Do you “double dip” with family members?
Posted by tmr89@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 106 comments
With shared dishes and dips my in-laws double dip, often using the same fork they eat with to scoop out some more hummus, or use it to get some salad out of the shared salad bowl, etc. Is this something most UK families do? It puts me off and seems wrong to me. But I don’t feel like I can call it out if that’s just how my in partner’s family operates.
Alice_Da_Cat@reddit
Nope - Growing up we would often say "don't double dip" - I love my siblings but I don't want their spit anywhere near my food 🤣🤣🤣
pixeltash@reddit
Growing up if there was something on our plate that our sibling might be thinking we weren't going to eat, but in fact we were just saving something extra yummy for last... We would pick it up and lick it. Then any attempt to get said item would be met with an "I've licked that" and so it was considered ours. The point being anything a sibling had licked was instantly disgusting just because of sibling dynamics.
We still use this saying as a joke, without the actual licking. As in don't eat the leftover whatever in the fridge, I've licked that.
Alice_Da_Cat@reddit
We used to do this too 😆😆😆 "Can I have a crisp" proceeds to lick every crisp, looking back that was gross because you were just licking a crisp and putting it back in the packet but anything to stop a siblings having one would be deemed acceptable 🤣🤣🤣🤣
There is a sign in a cafe near me that says "I licked it so it's mine" and when me & my mum went we were laughing so much saying how true it was 😆
Early_System4734@reddit
We are far too finicky about such things. You go through your day breathing in, touching and eating horrendous stuff without you noticing. This is trivial in comparison
romeo__golf@reddit
THIS.
If you think a friend's used spoon touching the salad you might eat is too dirty, you'd be absolutely SHOOKETH to know what's on your hands right this minute, the hand you might have just rubbed your face with, held your coffee cup with... And most people don't wash their hands anywhere near thoroughly enough to remove most of that even if they are a "wash hands before eating" kind of person (which, in my experience, most people aren't!).
okaycompuperskills@reddit
A disturbing number of people don’t even wash their hands after going to the lav
romeo__golf@reddit
I'm very much in two minds on this for public loos.
Firstly, yes, it seems a bit gross and washing your hands after using the loo feels like a good practise just to make sure you're cleaning your hands semi-regularly during the day. But then often in public loos, as a gent, you can walk in via an archway rather than a door, touching nothing but your own todger, and walk out again without touching anything. And if your member is that dirty, can you really expect her to want to put it in her mouth...?
I'm definitely a hand-washer, but sometimes it feels like touching the tap is dirtier than anything else and I still reach for the bottle of anti-bac in my pocket once I'm out! At home, I wash without question, even though I live alone... just because it feels "right".
okaycompuperskills@reddit
Just wash your fucking hands bro
romeo__golf@reddit
Did you get bored halfway through my comment and not read the second paragraph?
thecheesycheeselover@reddit
It’s more about finding it a bit icky than thinking it’s going to kill you. Plenty of things just feel unpleasant. If I were to spit on the back of my hand and immediately lick it back up, it wouldn’t do me any harm at all… but the idea still makes me feel slightly nauseous.
Interesting-Bit725@reddit
Good lord, who cares? Generally only Americans are this germaphobic.
hyper-casual@reddit
I hate it.
I don't really like doing it with my partner, never mind extended family.
I am weird with food though. Something only has to go into the sauce before I wanted it to and I won't eat it. Anything touches the juice from bakes beans and it's written off. I've been told this is very autistic but I had an assessment and was told I showed no signs.
Chance-Bread-315@reddit
I'm from a serving utensil family, but honestly it doesn't bother me at all. In my immediate family I'd probably double dip if there wasn't a serving utensil in the mix/would deffo double dip with things like carrot sticks and hummus.
Amongst wider family and friends I wouldn't but because I know it's impolite and other people might find it disgusting, not because I do myself.
slippery-pineapple@reddit
With my husband and kids yes, with my inlaws? No! I reckon a rule of thumb is would I kiss them on the lips
BrickAccomplished338@reddit
You would kiss your kids on the lips?
slippery-pineapple@reddit
My kid is 2, yes. There's probably some point I won't any longer because I don't kiss my parents on the lips
Quinlov@reddit
Have you never kissed a stranger on the lips?
slippery-pineapple@reddit
Select strangers in the past, yes, but if I was going to kiss them I'd probably double dip with them
SongsAboutGhosts@reddit
It's a weird flirting tactic, but whatever works
slippery-pineapple@reddit
I've got a husband don't I? 😅
GourangaPlusPlus@reddit
This is the Internet, there's a 90% probability you are a cat
TheNotSpecialOne@reddit
Yup same rule for me
fergie_89@reddit
Yeah this.
Although would with my friends when we do a cheese fondue or something similar.
My husband had the flu over Christmas and I wouldn't touch the dips he double dipped into
cateml@reddit
Same.
Husband, yes, far more biological intimacy than “hummus that touches something that touches the others mouth” goes on there anyway.
My kids are frequently licking me and sneezing in my mouth and stuff like that, wiping their snotty noses, food they’ve bitten is nothing.
