View source for Engineering:Lemon fork

{{Short description|Utensil for serving lemons}}
[[File:Lemon fork (1908).png|thumb|Lemon fork (Towle Silversmiths, 1908)]]
The '''lemon fork''' is a small (4+ [[Inch|inch]]es long{{sfn | Von Drachenfels | 2000 | p=213}}) serving utensil that is used to move lemon slices.{{sfn | Von Drachenfels | 2000 | p=242}}{{sfn|Snodgrass|2004|p=392}} Lemon forks have three long [[Engineering:Tine (structural)|tines]], with the outside tines splayed;{{sfn | Condé Nast Publications Staff | 1969 | p=242}}  ostensibly this arrangement helps to release more juice.{{sfn | Von Drachenfels | 2000 | p=213}} Lemon forks became popular in the last quarter of the 19th century alongside other specialized utensils, such as asparagus tongs.<ref name=asparagus/> One early 20th century cookbook called the lemon fork a "necessity" at the five-o-clock tea party.{{sfn | Rhodes | Hopkins | 1913 | p=648}} At table settings, the fork was placed over the slice of lemon.{{sfn|Rosiere|1920|p=78}} Unlike many specialized utensils, lemon forks are still used in the 21st century, primarily in the restaurants.<ref name=asparagus>{{cite web |title=Do you need Asparagus Tongs? |url=https://antiquequery.com/2017/04/20/do-you-need-asparagus-tongs/ |website=AntiqueQuery |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218102159/https://antiquequery.com/2017/04/20/do-you-need-asparagus-tongs/#more-2776 |archive-date=18 December 2018}}</ref>

A lemon fork can double as a pickle fork and may be used to serve cucumber slices, olives, butter cubes and pats, smoked fish, and cheese cubes.{{sfn | Von Drachenfels | 2000 | p=242}} 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.{{sfn | Beery | 1966 | p=227}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book | last=Von Drachenfels | first=Susanne | title=The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware | publisher=Simon & Schuster | year=2000 | isbn=978-0-684-84732-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d6xaJWJFe1QC&pg=PA242 | access-date=2023-10-07}}
* {{cite book | last=Rhodes | first=S.R. | last2=Hopkins | first2=G.P. | title=The Economy Administration Cook Book | publisher=W. B. Conkey Company | year=1913 | chapter=Tea Table Tips | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xw84AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA648 | access-date=2023-10-08}}
* {{cite journal | first1 = Gabrielle | last1=Rosiere | title=Tea and Friends: Their Etiquette | journal=Good Housekeeping | publisher=International Magazine Company | issue=v. 70 | year=1920 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MGsjAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA244-IA64 | language= | pages=78-79 | access-date=2023-10-08}}
* {{cite book | last=Beery | first=Mary | title=Manners Made Easy | publisher=McGraw-Hill | year=1966 | isbn=978-0-07-004306-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OFI3etspIMEC&q=%22lemon+fork+is%22 | access-date=2023-10-08}}
* {{cite book | last=Snodgrass | first=M.E. | title=Encyclopedia of Kitchen History | publisher=Taylor & Francis | year=2004 | isbn=978-1-135-45572-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SJGNAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA392 | access-date=2023-10-08}}
* {{cite book | author=Condé Nast Publications Staff | title=Vogue's Book of Etiquette and Good Manners | publisher=Condé Nast Publications | year=1969 | isbn=978-0-671-20138-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wDXAAAAMAAJ | access-date=2023-10-08}}
[[Category:Teaware]]

{{Sourceattribution|Lemon fork}}