The lemon fork is a small (4+
inch
The inch (symbol: in or prime (symbol), ) is a Units of measurement, unit of length in the imperial units, British Imperial and the United States customary units, United States customary System of measurement, systems of measurement. It is eq ...
es long) serving utensil that is used to move lemon slices. Lemon forks have three long
tines, with the outside tines splayed; ostensibly this arrangement helps to release more juice. Lemon forks became popular in the last quarter of the 19th century alongside other specialized utensils, such as
asparagus tongs
Asparagus (''Asparagus officinalis'') is a perennial flowering plant species in the genus ''Asparagus'' native to Eurasia. Widely cultivated as a vegetable crop, its young shoots are used as a spring vegetable.
Description
Asparagus is an h ...
.
[ One early 20th century cookbook called the lemon fork a "necessity" at the five o'clock ]tea party
A tea party is a social gathering event, typically held in the afternoon, featuring the consumption of tea and light refreshments. Social tea drinking rituals are observed in many cultures worldwide, both historically and in the present day.
A ...
. While setting the table, the fork was placed over the slice of lemon. Unlike many specialized utensils of the 19th century, lemon forks are still being used in the 21st century, primarily in restaurants.pickle fork
In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork (from 'pitchfork') is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tines with which one can spear foods either to h ...
and may be used to serve cucumber slices, olives, butter cubes and pats, smoked fish, and cheese cubes. One etiquette guide from 1966 stated that it is acceptable to use one's fingers to pick up lemon slices in the absence of a lemon fork.
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{{tea-stub
Teaware
Forks
Lemons