1

tines of three, handle of five

Add-on question: when using a fork, do you put the points on the plate (or stab a piece) and then use your knife to push food onto the downward curve of the tines (I would say the back but that's because I don't do this) and lift it points-down?

Or do you carry food on the concave curve of the tines (as well as stabbed on the points of course) and lift it points-up?

This is cultural, neither is incorrect, but it might affect your choice of fork. Whether you switch hands or keep it entirely in your left might also make a difference.

2. Long tines and a big "handle".

1 feels like home, 4 and 5 is too fancy, 2 just feels right enough to stab at my enemy.

I choose 2.

Probably 2. 5 is a maybe? But 2 is probably the one I'd want.

All of these fail. This is like one of those pick the baddie out of the line up things, except all of these have done some shitty things. 3 is the closest I guess, but the handle fails hard.

3 looks better balanced and crafty enough. 5 looks like a dessert fork

Many go for 2, but they are just thinking about using it, not cleaning it. More surface to clean plus extra volume which fills quicker the place where forks, knives and spoons are stored till they dry

1 is too bended.

2! No other answer is correct!

5 is definitely the best. It offers a thicker handle edge for cutting and did not require a stamping bend on thinner material to add rigidity. The rounded head and outer tines serve two purposes. One it offers a smaller controlled side contact like the profile of a chef's knife that will focus more force at the contact point allowing for better contact with the plate and shearing more efficiently. Second, the rounded outer edge will fit the contour of a bowl allowing a fork to efficiently manage rice or other small items down to the last bite with nothing remaining. The larger outer tines and shorter overall length is also more durable and resistant to bending. It cost far more to make number 5 and the design functionality came ahead of the operations cost, and materials stock selection. All of the others were made according to the minimum number of forming operations and thin stock.

Handle of 5 + the fork of 3

Idk without holding them. But probably not 2 or 5

I'm very picky about kitchenware, it's like I have to listen to my inner grandma.

My fingies hurt just looking at them. Half of them will bend when cutting a banana, and the other half will split your skin when you try.

3

5, mostly because I am using those for over 2 decades now and all other feel somehow wrong.

2 GANG RISE UP

2 No discussion, the weight, the smoothness, ist all about how they lay in the Hand.

Hard to say. It's 1 or 3.

2 has an annoying bulbous handle that upsets the balance and the tines take up too much of the fork space, leaving too little room for the little shovel bit at the back that can hold things that might fall through the tines a bit better,

5 is an utter nightmare of awful.

I guess I’m picky. I don’t like any of these lol. I’d pick 4 off these were all in a drawer together, though.

The pointy handle on number 3 is OFFENSIVE

Adding my voice to the 2 crowd.

1s the best. 3 and 4 are acceptable, 2 and 5 are a crime. i dont get y'all

Glad to see my undiagnosed disorder is alive and well. #2 crew represent.

1, obviously. 4 and 5 are equally obvious trash. 2 is okay but its handle is malformed and ugly.

3 is acceptable for someone with different, smaller hands.

On second thought, I rescind my general critique of 2. The overly wide bottom might be helpful to people with trouble grasping implements, but in that case the tines are too long.

5 is an IKEA fork

Source: I have an IKEA fork

2. Neurodivergent’s what?

None of these. 2 has the best tines, but the handle sucks. These look like forks you'd find in a diner. Rounded outer tines is a crime against humanity. Did you maybe want a spork instead? 😡

2, and only 2.

i only eat spoons, they taste better

2

2 and 5. 1 is fine, i hate the others.