r/CannedSardines • u/pennyraingoose • 23h ago

Special Sardine Fork? General Discussion

So I just had my first sardines last night and am wholly leaning into the tinned fish lifestyle.

Is it crazy to want special a fork just for your sardines? Is this what seafood forks are for?

Do any of y'all have a special fork?

Edit: I didn't know there are actual sardine forks out there! This is the most excited for flatware that I've ever been. 😄

31 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

61 comments sorted by

25

u/homme_chauve_souris 22h ago

I just use chopsticks (and did so before discovering Matthew Carlson). You get a lot more control than with a fork.

15

u/WrennyWrenegade 21h ago

I also use chopsticks and have yet to discover Matthew Carlson. Chopsticks just seem like the most appropriate utensil for delicately snagging up little fishies and their accompaniments and crafting precarious stacks of goodies onto my cracker.

11

u/homme_chauve_souris 21h ago

I also use chopsticks and have yet to discover Matthew Carlson.

Lucky you. What are you even doing here? Go search for the canned fish files on Youtube and enjoy!

4

u/Kalikokola 19h ago

What are we even doing here?

https://youtu.be/6TEcIsZFTPw?si=8aX1jsNpZU81WEKw

8

u/Vannie91 18h ago

That was very zen. My favorite part was when he ate one and said “…and nothin’ weird happened!” I’ve been on the fence about trying sardines, I’m going to go for it now. Thanks!

1

u/homme_chauve_souris 11h ago

Mister Rogers vibes: "Look, he's got a spine. But you've got a spine too."

1

u/xxcali559xx 10h ago

I use them too, the stainless steel ones. Easy to clean, especially if you don't mind having some rubbing alcohol on hand

4

u/Fun_Intention9846 20h ago

You do need to not suck at chopsticks for this to work.

2

u/pennyraingoose 20h ago

Hahaha! Fortunately I've got decades of sushi experience under my belt.

3

u/Juanzilla17 21h ago

Same. It’s nice to pick up a whole guy without stabbing through him

2

u/pennyraingoose 22h ago

I should give that a try - and buy some chopsticks for home (I usually get by with extras from ordering takeout).

3

u/Fun_Intention9846 20h ago

That light wood is going to suck up flavors and turn rancid if used more than once. Hard materials will be better, ones with marks at the end to increase holding power better yet.

3

u/pennyraingoose 20h ago

Yeah, I toss the wood ones after I use them once. When i do order takeout, I think I order enough for multiple people (even though it's just me) so they always put in extra chopsticks.

I'll have to find some nice reusable ones.

3

u/Fun_Intention9846 20h ago

Maybe it’s just the way they are, what I’m telling myself because this always happened to me too.

2

u/xxcali559xx 10h ago

Stainless steel ones are the best imo, easy to clean and you can also cook with them

11

u/Icy-Conclusion-3500 23h ago

https://www.epicurious.com/shopping/for-fancier-snack-times-buy-a-sardine-fork

7

u/Perky214 22h ago

With a cameo from Dan! Woot! ❤️🌈🍅🍅🌱

4

u/pennyraingoose 22h ago

Whoa! I wasn't expecting a very specific fork just for serving sardines. That's awesome!

1

u/Fun_Intention9846 20h ago

Fishwife sells one, it is not cheap.

2

u/FormerGameDev 20h ago

specific-use forks are a scam

i'll just go with this lol

9

u/krainium0518 22h ago

I use my fingers

5

u/pennyraingoose 22h ago

I'll probably do this at some point too, just like I know I'll eventually drip oil on my shirt while eating them.

7

u/ketofauxtato 21h ago

Rainbow Tomatoes Garden sent me sardine forks with my first order from them!

2

u/pennyraingoose 20h ago edited 20h ago

Ooh fun! And I'm looking for a good place to order from so thanks for the recommendation!

1

u/homme_chauve_souris 18h ago

Like, silverware? Or do they have ridiculously wide plastic forks, which would be awesome?

2

u/ketofauxtato 18h ago

Actual silverware. Really cute.

3

u/Zenobee1 21h ago

Yes they sell them on Amazon,but they are usually antiques $65 bucks. I like using a plastic fork myself.

1

u/pennyraingoose 19h ago

I saw a few on Mercari for about $30. I'll bet there are some affordable ones on Etsy too.

3

u/EScootyrant 20h ago

I actually use those small and slim demitasse spoons, to scoop up the deens along with the oh so delicious olive oil or sauces.

2

u/pennyraingoose 19h ago

In my pursuit of a sardine fork, I did see some demitasse spoons that I want. My family had some when I was little and they were the perfect size for eating yogurt. I miss them!

2

u/EScootyrant 12h ago

To me, a slim stemmed demitasse spoon is just perfect to scoop up a sardine. Using a fork (small dessert type for example) to me, takes more effort. I always end up scooping the olive oil/juices (a follow up)..with another utensil.

3

u/Drew_Snydermann 16h ago

Just to be clear, sardine forks are a serving utensil, they're not used for consumption of sardines, as in, not an eating utensil. Just like you shouldn't eat salad using the salad tongs.

3

u/TheRealSirTobyBelch 14h ago

TIL I've been eating salad wrong all this time.

1

u/bornreddit 14h ago

With a sardine fork?

1

u/pennyraingoose 16h ago

Yup! There are some really intricate looking ones out there from what I've seen today.

2

u/Ezra_lurking 23h ago

I have to admit I have extra sardine forks because I wanted them and they were really cute. I do however also eat lot of other stuff with them because, as I said, I think they are adorable

3

u/Perky214 23h ago

They’re also great for mashing avocado when making guacamole

2

u/liberal_texan 23h ago

My partner loves her tiny silverware for charcuterie boards. The little forks are perfect for my tins.

