Why wear professional attire in the kitchen?

kitchen clothing reduces the risk of contamination from bacteria and germs emanating from clothing. They act as a barrier between foreign bodies and cooked food. Wearing a chef's hat, a net or a cooking cap can also help prevent hair loss in the dishes.

In addition, people will appreciate the fact that your staff cooks professionally, wearing appropriate outfits, designed specifically for the job.

Why is it important to wear a kitchen jacket in a restaurant?

The jacket is the first important element of a professional kitchen outfit. Today, in the preparation of dishes, it is often the obligation of the staff to wear white jackets. Above all, its main function is to protect the upper body from burns, strong heat and possible contamination.

For chefs, wearing a jacket is mandatory and it must have long sleeves to protect their arms from burns.

The toque is also widely used in this area and like the jacket, it is also mandatory for hygienic reasons. It is an essential accessory for professionals in the gastronomy, bakery, confectionery, catering industry, etc. This headgear prevents flyaways from falling into preparations.

A kitchen apron sits on top of the chef's outfit. With or without a bib, this essential item of clothing protects the chef against all kinds of dirt. Previously designed from a soft and insulating material, this professional outfit easily absorbs dirt and is very pleasant to wear even in the heat of the stove. It also ensures a high level of cleanliness.

A professional cook outfit should be complemented with pants and safety shoes complying with European standards EN ISO 20345 S2, SRC, HRO. Solid and above all, non-slip, these shoes protect the feet from falling objects and limit the risk of injury. Indeed, in this job, it is possible to find yourself in a kitchen with a very slippery floor.

What should you wear in the kitchen?

A professional cook should wear kitchen pants. This should not have pockets or cuffs for hygienic reasons. The work pants in the kitchen have the advantage of being easy to put on and take off. In general, they have been made from breathable materials such as cotton.

The work outfit also consists of a kitchen jacket. Kitchen shirts are simple to put on and unbutton. They should cover your entire top and usually have a collar around the neck. They have wide and flexible sleeves to offer the chef greater comfort and to allow him to perform movements without difficulty.

As for the head, a cook's hat or a headdress can complete the work outfit. The main objective is to avoid the risk of contamination and hair loss. In most large kitchens, the size of the chef's hat defines the level of the cook. The larger the toque, the more high-level the wearer is considered.

Kitchen aprons are just as necessary as other equipment. This accessory is worn over the cook's clothing, that is to say over the trousers and the jacket. Although not mandatory, it is still recommended. This professional outfit offers excellent protection, especially if it is waterproof. The chef can also use it instead of gloves or a tea towel. An apron with large pockets also allows him to keep his things on him. Like all workwear, this kitchen outfit should be changed fairly regularly.

Why is professional attire mandatory in collective catering and pastry?

For collective catering and pastry establishments, wearing clean, light-colored clothing is mandatory. This consists of safety shoes which are very important PPE in the kitchen.

The safety shoe must be waterproof and have a non-slip sole according to the SRC standard to prevent slipping on wet floors. It must also be equipped with a shell that protects the wearer against possible falling objects. A good safety shoe must also be comfortable enough to ensure the well-being of the worker throughout the day.