People have been left baffled after learning they’ve been eating spaghetti wrong their whole lives, and chances are you’re one of them.
A standard Italian restaurant would likely present you with a fork and spoon alongside your pasta dish, but that’s apparently wrong.
A trending TikTok video has sparked debate about whether many of us have been eating spaghetti “incorrectly” all along.
The video, posted by TikTok user Francees (@_franceess_00), offers a lesson in Italian etiquette, suggesting that traditional Italians might cringe at the common habit of using a spoon alongside a fork to twirl spaghetti.
“Rule 1. You don’t need a spoon. Rule 2. You don’t need to cut spaghetti. The knife is not needed,” she explained over a clip of herself neatly twirling spaghetti with a fork alone.
Her video quickly attracted attention, racking up thousands of views and comments from curious spaghetti fans around the globe.
For those accustomed to twirling spaghetti with a spoon, this revelation was a surprise.
While some felt validated by Francees’ take, others insisted that spoon-and-fork dining has its place.
One viewer commented: “Actually, people in some regions do use a spoon as well.”
However, according to Italian tradition, using only a fork is considered the correct method.
In Italy, cutting spaghetti or using a spoon is seen by some as improper etiquette because it can create large, awkward bites and stray noodles that don’t look refined.
Italians typically press the fork against the bottom of the plate, gathering just the right amount of pasta to twirl into a tidy bite.
Many believe this simple technique allows for better flavour balance and an ideal eating experience.
Despite the traditional Italian approach, spoon-and-fork devotees argue that the method has its merits.
Twirling pasta against a spoon can help prevent the sauce from splashing, especially with saucier dishes, and some say it makes it easier to sprinkle a bit of cheese onto each bite.
