Caviar spoon

Caviar spoons are traditionally made of inert materials, such as animal horn, gold, mother of pearl,^[1] and wood.^[2] They range in length from 7 to 13 cm (2.7 to 5 in), and have a small shallow bowl that may be either oval or paddle shaped and a flat handle.^[3]

Mother of pearl caviar spoon

Mother of pearl caviar spoon, 14 cm (5+1⁄2 in), with engraved sterling silver handle

Caviar spoons with salmon roe (left) and caviar (right)

There is a custom that caviar should not be served with a metal spoon, because metal may impart an undesirable flavour.^[4] Though caviar is stored and sold in metal tins, non-reactive interior linings are put in place to prevent any adverse effects.^[5] Silver spoons are reactive, however, and thus may affect the flavor.^[6]

A caviar knife is frequently sold together with the spoon. It is a 5 inches long flat knife with a bulbous tip, typically also made of a fancy material like mother-of-pearl.^[7]

A caviar fork is a rare utensil^[8] introduced around 1840s.^[9] Sometimes, it is made from mother-of-pearl, too, but the ones from the Victorian times were frequently made of silver. Tiffany & Co. catalogue called a similar pattern an "oyster fork".^[8]

See also

• Caviar bowl