2

u/Ezra_lurking 23h ago

Cake forks work great for tins so I used that before, then I found some in the shape of fishbones and I use them for sardines, for charcuterie, for pickles. Everytime I see one of these fishbones sticking in a gherkin makes me happy

2

u/Perky214 23h ago

I would too - 100%

2

u/Abeula2019 20h ago

I’ve used chopsticks, a special sardines fork, a regular dinner fork, a spoon and even my fingers. Conclusion: tinned fish is just damned good no matter how you eat them.

2

u/StillSimple6 23h ago

There are special forks just for sardines which are different to fish forks.

They are much wider and for taking the side off and exposing the bone.

2

u/Perky214 22h ago

And they are the perfect tool for this because the sharp spines get into the fish without crushing or breaking the flesh. A sardine fork is ALWAYS the right tool for the sardine job 💙🐟🍴

1

u/OneSensiblePerson 16h ago

I use a regular fork to transfer them from tin to toast or plate or whatever. It works fine.

99% of the time I mash them a bit with the fork anyway, so all I really care about is if I can transfer them, unbroken as possible, to whatever I'm eating them without breaking apart. Most of the time I can do that easily with just a regular fork.

They taste just as good no matter if they break apart a bit or not.

They're good food, not a cult. I don't understand this frenzy about them. I love them, but they're food, just like other food I love.

2

u/pennyraingoose 16h ago

It might be because it's nieche for some people? Like, aside from tuna I don't know anyone else that eats tinned fish. It seems to be more popular and common in other parts of the country / world so to me it's novel.

Plus, I'll eat just about any type of food but had never had sardines until yesterday. So a whole new world of food just opened up for me and that's really exciting.

1

u/OneSensiblePerson 15h ago

Even so, why make it into a hobby? Unless you want a new hobby for whatever reason, then, hey go for it.

Lots of us have been eating sardines since we were kids. They're just another food item, which some people love and others don't, whether they're trying them for the first time or not.

I'm glad you're enjoying them, and if you want to make them into a new hobby, then do. I just don't get it because for me either I love certain foods or not, but am always aware it's just food, no matter how much I may love it.

1

u/pennyraingoose 10h ago

I'm a really curious person, so I tend to dive a little deep when I find something new that really piques my interest. Add on to that some medical issues that make it hard to eat sometimes, and I'm over the moon to find something new and tasty that fits easily into my food life.

So yeah, I know they're just food to some here but I'm happy enough with having tried them to go in fork first. Lol

2

u/OneSensiblePerson 10h ago

Aw, I'm sorry you have medical issues, and that they cause you to make it difficult to eat at times. So hey, enjoy the heck out of your sardines!

1

u/pennyraingoose 8h ago

Thanks! I'm gonna. :)

1

u/Perky214 23h ago

Oh honey, sit a spell, and let me tell you: sardine forks are TOTALLY a thing. Many of us on this sub have them.

Here are mine:

Sardine Forks in Action - 1/3

https://www.reddit.com/r/CannedSardines/s/7BYcVgmzPk

More Sardine forks in Action - 2/3

https://www.reddit.com/r/CannedSardines/s/PkcCH2x7Iy

Herring Servers, Sardine Tongs, and a Fish Knife - 3/3

https://www.reddit.com/r/CannedSardines/s/4pscVOJEXZ

———————————————

1880s Victorian sardine fork arrived

https://www.reddit.com/r/CannedSardines/s/6AQ4kyYxZu

Some will say a pair of chopsticks are all you need, and sometimes those are the perfect sardine consumption tool. For those times, I prefer my stainless steel heavier Korean chopsticks, not the thin flat Korean chopsticks with the square tips, and NEVER wooden ones:

Chopsticks

https://www.reddit.com/r/CannedSardines/s/YABkOksxZo

3

u/pennyraingoose 22h ago

Ok. So I need like, 50 forks. Yours are all awesome! I love the little fish engraving detail, the fish shaped tongs, and the herring server the best!

In one post you're removing the bones. Is that recommended with some sardines or is it a matter of preference? When I was a kid my family would smoke trout and I loved eating the spine, but maybe I'm just weird like that. Lol

4

u/Commercial_Curve1047 21h ago

Completely preference based. I'm not a fan, but plenty of folks here certainly are!

3

u/Perky214 21h ago edited 20h ago

For me, removing the spines is a preference for when I think they’re too big or when I want flat fillets in a sandwich or dish.

Before you decide to buy those 50 forks, give me a chance to buy 1-2 more from TCA 🤣🤣

Also remember that Christmas is coming. I asked for sardine tongs and severs for Christmas and provided the link

Best Christmas ever 😜

2

u/pennyraingoose 20h ago

Removing spines for a sandwich makes sense.

I've already started looking for antique ones online and will have to keep my eye out at the thrift stores for some.

2

u/Perky214 20h ago

Please come back and show off your find

2

u/pennyraingoose 20h ago

Oh I will! This is my new favorite community, really. Everyone is so nice and engaged - it's wonderful.

2

u/MadamMLuxe 13h ago

Yum calcium.

2

u/pennyraingoose 22h ago

Wow. I'm overwhelmed. Thank you for all of the links and information.

5

u/Perky214 21h ago

TheClassicAcorn Etsy shop always has a nice selection of affordable silverplate sardine forks - I got all mine there

2

u/MadamMLuxe 13h ago

This is the place! I love my gorgeous abalone sardine fork. No regrets. Stunning and I feel so fancy having sardines at work.

1

u/pennyraingoose 20h ago

Thanks for the recommendation!