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What is a Titanium Spork?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A titanium spork is a spork made from titanium. For people who are not familiar with the eating utensil known as a spork, a spork is a cross between a fork and a spoon, with a deep, spoon-like bowl tipped with prongs. This eating utensil has a bit of a cult following in some regions of the world, and the titanium spork is especially popular with committed fans of the spork. Titanium sporks are stocked by a variety of suppliers, from novelty stores to camping companies.

This peculiar looking eating utensil is the stock of buffet lines and lunchrooms everywhere. Sporks are convenient for food service because they combine two utensils into one, saving costs and space as forks and spoons do not need to be purchased and laid out when sporks are available. The spork is also popular with campers, because it reduces the overall load a camper needs to carry on the trail. Fans of the spork have fond memories of using sporks in their childhoods, or they're intrigued by the distinctive shape, which definitely stands out.

Buffet lines frequently utilize titanium sporks.
Buffet lines frequently utilize titanium sporks.

There are a number of reasons to use titanium in the construction of a spork. This metal is famously very lightweight, which appeals to campers, and it is also extremely strong, another distinctive advantage. Titanium is minimally reactive, so a titanium spork is unlikely to corrode if it is imperfectly cleaned, and the eating utensil also lacks the metallic taste which some people associate with silverware. The metal is tough to scratch, bend, or damage, making a titanium spork an eating utensil which will withstand hard use.

In addition to being used by campers, titanium sporks are also sometimes kept in desks, for people who prefer to use their own silverware at lunch in the office, and some people carry them in lunchboxes and on trips to have ready access to silverware. The titanium spork is not really intended for use at the home dinner table, but there's no reason people cannot eat with sporks at home, especially if they are dining casually.

Most stores carry plain titanium sporks with no ornamentation, reflecting the spork's long history of no frills design and simple lines. However, dedicated spork owners can choose to engrave or etch their sporks with patterns or their initials so that they can keep track of their belongings. Titanium sporks can also be punched with a hole for a tie or thong, so that they can be tied in place on backpacks and other camping equipment.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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    • Buffet lines frequently utilize titanium sporks.
      By: Boggy
      Buffet lines frequently utilize titanium sporks.