Is it not appropriate to eat pizza with hands in Germany?

Question

I eat pizza in Germany every day as it is pretty cheap yet so delicious! However, I found that most Germans, likely 80% or more, use knives and forks to eat pizza.

I got pretty surprised to see how many locals here use these utensils to eat pizza. But I am wondering if it is not appropriate or even rude to eat pizza here with one's hands.

Do people around here mind it or are simply very tolerant? How about a chef?

I usually eat about a 6 to 10 euro pizza alone at cheap restaurants or eating establishments. The pizza is usually served cut but in one case it was not, which was at slighly more "classy" restaurant (e.g. has a tablecloth and a waiter comes with menu) but still incredibly cheap (5.9 euro).

Answer 1

Germans in general prefer to eat food, including pizza, using a fork and knife. But while it is maybe less common compared to other countries, it is not a faux pas to eat pizza with your hands, unless you are in a very formal setting like a business lunch with new customers, say in the financial sector. New friends or colleagues on the other hand might be even thankful, if you break the ice by starting to eat with your hands.

I can think of three reasons why Germans use cutlery:

1. Hygiene: They are too lazy or short on time to go look for a bathroom to wash their hands, so they just use cutlery to not touch the pizza directly.

2. Habit: They don't like to make their hands dirty and are in general used to eat everything with cutlery. This is more prevalent in Germany, so your observations are correct.

But the most important reason is:

3. Social Pressure: Everyone uses cutlery, so people feel that it is not appropriate to use their hands. In my opinion this is mere social pressure. I grew up in Germany and I like to eat with my hands, after I washed them. What I noticed is that when I go out to eat in a group, most people initially use cutlery. Then I cut my pizza in slices and start using my hands to eat each slice. As soon as my friends/colleagues see that, they smile relieved and many start using their hands, too. They just waited for someone to make it "OK". This has happened over and over.

   Among good friends they feel comfortable doing it from the start. I also asked some of them about this and was told that they don't mind others using their hands, it is just that they don't want to be seen as uncivilized or judged by other people in the restaurant.

   Again the only time where I would not use your hands, is maybe in a very formal business settings with customers or colleagues that you don't know. But even here I would not be surprised if they weren't thankful to you if you broke the ice.

   One thing I personally do and would recommend, is washing your hands again after you are done eating. To make sure that you don't shake hands with tomato sauce on them.

Answer 2

I would correct problemofficer's answer that once you are eating in a real dignified "restaurant" (better style, cutlery, soft drinks costing over 2,50 €, whole meal is > 20 €), use of cutlery is obligatory. You do not eat with hands anymore.

German good conduct books are always dismissive about eating with hands, so if you are in company which sees this as important, abstain from eating with hands.

Use of cutlery has also an interesting side effect: German pizzas are very rarely already sliced (and if they are sliced, it is sloppily done), even if they are intended to be eaten at home.

Another reason to wash the hands: You get easily grease spots from the oil on paper.