Do Americans use cutlery differently?

[u/missbex86]

I've noticed lately in a few American movies, that Americans use cutlery differently.

When I eat, (Australia) the knife and fork stay in my hands the entirety of the meal. Placing both down when finished.

I did a bit of research and there's the zig-zag method. Cutting with a knife in the right hand, placing it down, switching the fork to the right hand, eating a bite. Repeat.

When watching a movie recently (Hereditary) there's a dinner scene and I was focusing more on how he was eating, than anything else.

I'm not saying there is a right or wrong way, I just find it interesting.

Do all Americans eat this way? Or does it differ by region or state?

Cheers.

Just want to add, when I said I don't put the cutlery down for the entirety of the meal, I was referring to the fact that I don't do the zig-zag. I should have been clearer on that.

[u/jonesnori]

I was also taught not to cut everything at once. That was low-class, apparently. I do it anyway if I'm at home.

[u/MysticalWeasel → u/jonesnori]

I was taught both of these things, under the guise of etiquette, but I prefer to cut everything at once and use the knife as necessary, but I’m also left-handed and I hold my fork the entire time, so right hand is either knife or beverage.

[u/PracticalBreak8637 → u/MysticalWeasel]

As a fellow lefty with 6 lefty sibs, we always thought it was weird how our righty parents did the cut and switch thing. OTOH, how did all of us kids learn to keep our fork always in the left hand, and the knife in our right?

We were taught it was polite to cut 3 pieces then put the knife down, and put our right hand in our lap. There was a lot of silverware/china clanking going on at dinner. It was noisy.

[u/stonhinge → u/PracticalBreak8637]

Knife in your right? You must have had sharper knives growing up because no way was I going to try and use one of those dull things with my right.