To be honest family like in-laws, friends, etc. - I would still happily eat the dip if they did it, because it’s not like you’re licking the nacho or whatever, but I wouldn’t do it myself out of politeness.
Strangers - nope, not a chance.
SammiWG@reddit
This is sensible
OkTechnician4610@reddit
Not really I put spoons in each dish to use so you don’t need to double dip or eat off the serving spoons.
buginarugsnug@reddit
Husband, yes (we're sharing bodily fluids regularly anyway). Rest of family, no (we are most definitely NOT sharing bodily fluids).
saltwatersunsets@reddit
You’re already sharing far more bacteria than you realise though
buginarugsnug@reddit
I'd rather not make it even more.
saltwatersunsets@reddit
Makes no meaningful difference
Real23Phil@reddit
Never, I will not dip again if I see a double dip or a bite before dip.
Same if someone feels the food but don't take it in party type foods. Feel it with your eyes please.
pixeltash@reddit
With several food allergies in the family, it's a big no. At best it's cross contamination that will lead to an unpleasant night in the loo at worst it's a trip to the hospital. Yay fun times!
pemberleypearls@reddit
Doesn't bother us tbh. If it bothers you that's fine
GourangaPlusPlus@reddit
Im picturing the person saying this to OP after the double dip
Cow_Launcher@reddit
Definitely feels like, "Well that just sounds like a you problem."
SnoopyLupus@reddit
Yeah. I don’t care if it’s friends or family.
improperble@reddit
Same
Lynex_Lineker_Smith@reddit
Now I know this is minding blowingly complicated and confusing , but stay with me . Put serving spoons into the dish /pot / bowl, no more double dipping .
kalendral_42@reddit
No, no it is not 🤢🤢🤢
United-Mall5653@reddit
My great aunt once double dipped a carrot stick and hummus by sucking the first load off. I've never forgotten that.
sock_cooker@reddit
I'm sorry, but phnaaar!
DampFlange@reddit
Finbarr Saunders in the house
sock_cooker@reddit
Your great aunt sounds fun
Namiweso@reddit
Cheers. Ruined my day and it’s only 8:51
koalabear20@reddit
yes lol i even do it with close friends
Dutch_Slim@reddit
No way! If it’s in your mouth it’s not going in a shared bowl of anything!
Moop_the_Loop@reddit
I know this is gross but I have shared a spoon with work colleagues. Don't judge, there was only one spoon! But I'll share an ice cream cone with my dog. I must have an amazing immune system. My friend is very icky with that kind of thing though and I respect that and would't double dip food we are sharing. That's just disrespectful.
zombiezmaj@reddit
Husband yes. Siblings and inlaws... even my own parents, no. Absolutely not.
Superspark76@reddit
Even with family we always have serving tongs and spoons with buffet style food.
Competitive-Chest438@reddit
Never at any family/friends gathering. I think it’s an after effect of Covid.
Last time I was with my in laws they kept stroking the slobbery dog then digging around in the shared bowl of crisps. I think i was the only one who noticed.
NrthnLd75@reddit
VILE
EvaLizz@reddit
My teenager still steals my toothbrush double dipping is the least of my worries.
Trash_Panda_Leaves@reddit
Put serving spoons in everything and see it that helps. If there's already a small spoon in the dip, most Brits will default to that.
tmr89@reddit (OP)
This was in a restaurant, and we got dips and a salad to share. But they also do it at home whenever there are shared dishes, but it's a bit less frequent.
Trash_Panda_Leaves@reddit
Yeah, I can see my family defaulting to this. Its hard for me because I'm allergic to dairy but typical I think for some people. Its like how my family also always take their shoes off downstairs and never wear them upstairs, but some US people will lie on their beds with their dirty shoes still on - and we wash every second day to protect skin (unless really dirty y'know) but my American friends shower everyday. Some practices are seen as normal, and others get into people's ick factor.
The best thing would be to talk to your partner on this
carlou1719@reddit
Unless your guests are small children, in which case they'll use the spoons to eat the dip like yogurt
Trash_Panda_Leaves@reddit
Haha, I kind of dont mind that! But if it as kids, I'd get them a kids bowl or spoon out dips onto their plate
Pyjama365@reddit
It's absolutely repulsive to use forks that have touched your mouth to touch food that others will eat, imho.
If there's crudités or chips & dips, I will try to pick up longer chunks in the middle, then dip each end separately, so I can take a bite and re-dip, but neither the part that's touched my mouth or touched my fingers is going back into the shared food. But only with like my bestie or partner in the absolute most casual setting, so unlikely to encounter that setting with my family tbh.
nicskoll@reddit
There should be utensils for each shared dish so that what goes in the mouth doesn't go into the shared food. I genuinely wouldn't touch food without it. I don't want other people's germs.
Bellissimabee@reddit
If everyone is happy sharing germs! Personal I think it's gross. We normally put serving spoons in shared dishes. What country are you from?
tmr89@reddit (OP)
I'm from Germany
feralhog3050@reddit
Unless you walk around in head to foot PPE all day, you're sharing germs with everyone in your house anyway 🤷🏽♀️
Downtown-Nectarine49@reddit
Whoever it is, no double dipping. It’s just etiquette.
romeo__golf@reddit
There are two categories to double-dipping.
