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See why.Disposable Utensil Sets
After putting these single-use utensils to the test at a backyard barbecue, we found two sets worth considering.
By Published Sept. 1, 2020
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What You Need To Know
I’m standing at an outdoor gathering, holding a paper plate in one hand and a disposable fork in the other. I poke at the salad on my plate, and my fork comes back empty. I direct my fork back into the salad with more force, but still nothing sticks. Most of us have experienced this scenario. Disposable utensils can be an asset when hosting guests, when having a picnic, and when things at home are especially busy, but dull or flimsy disposable utensils aren’t particularly convenient.
Given those garden-party disappointments, my colleagues and I wondered if any utensil sets (consisting of forks, knives, and spoons) are worth purchasing. First, we identified the top-selling, nationally available utensil brands based on sales data from IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm, and purchased each brand’s best-selling set. All the utensils in these sets were made from plastic, but when doing our research, we learned of a few single-use utensil sets made from plant-based materials and marketed as being eco-friendly. We were curious to see how they would compare with plastic versions, so we included three: one made from bamboo and two made from crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA), a commercially compostable material derived from corn, sugarcane, potatoes, tapioca, or soy protein. (See “Are Compostable Utensils Really Better for the Environment?” for more information about how to compost plant-based utensils.)
The seven utensil sets in our lineup were priced from about $0.05 to about $0.30 per utensil. Two sets came with an equal number of forks, spoons, and knives, while the other five sets contained more forks or more forks and spoons than knives because knives are the least used utensil. We used utensils from each set to eat Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs, Bibb and Arugula Salad with Pear and Goat Cheese, Italian Pasta Salad, and ice cream. We served the foods on both ceramic and disposable plates, and we ate the foods while sitting down and while standing. Throughout, we considered how well the forks and spoons picked up food, how well the knives cut foods, how sturdy each utensil was, and how comfortable each utensil was to use.
Knives and Forks Must Be Sharp
When we used the knives and forks from each set to cut and then eat the roasted chicken thighs, we noticed that most of the knives had small, sharp serrations that allowed them to easily navigate around bones and cut through meat. The bamboo knife’s blade, however, was thick and had square serrations that were dull and ineffective, so cutting with it required more effort. We essentially sawed off shaggy bites of chicken instead of easily and cleanly slicing through the meat....
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Comfort: 3 stars out of 3.
- Sturdiness: 3 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
This set of utensils has it all: a fork with effective, pointy tines; a sharp knife with many small serrations; and a perfectly shaped spoon. The fork cleanly punctured even the most delicate pieces of lettuce as well as the slippery pasta. Plus, this set is both sturdy and comfortable to hold and eat from. These utensils are made from a compostable and renewable resource, but keep in mind that they need to be commercially composted.
- Comfort: 3 stars out of 3.
- Sturdiness: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 2.5 stars out of 3.
A close runner-up, this set of utensils was almost as sturdy as our winning set and is the best option for those looking to buy a less expensive, smaller set. Each utensil is smooth and has flat handles that are comfortable to hold. Though the fork is a bit less sharp than the fork in our top-rated set, its tines are the sharpest of any plastic fork we tested. Its knife easily sliced through chicken. Finally, the spoon’s bowl is comfortably shaped.
Recommended
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Sturdiness: 3 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
These utensils are made from a commercially compostable plant-based renewable resource. They were among the sturdiest utensils in our lineup, so we felt in control when using them. The fork’s sharp tines easily speared every piece of food. However, the handles were the narrowest in our lineup, and the hard ridges on the back side of each handle made them mildly uncomfortable to use. Despite this drawback, we think that the sturdiness and sharpness of this set make it a worthy choice.
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Sturdiness: 3 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 2.5 stars out of 3.
This set is sturdy, and its knife is sharp and effective. Although the fork wasn’t quite as adept at spearing as the other recommended models, it could still pierce lettuce leaves and pasta with relative ease. Our one quibble is the spoon’s slightly overly deep bowl. It wasn’t as easy to eat all the contents from the spoon in one bite.
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Sturdiness: 3 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
Overall we liked this set, but we had small issues with two out of the three pieces. The fork’s tines are a bit rounded and therefore slightly less sharp than those of the other forks we tested. However, we were still able to pick up lettuce and pasta. The spoon’s bowl was a bit too deep, so eating from it was a bit awkward. That said, the knife was sharp, so it was easy for us to cleanly slice through chicken with little effort.
Not Recommended
- Comfort: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Sturdiness: 1 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
This set of utensils felt flimsy. When we used the spoon to eat ice cream, the handle bent backward more than those of all the other models in our lineup. We had to choke up on the handle to give ourselves some leverage. The fork performed better because we didn’t need the same amount of force to pick up chicken, salad, and pasta salad. Its knife’s small, sharp serrations meant that it cut through chicken easily.
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Sturdiness: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 0.5 stars out of 3.
We had high hopes for these cute bamboo utensils, but their performance was disappointing. Instead of sharp points, the ends of the fork’s tines were square and therefore very dull. It took multiple attempts (and more force than should be necessary) to pierce pieces of lettuce and pasta. The serrations of the knife were similarly dull. The set’s spoon—the flattest of any model we tested—could hold just ½ teaspoon of liquid. We didn’t enjoy eating from the slightly woody and dry bamboo; we preferred to eat from the utensils made from smooth plastic or crystallized polylactic acid.
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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing.
Carolyn Grillo
Carolyn is a senior editor for ATK Reviews. She's a French-trained professional baker.
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