Kitchen gloves – uses, responsibilities and correct usage
When are disposable gloves a good idea, and what advantages do they offer?
In the food industry, wearing gloves is often mandatory – but not in the catering sector. Opinions among chefs are divided as to whether working with gloves is more hygienic than working without them. Many chefs advocate wearing gloves to protect their hands and avoid frequent hand washing, whilst others dislike the feel of gloves and prefer to work with bare hands. This is because only with bare fingers does a chef have the necessary sensitivity for accurate and rapid work – as the hands are a chef’s tools, this is essential. We provide answers to the question of when gloves are appropriate.
More hygienic or not?
Recent studies now show that wearing gloves is no more hygienic than working with ‘bare’ hands – provided that good hand hygiene is practised. In fact, working with disposable gloves is often even less hygienic, as many chefs do not take the ‘disposable’ aspect all that seriously. If you wear gloves whilst working, they must be changed regularly – ideally after every change of task or product – which leads to enormous wastage of disposable gloves throughout the day. Hands must also be clean when putting on gloves to avoid contaminating them. Washing your hands is also necessary afterwards, as the skin under the gloves sweats quickly and the natural bacteria on the skin multiply. Consequently, even when wearing gloves, you cannot avoid washing your hands regularly.
Hand hygiene guidelines:
- Do not wear jewellery
- Keep your fingernails short
- Wash your hands regularly under running warm water with soap or a special hand sanitiser designed for use in the kitchen
- Dry your hands with disposable towels after washing
- Look after your hands regularly
Hand hygiene when wearing gloves:
- Put gloves on after washing your hands
- Change gloves regularly
- Wash your hands thoroughly between changes
Gloves & the Placebo Effect
Many food businesses and catering establishments use gloves to give customers and guests the impression of high standards of hygiene. Some guests may be put off if the chef handles and prepares cold food – particularly items that will not be reheated – with bare hands. Gloves are generally associated with high standards of hygiene, and this is projected onto the entire restaurant – even if it is often more appearance than substance. Of course, the only way to win over your guests in the long term is through genuine hand hygiene in the kitchen.
When is it advisable to wear gloves?
There are therefore no advantages to wearing gloves during continuous use. Nevertheless, certain conditions may make it necessary to wear gloves in exceptional cases – particularly when it comes to protecting the wearer, i.e. the chef:
- Handling foods with strong odours or colours
If you are working with beetroot, chilli, red cabbage, fish, onions or other foods that stain or have a strong smell, as well as spicy or pungent foods, it is advisable to wear gloves whilst preparing them to prevent, for example, skin discolouration and stubborn odours on your hands. - Open, sensitive or injured hands
In everyday kitchen work, hands are exposed to water, liquids and other irritants. If you have particularly sensitive hands, you should wear disposable gloves whilst working. This protects your skin from injury and also ensures that your food does not come into contact with any cuts or grazes. If you need to wear gloves whilst cooking, you must make sure to change them regularly! - Intolerances
If, as a chef, you have intolerances or allergies to certain liquids or foods, it is also advisable to wear gloves when handling them.
What material should disposable gloves be made of?
Disposable gloves are available in a variety of materials. You can read about their properties in our overview:
- Latex gloves: Latex is derived from rubber trees. The material is highly elastic and is therefore well suited for disposable gloves. The biggest advantage of latex gloves is their comfort and excellent fit. Latex is food-safe and resistant to oil and grease. This makes latex gloves perfect for use in the kitchen, housekeeping or the laboratory. However, the material can cause reactions in people with a latex allergy.
- Nitrile gloves: Nitrile gloves are made from a synthetic material that is highly elastic and flexible. This makes them very comfortable to wear. Nitrile is latex-free and therefore very gentle on the skin – there are no known cases of skin reactions. Nitrile gloves are resistant to chemicals, oil and grease. This makes them an ideal choice for kitchens, housekeeping and laboratories.
- Vinyl gloves: Vinyl gloves are made from PVC. This is why they are very inexpensive. However, disposable vinyl gloves contain plasticisers and are less elastic than latex or nitrile gloves. Furthermore, they should only be used when handling non-greasy foodstuffs.
- Polyethylene gloves: Polyethylene is a thermoplastic. Gloves made from PE are food-safe, resistant to oils and fats, and highly tear-resistant. This makes them the perfect choice for use in kitchens, the hospitality sector and the food industry.
- Organic PLA gloves: Environmentally friendly disposable gloves made from PLA are now available. These gloves are waterproof, food-safe and 100% compostable. They are also produced in a carbon-neutral manner. However, they are only heat-resistant up to a maximum of 40 °C. If you want to be environmentally conscious when using disposable gloves in the kitchen and for service, this is a good choice.
- Gloves for use in retail: Anyone working in retail who prioritises food safety and hygiene should wear gloves. Gloves designed for retail use are tear-resistant, provide a good grip and are quick to put on. This makes them ideal for use in the takeaway sector and for delivery services.
- Handschuhe aus Baumwolle: Handschuhe aus - Cotton gloves: Cotton gloves make disposable gloves more comfortable to wear. They are also suitable for setting the table and handling hot crockery. These undergloves are machine washable up to 60°C and have a good fit.
Black or white gloves?
The colour of gloves is generally a matter of personal taste. Whilst black gloves look more fashionable, white gloves have the advantage that dirt is more easily visible, meaning they can be changed straight away.