You may see most Chinese restaurants provide chopsticks, but do you know how to use them? I have been asked hundreds of times of how to use chopsticks since I arrived in Boston. So, I decided to share the knack of using chopsticks. If you'd like to, we can go to a Chinese restaurant together and I can demonstrate how to pick up food with chopsticks.
There are tons of websites or blogs with information about how to use the chopsticks; however, I think they make the readers more confused about how to use them. Here are 3 steps to teach you how to use chopsticks easily:
Step1: Hold the first (lower) chopstick between your thumb and middle finger. Position the chopstick so that it lies at the area between your thumb and forefinger so it extends along your middle finger and rests on the last joint.
Step2: Hold the other (upper) chopstick between the tips of thumb and forefinger as you hold a pen.
Step3: Move chopsticks with middle finger and forefinger to pick up food. But do not make chopsticks an "X" as this will make it difficult to pick up food.
Even though these are very useful steps, if you find a more comfortable way for you to use chopsticks, you definitely should stick to it. Don't worry about the rules or custom. If you get the food from the bowl to your mouth, you are using them correctly!
Chopsticks Tip: The shorter, the easier. If you are a beginner of using chopsticks, when selecting a pair of chopsticks, you should choose he shorter one. It is much easier to use. After getting used to this Chinese eating utensil, you could try the longer one. Also, chopsticks made from bamboo are the easiest one to use. The plastic, ceramic or metal ones are harder to use because there are too smooth to pick up food.
Practice makes perfect. I hope you will enjoy using chopsticks!
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