fondue fork cook's tool w pan

fondue fork cook's tool w salad
Sally Schneider

Aside from my hands, one of my favorite cook’s tools is a fondue fork I bought at a flea market many years ago. It is basically an elongated fork with a thin wood handle: 3 tines and about 12-inches long. It is perfect for turning a piece of meat in a pan, scrambling eggs and…curiously, eating. For my private suppers, I happily eat salad with it, spearing each leaf to pop into my mouth: berries and chunks of melon are also curiously more delightful eaten this way. Friends who have cooked in my kitchen often find themselves picking up the fork to cook with.

I originally had two of these forks and, since I found myself constantly washing them to use over again, I went onto Ebay to look for more and searched “vintage fondue forkes”. There I discovered a bonanza of mid-century fondue forks and an idea: Why not buy sets and give my cooking friends the gift of a couple of these useful, pleasurable repurposed forks as a house gift? Which I have over the years, with great success.

There are a number of styles to choose from. My favorite has 3 tines and some of the feel of a regular fork only longer. A set of 6 of these cost $20, less than 3.50 a piece.

fondue fork chef's fork
Sally Schneider

I also like the more overtly sculptural forks, though they are a bit less comfortable to eat with, they certainly make you aware of your food: like eating with a little artwork:

fondue fork kitchen tool style

When you’re searching Ebay, or a flea market, the thing you want to try imagining are how it will feel in the hand and the scale — 10 to 12 inches works well for cooking and eating (the top picture shows a 12-inch fork in a 10-inch skillet)…

fondue fork cooks' fork
Sally Schneider

I steer clear of forks with only two small tines with a fish-hook end. The tines are not nearly as useful as the two top versions, nor are they as stylish.

Not!

fondue fork cooks tool NOT

 

If you find your forks are too shiny, stay tuned for an easy way to tone them down.

Related posts: the oddness and power of real cook’s tools
gifts: a perfect all-purpose cook’s spoon and…
toast spoons and the (r)evolutionary process
gift: diy color-block wooden spoons + baskets

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3 replies on “mid-century fondue fork: a perfect cook’s tool (and gift)

  1. Love the forks! How did you get the stainless on your forks so nicely polished and shiny? Also do you take any special care of the wooden handles? Thanks

  2. Thanks for relieving my guilt for never throwing things away. I can now give myself permission to use those forks, and even share them!

  3. LUCKY you to have a trove of those forks, which are getting very expensive. I use mine daily with great pleasure.

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