9 Foods You Should Only Eat With Your Hands

Since the Stone Age, humans have developed and refined the use of cutlery to prepare and eat their food. However, some foods are best enjoyed in their most natural form—eaten with your hands. Cultural norms and traditions around the world celebrate this tactile connection to food, enhancing the sensory and communal dining experience. Here are nine foods that you should only eat with your hands.

1. Sushi

Sushi lovers might be surprised to learn that traditional Japanese sushi, excluding sashimi, are foods you should eat with your hands. Hiroko Shimbo, a Japanese food expert, notes that well-made sushi’s loosely packed rice will fall apart if pinched too tightly with chopsticks.¹ Eating with your hands allows for better control and enjoyment of the delicate textures.

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2. Pizza

Pizza, a beloved food in Italy and New York, is best enjoyed by grabbing a slice, folding it, and diving in. While using utensils isn’t wrong, the authentic way respects pizza’s humble origins as a hand-held street food. This method also enhances the communal and casual spirit of pizza eating.

3. Curry Dishes

Despite its saucy nature, Indian food, especially curry dishes, is one you eat with your hands. This practice, rooted in thousands of years of history and Ayurveda, not only aids in handling the food but also connects diners with their meals on a holistic level. Eating with hands is believed to enhance digestion and make the dining experience more mindful and connected.²

4. Asparagus

In many European countries, eating asparagus with your hands is acceptable and even preferred, especially when served without sauce. Holding the stem end and eating the tender tip is considered stylish and practical.

5. Ribs

Ribs are inherently messy and you should eat them with your hands to fully enjoy the experience. Licking fingers and savoring the flavor is part of the fun, although it might not be ideal for formal settings.

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6. Tacos

Tacos, a staple in Mexican cuisine, are meant to be eaten with hands. This traditional method connects diners to the food’s cultural roots, even if it means dealing with drippy sauces and bits of pico de gallo. Embrace the mess for an authentic experience.

7. French Fries

French fries are universally accepted as finger food. Greasing up your fingers is part of the enjoyment, and using utensils would just detract from the experience. It’s come to the point that if you see someone trying to eat fries and they’re trying not use their hands, something feels wrong.

8. Artichokes

Eating whole, steamed, or stuffed artichokes requires a hands-on approach. Pulling off each leaf, dipping it, and scraping off the edible part with your teeth before moving on to the heart is a ritual best performed with your hands.

9. Burgers

Burgers, since their debut at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, have been an American staple meant to be eaten with hands. Despite the trend of oversized burgers tempting some to use utensils, the authentic way remains hand-held. British etiquette coach William Hanson’s attempt to eat a burger with a fork and knife was met with strong disapproval from Americans, underscoring the cultural preference.

Conclusion

Cultural norms and philosophies around the world emphasize the importance of eating with hands, enhancing the sensory connection to food and making the dining experience more communal. Whether it’s the ancient practice of Ayurveda or simply the joy of a messy, hands-on meal, these foods are best enjoyed as nature intended. So next time you sit down to eat sushi, pizza, or a burger, ditch the utensils and embrace the tradition of eating with your hands.

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