(1) Using your personal spoon/fork to serve a shared dish: This wouldn't really bother me and I'm highly unlikely to notice anyone else doing it. If there's a serving utensil in the dish, I'd almost definitely use it myself just because it's more polite, but I wouldn't think less of someone else for using their own.
(2) Dipping a piece of food in sauce, taking a bite, then dipping it again. I'd probably notice this a little more with others, although it probably wouldn't bother me too much. I wouldn't do it myself, though, or at least if I wanted more dip I'd use the "other side" of the food. For example if I dipped a carrot stick and took a bite, I'd then dip the non-bitten side the second time for more dip.
Brilliant-Figure-149@reddit
What if the carrot stick is a more-than-2-bite size?
Pyjama365@reddit
I turn it over so the bit that touched my teeth isn't re-dipped. And hold things like that in the middle so the bit that was held by my fingers isn't re-dipped.
romeo__golf@reddit
Then my last bite would have to be dry, sadly!
hrfr5858@reddit
Remaining bites don't get dip.
SilverstarVegan@reddit
No definitely not i hate double dip. Use seperate serving spoons, with dips you only dip once. Big nope from me, if chips and dips I will scoop some dip onto my plate to keep seperate, before anyone gets to it, but then I have to avoid dairy so im usually allowed to get mine first.
Hawkstreamer@reddit
🇬🇧 Never! That strikes me as revolting.
It'd be ok to dip a new carrot stick or crisp into houmous [that'd be usual] but NOT a fork that's been in someone elses mouth 🤢
isnecrophiliathatbad@reddit
No, her husband would be furious.
Schmicarus@reddit
There's a huge amount of evidence that exposing yourself to more bacteria makes you stronger in terms of building/maintaining your defences.
I share a dip/cutlery etc with workmates, doesn't bother me, haven't got sick as a result.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
That's like putting your whole mouth right in the dip. From now on, when you take a chip, just take one dip and end it.
oscarx-ray@reddit
wendelfong@reddit
Came here for this
Hopeful_chap@reddit
I would assume that scooping with a locked utensil would probably leave far less saliva in a dip than taking a mouthful directly would. I wouldn't be comfortable with either, but one is definitely preferable
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Only my partner because most female family members are pretty monogamous.
Namiweso@reddit
Have they not heard of serving spoons/utensils?
Dips should come with a spoon that stays in the post and is used to transfer onto their plate. Salad should come with a pair of tongs.
Whilst I’m pretty lax and if I saw it I wouldn’t be disgusted, but it’s certainly not something you should do unless it’s your partner. Children can be disgusting so they should use the utensils 🤣
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
gross. Whats wrong with using a serving spoon? thats literally what they are there for. Even when eating with my wife and kids we still use a serving spoon.
Marcvambe@reddit
Oh, food! I thought…never mind
ReviewEnvironmental2@reddit
You’re not alone. We’re the worst people and yet also the best people
Distinct_Mastodon463@reddit
wtf
Messterio@reddit
We were all going to that dark place 😂
SammiWG@reddit
I draw the line at blood relatives........
Beer-Milkshakes@reddit
Lol. My brain demanded my eyes read the whole post. Good lord.
deletethewife@reddit
Personally I add serving spoons, it is pretty gross. You have to get in there early and take your scoop out.
Critical_Pin@reddit
nooooo ... unless they're under five
imnotabotimafreeman@reddit
my kids still remind me of when i did this 6yrs ago on holiday
MediumAutomatic2307@reddit
Ew. No. 🤢
BastardsCryinInnit@reddit
No - i get a teaspoon out and plonk it in the pot, and you scoop it out to your plate.
Marzipan_civil@reddit
Are they licking the utensil before they put it back in the shared bowl?
Eddie_F_17@reddit
I’ve seen someone lick icing off their finger and touch the cake they were cutting… pretty sure I skipped cake that day.
SnoopyLupus@reddit
I lick the bowl to keep the utensils clean - bit of a germaphobe.
AdPrestigious2387@reddit
Only if I'm wearing a condom
Live-Cut-5991@reddit
Yeah, that’s a no from me.
ThatThingInTheCorner@reddit
Ew no
tiorzol@reddit
I only double dip with people I'm intimate with. So my wife.
Oh wait and my disgusting toddler too thinking about it. Phrasing I guess.
I don't do buffets where people are getting their nasty mitts on everything.
Extra_Actuary8244@reddit
No but I would with friends
MaximumTop6714@reddit
Within my own household, yes, but if people from outside the household were dining with us we wouldn’t
Actual-Audience8165@reddit
I put a teaspoon in each dip, and everyone knows what to do with it.
Upper-Event-3499@reddit
Honestly I’m with you on this, not really a fan of double dipping, especially with shared food. I think it just depends on the family though.
Salvonamusic@reddit
Partner yes family no
baeworth@reddit
No. It’s nasty. You will be publicly shunned
Demiboy94@reddit
God no that's gross
Front_Scholar9757@reddit
My FIL does this, so we always give him a separate dip.
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