at home often, aren't you going to have to spend a fortune buying disposable wares?
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
11 Jun 07
The only time we use plastic disposable silver ware is when we are away from home on a picnic. Even then we purchase the good brands from Sams Club as they dont break as easily. I hate to use things that are disposible. It is a waste of money and not good for the enviorement.
4 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
11 Jun 07
There is nowhere around here to recycle anything. We do keep aluminum cans and sell them but that it it. We try to use all the waste that we can ourselves like we use shredded paper and newspaper to put in the garden and under the mulch. I wish we could recycle
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
Oh yes, you brought up a valid point - that it does not really benefit the environment.
2 people like this
@mummymo (23706)
•
11 Jun 07
Wizzy I really detest those plastic cutlery items! They feel as though they would break very easily and do not feel nice when they touch your mouth as you eat! Yeeuurrghhh! If we eat takeaway it is usually eaten at home and we would eat it with our own heavy cutlery - far nicer! Either that or I would choose something that I do not need cutlery for! xxx
4 people like this
@vesuvius (1677)
• Philippines
11 Jun 07
I dont really like using disposable stuff for eating as they are not as firm as the ones I am used to. When I attend some gatherings, I frequently encounter problems involving broken plastic forks and spoons because the force that I exert on them is something that I cant seem to control - because I got used to metals.. LOL
You may find this funny but there are times when I bring my own metal spoon and fork so eating wont be a hassle for me - the funnier thing is, I find a lot of people who bring their own too...
Happy mylotting!!
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
Exactly, I don't know why they can't make them better.. yet then again, the thicker and firmer they make them, it might be that it would be more harmful to the environment.
2 people like this
@mansha (6298)
• India
15 Jun 07
We often use this stuff for the parties or large gatherings but not normally. I find it most of them are of poor quality and not easy to use. I prefer metal ones too. I cook my own food daily and we use staineless cutlery to eat though we eat with hands too. SOme foods mix well with hands and especially Indian recipies. You can washj hands and eat with them as neatly and swiftly as you can with spoons. Come on they are your own body parts whats so dirty about using them to eat.
2 people like this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
11 Jun 07
If I get takeaway and eat it at home, I will definately use my own cutlery. I do not like the plastic ones alot and they are used just for an emergency, for a picnic or so on =)
I do however wish i would like them more and use them all the time, coz I also do not really like doing disshes =)
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
I wonder if you save up all these disposable wares later events like picnics or just dump them away..
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I can use them as a convenience. However, much prefer metal ware. Much more sturdy and normally washed and reused while the plastic ones are disposed of and don't break down easily. So again germs are not a big issue with us and if you dump them anyway you are not helping the environment. Oh well, to each his own.
3 people like this
@krebstar5 (1266)
• United States
15 Jun 07
When I have a choice, I like to use the wooden disposable chop sticks because I think they are better for the environment. The plastic stuff is really wasteful, but then again, I've also been known to wash the plastic stuff and then use it again. If I ever have the option of using metal utensils, I will always use those.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
15 Jun 07
Oh yes - if you compare the two. ;-)
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
11 Jun 07
Hello baby. I was contemplating to use disposable plastic months ago. Someone mentioned to me that using plastic disposable can actually do more harm than good to our health. Its been proven that the plastic contains a chemical that is health hazard. Most of the major restaurants here are now disposing their plastic containers and will start using recyclable cartons.
I'm still using our cute metal forks and spoons, knives or chopsticks. My usual habit is to dip them in hot water before using.
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
Wooden right? There are no plastic chopsticks around. :P
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
I think someone wrote to the papers about disposable chopsticks recently - in Singapore. The authorities replied to say that they are safe to use and eat with.
Then again when you use non-disposable cutlery at public eating places, you are assuming they have washed them clean - it might even be a worse thing overall if you "absorb" the saliva of someone infected with xxx because the fork or spoon wasn't thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
2 people like this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
11 Jun 07
No, I hate plastic utensils. They should be banned!! Just kidding :)
The only time that I will use plastic is if we are having a huge outside gathering with a cookout. I used to use flatware, but some of the guests seem to accidentally throw the flatware away with the disposable plates. My supply started dwindling and I had to start punishing them by offering plastic ware. Otherwise, If we have takeout we just trash the plastic and use our own utensils. I like the sturdiness as opposed to the flimsy plastic ware.
Incidentally, in my kitchen, I have a cup with old flatware, and the good stuff is in the drawer. We just grab whatever we need when snacking from the cup and I use the better utensils for dinner.
And yes, we use flatware for pizza and fries, too. But, that is another discussion.
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
Yup, it sure makes perfect sense in your case.;-)
1 person likes this
@teleios (737)
• Philippines
11 Jun 07
anything disposable that's not biodegradable i don't lke, although sometimes you can't help but use them since the food place uses them (some, anyway). i like paper plates and chopsticks, because they're biodegradable. but the styrofoam things? nope!
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
You are right. We should actually try to avoid them.
2 people like this
@aleeming1 (163)
• Canada
11 Jun 07
I use lots of platic forks/plates. Especially if I am having a party. That means no dishes then.
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
Sure, you wouldn't need to do any washing then.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
I don't have dishwashers to rely on. :P
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
12 Jun 07
The only time I use the plastic cutlery is when I'm out and about- If I get take out food and they supply me with the plastic forks and ect. and I'm going home- I use my forks- Why?? I guess I just prefer them- the plastic ones are flimsy- I have broken a few of them in a salad- and then I didn't get all of the plastic out- so every bite I was worried about biting it- I just stick with my metal ones.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jun 07
Feeling the weight, eh? I wonder if you practise wielding those forks as weapons as well. :P
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
It would have to depend on what I am eating. of coruse burgers, fries pizza etc are meant to be eaten with your hands. When I am eating chinese or japanese food I use chopsticks. If it is a pie or some kind of dessert like that from BK then i use the plastic silverware that they put in the bag. Just tastes better that way to me for some reason :).
2 people like this
@Stryker14 (138)
• Qatar
15 Jun 07
I use disposable utensil like fork, spoon, knives and especially chopstick whenever I eat in a fast food restaurants and cafeterias.
2 people like this
@archer1811 (1098)
• Philippines
12 Jun 07
Well, i use my own utensils of course, im very sure that my own utensils are more safe than the other plastic fork.
But when we are having dinner outside of course id rather prefer for a plastic than a metal fork in the restaurant, metal fork can be dangerous and so many other customers using that, we didnt even really know if their cleaning that in the righ procedure of cleaning. But if there are chopsticks available i'll take the chopstick of course.
2 people like this
