A Beginner’s Guide to Using Chopsticks

A Beginner’s Guide to Using Chopsticks

If you are self-conscious about how to use chopsticks, you shouldn’t feel bad. It is a skill that takes time to master.

If you are self-conscious about how to use chopsticks, you shouldn’t feel bad. It is a skill that takes time to master. Even if you weren’t raised in any Asian culture, however, you can still learn how to use a pair, even if you are convinced you can’t learn how to do it with this beginner’s guide.

Getting Started

Keep your main hand loose. It doesn’t matter if you’re right-handed or left-handed. However, if you grip your chopsticks too tightly, you might end up throwing food or scattering what you’re trying to pick up instead of holding onto it. Put the first chopstick between your forefinger and your thumb. Keep it balanced on your ring finger to make sure it doesn’t slip.

What to Do Next

Now that you have the hang of that, it’s time to move on. Most of the challenge in using chopsticks is building up the muscle memory to hold it correctly, but it isn’t that much different than holding a pencil. Now, put the second chopstick where the first chopstick is. However, you’ll need to rest the second chopstick against your middle finger to support it instead.

Tightening Your Grip

Tightening your grip isn’t as difficult as you might expect it to be. All you have to do is close your thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. By doing this, you can hold onto the second chopstick more tightly and not run the risk of dropping whatever you’re trying to get with your chopsticks.

Picking Up Food

With these tips in mind, you can try picking up food. Remember that not all foods can be grabbed with chopsticks and that you will need to cut them into small, bite-sized chunks to make it all easier. The first chopstick won’t move much, but you do move the second chopstick much more often. You’ll need to rely on your index finger and your middle finger. That’s how you can move them up and down and open and close the set of chopsticks. Once you open the chopsticks, close them around the bit of food you are trying to grab – whether it is a clump of rice, a piece of broccoli, or a slice of jackfruit. Keeping your hand loose is one of the most important things to do when learning how to use chopsticks. However, picking up large pieces of meat and other heavier items can be more daunting.

Get All Your Asian Groceries at Lotte Plaza Market

Lotte Plaza Market is your one-stop shop for all of your Korean and Asian grocery needs. With more than 10 locations in Maryland and Virginia, this growing market is always expanding and opening new markets to serve our customers better. Since we opened in 1976, our goal has always been to provide the best customer service and groceries to our customers. For answers to all of your questions, please email us at LottePlaza.com.

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Lotte Plaza
5821 Riverdale Rd. Riverdale, MD 20737
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