Last month during the President’s reception at the MRA conference, I was speaking to a few people when a stranger walked up to the area I was in and took a napkin and a dumpling from the servers passing around appetizers. I didn’t think anything for the first few moments until the person dipped the dumpling in the sauce, took a bite and then (you guessed it) dipped again — clearly a double dipper! Probably not allowed or shouldn’t be in a number of situations and maybe–just maybe–this is one of them.
I thought about what happened and asked myself two questions:
- Do I double dip?
- And what items could I double dip?
The short answer is yes I double dip, but it really depends on where I am and who I am with.
Quickly I identified some things I could possibly double dip:
- Tortilla chips
- Shrimp
- Satay (love peanut sauce)
- Egg rolls
If I am with friends and family I probably double dip and don’t think anything about it. I am sure most of the readers are now saying they don’t want to go to a Mexican restaurant with me! But I won’t double dip with strangers, at a conference or a nice event. That’s the rules I play by.
- Are you a double dipper?
- Do you have a double dip rule?
- If someone does it will you say something?
I look forward to your comments.
Jennifer says:
I do not double-dip (unless I have my own individual dipping bowl). I would not say something if someone double-dipped, but I would probably stop dipping once I noticed it (although, for immediate family, I might make an exception).
Seanjjordan says:
You know, ever since the Seinfeld episode about this topic made me aware of the issue, I have made a point of avoiding double-dipping in any situation where I’m sharing with others. With most items (bread, chips), it’s easy to simply break off a piece to dip. If it’s not so easy (egg rolls, chicken), I look for a way to serve myself a portion of the dip so I don’t have to worry about it.
Now that other question — if I would call someone out on it — is interesting, because I don’t think I would. Even though it’s a social faux pax to double dip, it’s even worse manners to correct someone in public.
Stephenie Gordon says:
Do not double dip. Instead flip the item around and dip the side that does not have your saliva all over it. Or you can cut whatever you want to dip into pieces and then dunk each piece. So if you have a shrimp, either cut it in 1/2 and dip the halves, or dip in the front end and bite, then remove the “tail shell” and dip the tail half.
At Mexican restaurants i break my chip in pieces and dip each piece. that avoids anyone having to partake in my germs.
The last option is to pour some of the dip on your plate and then you can double dip as much as you want.
Double dipping is just rude and unappetizing no matter who you are with. I hope these options will help you refrain from double dipping in the future.
merle says:
Several months ago on the Food Channel this was a question that was researched in a lab. The “dip” was analyzed after several people had double dipped and they found no germs in the dip from any saliva so go ahead and enjoy….I DO know that many people, friends and family, would sooner wash their mouth out with soap than follow a double dipper.
Steve Gentile says:
clearly, some ethnographic observational work is called for! in my large italian family, getting even a SINGLE dip was an achievement!
Christopher Dallion says:
I just watched the episode of Mythbusters last night that covers this topic. They were able to determine that salsa by itself has enough bacteria to make any experiment invalid. They did try a much better control and finally determined that double-dipping does not equate to putting your whole mouth in the bowl as stated on Seinfeld. Yes, it does transfer bacteria but an insignificant amount compared to what some foods already possess especially when sitting out for hours.
I personally do not double dip unless I have my own serving of the dip in question. I only correct my children when they double dip. I am not worried about the bacterial issue so much as the courtesy issue.
Jeremy Bromberg says:
What a calm crowd! You mean no one, upon spotting a double-dip, grabs their throat and flops around the floor like a fish in the bottom of a boat? I find this approach to be a very effective teaching tool.
Malcolm Williamson says:
I double dip and like doing it.
It’s like giving a kiss to everyone at the party!
Willie Martin says:
Merrill,
The only time it’s okay to double dip is when you watch two different sports in the same day, or a major and minor league game in the same day. Nothing else is okay!
Take care Sir!
Larry says:
First for all of those who were at the MRA President’s Reception, let me apologize. The server should have clearly not allowed the person to double dip. A new thing to discuss with the hotel during the pre-con (haha).
As for me no double dipping. Maybe I am a germaphob, but as frightening to me as the double dip, is the person who fingers around a tray of food before selecting what they want. I know a person’s hand is not as clean as their mouth.
I was recently at a lunch meeting, where a person came in poked a bunch of the sandwiches and cookies and then the tray moved on!!!! It didn’t stop at me.
Ruthann Chesnoff says:
I am very conscious not to double dip. I certainly have the tendency to do it with my own family. I never double dip at events or parties. I would never be brave enough to tell someone else not to double dip.