Is Chefwear a Necessity or an Unnecessary Expense?

By Stana Peete  |   Submitted On January 13, 2014

Over the years I've visited many restaurants and cafes but what I've noticed about most of them is that they don't use chefwear. They simply wear whatever feels comfortable. From a consumer's point of view, I like to see that the people who are working with my food take pride and care in their hygiene practices. So is the customer important enough for you as the restaurateur to invest in chefwear or is it simply a waste of money?

Let's take a look at the various types of chefwear available and see which elements you consider are more important.

Chef's Jacket and Trousers. This is an item that we are all familiar with. The traditional double breasted chef's jacket with long sleeves that is usually white in colour. The jacket and trousers covers the chef so that his body is not in direct contact with the food, it also protects him from any food splashes and it has a professional appearance that is trusted by customers. Would you consider the chef's jacket and trousers a necessity or not?

Chef's Hat or Cotton Beanie. No customer wants to find a hair in their soup or in any other food for that matter. It's best to keep all your kitchen staff's hair covered while they are preparing food. This is a very important hygiene factor that you cannot ignore.

Disposable Gloves. Disposable gloves are available in either plastic or vinyl. It is essential that kitchen staff cover their hands during the food preparation process because you'll never know what kind of bacteria lurks on their hands or, even worse, under their finger nails. Once they've completed the necessary food preparation, they can simply discard the gloves. It's best practice to protect your customers from any bacterial risks.

Diposable Plastic Shoe Covers. These are a necessity if you are working with meat products such as in a butchery. With the various sawing and cutting of meat products in a butchery, bacteria can find itself on the floor. Walking across the floor can easily lead to cross contamination. The disposable plastic shoe covers protect the kitchen staff's feet and shoes from any bacterial contamination.

Disposable Aprons. This is a very useful and hygienic kitchen item. It protects your kitchen staff from food splashes so that they do not damage their clothing or walk out of the restaurant with the bacteria that they may have come in contact with. At the end of the day, they simply dispose of the aprons and any bacteria that may have accumulated on the apron.

As a restaurateur you have to be very vigilant of hygiene practices. The safety of your staff and customers is essential. Chefwear is the ideal way to protect them and you also display a professional image to your customers. Invest in good chefwear rather than take any unnecessary chances.