How To Use A Soup Spoon And Eat Soup Properly

According to Campbell Soup, there are recordings throughout history of soup being made and eaten; soup was not invented 200 years ago. Evidence has been found in Cave, Jiangxi Province, China, from the Roman and Byzantine Empires to the Medieval and Renaissance to 18th-century France, where soup was sold as a restorative by street vendors.
 
I can 100% agree that soup is a ‘restorative’; I love soup, whether in summer or winter and whether it is creamy or clear, most soups will do.  However, for such a seemingly straightforward dish, eating soup properly involves a bit of finesse, from how you hold your spoon to how you sip, mastering the art of eating soup.  This blog will explore how to eat soup the proper way!
 
The Right Way to Use a Soup Spoon

• Choosing the Correct Spoon - Before you even begin eating, it’s important to identify the correct spoon for soup. In formal settings, you’ll often find a soup spoon placed to the right of your plate, usually larger and rounder than other spoons, different from a dessert spoon.
• Holding the Spoon Properly - Hold the soup spoon between your thumb and your first two fingers, much like you would hold a pencil. The spoon should be held in a relaxed manner, with the handle resting gently in your hand.
• Dipping the Spoon - When dipping your spoon into the soup, move it away from your body, not towards you. This technique helps prevent spills and gives you a cleaner, smoother motion.
• Sipping the Soup - Bring the spoon to your mouth and sip the soup from the edge of the spoon—not from the tip. This method allows you to enjoy the soup more gracefully without slurping or making unnecessary noise.
• Handling the Bowl - If you’re served soup in a bowl with a wide rim, you can tilt the bowl slightly away from you, using your index finger when the soup is almost finished. Unless you are in France, never clean up the bowl with bread.
• Taking Breaks and Finishing - If you need to pause while eating or if you’ve finished your soup, place the spoon in the four—or five o’clock position.

 
In Review
Mastering the art of eating soup is a subtle but powerful way to show you know proper etiquette. From selecting the correct spoon to gracefully sipping your soup, these small actions reflect your mindfulness. So, the next time you find yourself with a bowl of soup, remember these tips and take pride in enjoying this simple dish with elegance and poise.