4 foods you’re probably eating wrong

Woman eating pasta
Woman eating pasta

Chances are you’ve been eating these foods for most of your life – but have you been doing so correctly? We fill you in on the faux pas you may have been making.

Pasta

According to Italian tradition, when it comes to eating pasta, the only utensil you should be using is a fork. You shouldn’t need a spoon for twirling, and you definitely shouldn’t be using a knife to cut your spaghetti. This is seen as bad manners – however, you may use a knife to cut your cannelloni and lasagne if necessary.

Sushi

Sushi has become a lunchtime go-to – however, many Westerners are missing the correct etiquette for eating this Japanese delicacy. First of all, the pickled ginger is not actually supposed to be eaten with the sushi. Rather, it is intended as a palate cleanser between each course. You should also never dip the rice side of your nigiri into the soy sauce. This not only causes the rice to fall apart, it also drenches the piece and overwhelms the delicate flavour of the fish. You should flip the nigiri over and dip the fish side in the soy. You should also consume your sushi in one bite. It has been expertly crafted to have the right balance of flavours when consumed as a whole, and breaking it into two (or more) pieces disturbs this balance. 

Soup dumplings

Also known as Xiao Long Bao, soup dumplings are a delicious staple of Shanghainese cuisine – however, they can be difficult to eat. Resist the temptation to stick the whole dumpling in your mouth straight away, or you’re likely to end up with a scalded mouth. You need to let out the steam and allow the morsel to cool slightly before consuming it. The correct way to eat these dumplings, therefore, is to bite the dumpling to make a small puncture. Give it a few moments to cool, then suck the juice directly out of the skin. Then eat the rest.

Burritos

If you’ve ever seen that prank photo of Justin Bieber eating a burrito from the side, you’ll know there’s a right and a wrong way to eat this Mexican favourite. One of the most important things is to keep the burrito wrapped in its foil, and only reveal a small section at a time. This prevents the complete disintegration that’s inevitable if you unwrap it. You should also avoid using a knife and fork – this is a food that’s designed to be eaten with your hands.

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