Etiquette Expert Settles the Debate: Should You Eat Pizza with Your Hands or with Cutlery?

Pizza is a beloved takeaway staple in the UK, often enjoyed straight from the box with your hands thanks to those convenient pre-cut slices. But when dining in a restaurant, the etiquette around pizza can get confusing—especially when your pie arrives unsliced or accompanied only by a standard table knife. Should you pick it up and eat it with your hands, or is it more proper to use a knife and fork?

Etiquette expert William Hanson has stepped in to settle this age-old debate. In a recent TikTok video, he explained that pizza is traditionally designed to be eaten by hand, pointing out that the crust serves as a natural handle. “You don’t need to use a knife and fork,” Hanson said. “You can just pick it up and fold it in.”

He advises against letting your slice droop so that sauce and melted cheese drip messily. Instead, fold the pizza slice inward, ensuring you hold only the sturdy, dry crust and base. For particularly floppy slices, doubling the fold transforms it into a neat, mess-free pizza sandwich.

Despite Hanson’s endorsement of the hands-on approach, reactions from viewers were mixed. Some remain firm believers in using cutlery, especially when dining out. Cultural differences also play a role, with many countries commonly using a knife and fork for pizza—Germany being a notable example.

Comments reflected this divide: “Germans are eating pizza with a fork and knife,” one viewer noted, while another simply declared, “I eat pizza with a knife and fork.”

On the other hand, fans of Hanson’s guidance welcomed his practical advice. Known for his strict cutlery rules—even suggesting knives and forks for bananas—his acceptance of eating pizza by hand surprised and pleased many. One commenter remarked, “First time he says something unquestionably right about etiquette,” while another added, “For the first time, finally I agreed on what you said!” A third expressed their amazement: “Wow! No cutlery at all with pizza, but a banana must be eaten with a knife and fork!”

So the verdict from etiquette expert William Hanson? Eating pizza with your hands is not only acceptable but traditional—provided you fold it right to avoid the mess.