Bulk Chopsticks & Chopstick Rests

Chopsticks: What You Need to Know

Commonly used in East Asian countries, chopsticks are eating utensils consisting of two sticks of equal lengths. Held in the user's dominant hand between their thumb and fingers, they are used to pick up pieces of food such as sushi. They can be made of various materials, and reusable chopsticks are available. Chopsticks sets can come wrapped in packs so they can be sent home with takeout orders. Chopstick rests are also offered to prevent chopsticks from resting on a bare table that may harbor germs. We'll answer any common questions you may have regarding chopsticks and chopstick rests in the section below.

Common Questions About Chopsticks

What's the history of chopsticks?

Chopsticks were first used not for eating, but for cooking. Used by the Chinese since at least 1200 B.C., early chopsticks were most likely twigs used to pluck food from cooking pots. Chopsticks began to be used for eating once early chefs realized cutting food into smaller pieces conserved fuel because food cooked faster. Now, with food in bite-sized pieces, there was no need for a knife, so chopsticks were used. In addition to food being bite sized, the omission of knives and popularity of chopsticks at Asian dinner tables is owed to the Chinese philosopher, Confucius. As a vegetarian, Confucius thought knives at the dinner table would remind dinner guests of slaughterhouses. Confucius also thought that the sharp points of knives symbolized and would possibly provoke violence, which would kill the mood during a meal. By A.D. 500, the use of chopsticks had spread across Asia to Vietnam, Japan, and Korea.

What are chopsticks made of?

Initially, chopsticks were constructed of bamboo, and bamboo chopsticks are still common today. They're popular because they are environmentally friendly and some can be reused. As more Asian countries began to use the utensils, other materials were implemented, as silver chopsticks were common during Chinese dynastic times. The Chinese believe the silver would change color to alert the user of any poison in the food; however, silver does not react to cyanide or arsenic. Plastic chopsticks – commonly made of melamine – are durable and resistant to breaking. Most are BPA free and safe to clean in a dishwasher. Reusable chopsticks also can be made of plastic.

What is a chopstick rest?

Akin to a spoon or knife rest, a chopstick rest is a shaped block or bowl that keeps restaurant chopsticks off tables. They are typically curved upward so the chopsticks don't roll off; however, they can come in many shapes. Chopstick rests may be constructed of a plethora of materials, including wood, plastic, clay, glass, and porcelain. More common in restaurants than in homes, they protect chopsticks from germs and bacterial growth that may reside on the surface of a table. The rest also protects the table from being dirtied by food or sauce residue on the chopsticks.