Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Classic Spork - Reinvented

While on the shopping trip at World Market where I found the fantastic collapsible silicon funnels, I also found this little gem: two-in-one fork and spoon, a.k.a spork. This institutional standby has been redesigned into a clever utensil designed for convenience and portability. Unlike a traditional spork, which is a spoon with tines on the end of the bowl, this spork is a fork on one end and a spoon on the other. They were just $1.99 and are made of durable stainless steal. I bought two because I thought they were quite clever and wanted to try them out, but the more I think about them the more I realize they are great space savers for those with a tiny house too.

Things that I like about this spork (although it is like no spork you have ever used before) include both its solidness its space saving size, and its portability. It would be useful in a kitchen, a lunch kit, strapped to a Bento Box, or included in a picnic basket. I also think keeping a couple in my drawer at work will be convenient since I hate plastic disposable flatware. Because you wash and reuse this spork (it is dishwasher safe), it is a green alternative for those looking to help reduce the amount of trash going to our landfills. These would be a one time purchase as opposed to plastics which could possibly have BPA and/or other toxins and would eventually end up on a landfill not decomposing for 100 years or more.

As great as I think this is, there are some limitations to consider in the design of this spork. First, there really is no "handle" so your hands will touch the spoon end when using the fork end, and vice versa. You will either need to use the fork side first then wipe it off to use the spoon side, or the reverse. Second, the spoon is not really very deep. Finally, The tines on the fork are rather short.

I tried this spork out today on my Cup-o-Noodle lunch and despite its compact size it worked quite wonderfully. I am going to go and pick up four more of these to keep in my picnic basket as well as the two I already have in my desk at work. I think that once I am in my tiny house, these will come in handy there as well in the limited space of my tiny kitchen. If you are not a great gourmet and are looking for practical utensils that don't consume much real estate in small spaces, then this ingenious piece of flatware might just be something you come to love.

You can order your own at the World Market site here:
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/metal-spork.do?from=Search&cx=0

What do you think? Have you ever used a spork before? Would you find something like this handy in your kitchen?

9 comments:

  1. Whenever I see something like this, my first thought is "Would my wife use this?" I know I would, but I work out of the house, so it is not really something that I need. My wife, on the other hand...

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  2. This looks a good idea for picnics but I can't see me using it everyday because it is so tiny and I don't like the idea of holding the spoon end whilst using the fork or vice versa.
    I do have a couple of sporks ... the kind with a fork and spoon on the same end ... don't use those either lol.

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    1. I agree, Suzanna. It definitely has some drawbacks, but I think for picnics or for the occasional office lunch it works fairly well. I am with you...traditional sporks stink!

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  3. Awesome. I think the spork was one of the most underrated inventions ever created.

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    1. I agree, Fred! I think it is under-appreciated, except for when you are eating on the go and desperate, then we all appreciate it!

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  4. It is a neat idea. I once got my father in law a "knork" and that I really loved. A fork with knife edges on the outer tines to cut meat.

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    1. A knork, hmmmm. I will have to hunt some of those down too!

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  5. I like the idea of this newly invented spork, don't know if I would find good use for it though. But I think my kids in college probably would!

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    1. I think college kids could definitely appreciate it. I like that they are durable and don't rust. College kids tend to put off doing the dishes, lol.

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