To help explain chopsticks' functionality in the kitchen, Daily Meal turned to an expert, Ji Hye Kim, chef and owner of Miss Kim in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2021, and a ...

Chopsticks aren't just for eating or serving. They are also great cooking tools that can make some kitchen tasks much easier.

Hibachi? Maybe chopsticks. Salad? Cherry tomatoes were suddenly my worst enemy. My parents, however, magically ate everything with the utensils they grew up using — lasagna, fries, soup, even toast.

Often foreigners in Japan are complimented on how they use chopsticks. Many, however, are not actually using them properly. Then again, neither are most Japanese people. Go figure.

There are many other ways to re-use those single-use chopsticks that don’t involve eating, Gibbens says. You can use them as a trellis or other support for gardening or potted plants.