Why wear a professional kitchen outfit?

Kitchen professionals should wear well-defined work clothes. These clothes fulfill many roles. Above all, they must be comfortable, protective and above all guarantee perfect hygiene.

Contrary to popular belief, wearing kitchen attire isn't just for chefs. This also applies to clerks, waiters, etc. But why do you have to wear it and what are the constituent elements of this uniform?

What is the role of professional attire in a restaurant?

Cooks are exposed to certain risks in the kitchen: flames, high heat, burning materials, splashes from hot dishes, etc. Therefore, comfort and safety can only be guaranteed by wearing professional clothing such as a apron, a chefs-trousers or a kitchen jacket. In some cases you will need to wear a full outfit, but in other cases a jacket is sufficient. It really depends on the task at hand and the risks involved.

professional kitchen outfits also protect food from contamination from bacteria and germs emanating from clothing. They act as a barrier between foreign bodies and cooked food. In addition, wearing a chef's cap, a net or even a cooking cap can help prevent hair loss that falls in the preparations.

Why should a chef wear professional attire?

Hygiene is one of the most important criteria in the kitchen. In fact, a clean diet is the foundation of good health, so it is an essential factor, because even a small infection can contaminate the whole dish. Wearing suitable work clothes prevents this, but also protects against splashes of sauces, liquids, fats and oils.

The guests appreciate the service provided by a chef who demonstrates professionalism and wears an outfit consistent with his activity. This proves the passion, motivation and dynamism in the culinary implementation.

Today, PPE manufacturers compete in ingenuity to offer a wide range of professional kitchen clothing. Therefore, you will have no trouble finding outfits that match your style and taste. Some chefs prefer long-sleeved jackets, while others find short-sleeved kitchen shirts more comfortable. They are often light in tone and made of insulating material, but there are models with a wide variety of colors.

You can also invest in personalized professional outfits related to your style or the theme of a particular event (Christmas, birthday, company party, etc.). In any case, work clothes must meet European ISO standards.

Why is professional attire mandatory?

The main reason to encourage employees to be careful with their professional attire is that it should not harm the image of the company. Employees dress according to a dress code that reflects their job, their company and their hierarchical function.

Wearing work clothes is required by law to maintain hygiene in the kitchen, protect against falls and injuries, prevent the proliferation of germs and bacteria, etc. In direct contact with customers, cooks, waiters, restaurateurs and clerks are also required to wear predefined professional attire.

What clothing for a cook in collective catering?

The world of collective catering, whether in school canteens, medical establishments or communities, is highly regulated both in terms of food storage conditions and staff clothing.

For example, cooks should wear light-colored work clothes (usually white) consisting of a chef's jacket with long sleeves and a collar, work, an apron, safety shoes and a cap.

Professional uniform for the collective kitchen

In the collective kitchen, the chefs, their second, the chefs de partie, the simple cooks or the kitchen clerks must wear appropriate work clothes. This is always for reasons of safety and respect for food hygiene.

You'll be spoiled for choice in terms of outfits and can dress from head to toe. You can combine a kitchen jacket (short or long sleeve) with work pants. Often white, the jacket is suitable for both men and women.

As for kitchen pants, you can opt for houndstooth models, traditional or classic, in black or light colors that go with your work top, especially the jacket. You can add a kitchen apron to complete your outfit. It comes in many forms, including low aprons that are long enough to cover your pants or disposable aprons.

As for work accessories in a collective kitchen, you must put on a white kitchen hat or a disposable cap. There are also disposable overshoes to protect your shoes from all kinds of dirt. The headdress, kitchen cap, protective sleeves and single-use gloves are also very useful for your safety.