Why Kitchen Uniforms Are So Important For Your Restaurant

There are a number of reasons why quality chef clothing is important for professional kitchen staff. Keep reading to find out why you should be investing in premium kitchen uniforms for your team to help them perform at their best. 

Benefits of Quality Chef Clothing

Quality Materials

Clothing which is designed specifically for a professional kitchen setting prioritises comfort, safety and kitchen hygiene, and is also made using materials that are easily washable. Chef whites mean that stains can be easily seen and cross-contamination can be avoided. Using chef jackets with materials that can be washed easily is important as this allows stains to be removed from clothing to maintain a professional look.

Comfort

Breathability is a key benefit of high-quality chef clothing. Where professional kitchens can often be hot, particularly during busy periods it is important that breathable materials are used. Any role within a professional kitchen is demanding and it is therefore important that workplace attire is designed specifically for this setting. 

Loose-fitting cotton, polyester or polycotton trousers are a good option from a comfort standpoint using materials which are breathable and that are less likely to irritate the skin. They can also be washed easily ensuring that high standards of cleanliness are maintained.

Safety

A key feature of kitchen uniforms is that they use thick enough materials to minimise the impact of spills whilst also allowing breathability and not restricting mobility. A well-fitted chef’s uniform is crucial to safety in a kitchen setting, ensuring that extra material is not getting in the way of a chef’s work and increasing the risk of accidents. 

Appropriate footwear is also an important aspect of safety in a kitchen setting. Many chefs opt for footwear without laces to prevent untied shoelaces from presenting a tripping hazard. It is also important that there is adequate grip on shoes to reduce the risk of slipping over whilst working in a fast-paced kitchen setting.

Improved Kitchen Hygiene

By providing a kitchen uniform which is regularly laundered, professional hygiene standards required in a hospitality business can be maintained. In addition to steps such as removing jewellery, tying up hair and wearing chef caps, a uniform for a kitchen team also is a key step to improved hygiene in this setting. This avoids bacteria on everyday clothes entering the kitchen. 

Working alongside a chef uniform hire company with experience working in hospitality and assisting in adhering to strict hygiene standards to provide and launder chefs’ uniforms can be a useful step.

Avoiding Cross-Contamination

One of the main benefits of kitchen uniforms is that they avoid cross-contamination from everyday clothing. Professional kitchens have clear processes in place to ensure that cross-contamination is avoided and choosing high-quality chef clothing is a key step.

Key Components of Kitchen Uniform

Some of the main items of professional kitchen uniforms include chef jackets, linen aprons, polo shirts and chef trousers. In addition to this having high-quality, absorbent and easily washed kitchen cloths can also provide significant benefits in a professional kitchen. Providing uniforms to a team can also provide a clear understanding of roles and seniority improving clarity and workflow. Wearing clothing that is not designed for a kitchen setting can impact performance.

Where some restaurants have open kitchens it is especially important that there is a professional and cohesive uniform for a kitchen team. Providing a kitchen team with workwear is the most straightforward route to quality controlling hygiene standards within a kitchen. 

Once again, working with a chef uniform hire company that can assist with providing and laundering clothing items can then allow the focus to remain on other aspects of running a professional kitchen. Ensuring that shoes are comfortable when standing for long periods of time and have a good tread to avoid slipping and falling is also important.

Chef Jackets

A good chef’s jacket is at the core of a high-quality kitchen uniform. A chef jacket should reduce the impact of hot spills, usually through a double-breasted design. Using thick materials to account for the risk of hot items spilling it is also important that this clothing item provides breathability and does not impact movement in the kitchen setting. Chef whites will also allow stains to be identified quickly and easily avoiding the risk of cross-contamination.

It is also important that a jacket can be fastened and unfastened quickly and easily. Using stud buttons avoids the risk of traditional buttons falling off the jacket. A high-quality white chef jacket is a practical and professional-looking kitchen essential. 

There are a number of different options for chef jackets including long-sleeved and short-sleeved options. Whilst a long-sleeved jacket is the safer option offering more protection a short-sleeved jacket will not be as hot and can be more suitable in a kitchen setting where there is less preparation of hot food. Shorter sleeves also ensure that the material does not get in the way of the cooking process.

Aprons

Linen aprons for professional kitchens should be lightweight and provide coverage from spills onto chefs' whites.  It is important that aprons are made of materials which can be easily washed allowing for any stains to be removed and maintaining a professional look. Having a good supply of linen aprons is important, allowing for kitchen staff to change aprons when necessary.

Trousers

The main benefit of using chefs’ trousers is in avoiding cross-contamination from everyday clothing in a kitchen setting. Kitchen-specific trousers will also typically be designed with comfort in mind with a drawstring waist and breathable materials. 

While chef trousers have traditionally had a checked pattern, many modern professional kitchens opt for darker or more plain designs on this part of a kitchen uniform. As with all other aspects of a chef’s uniform, it is important that trousers are the right size so the material does not get in the way. Typically loose-fitting, breathable drawstring trousers are the preferred option in many professional kitchens.

Kitchen Cloths

Having high-quality, absorbent and easily washable cloths is crucial within a professional kitchen. A number of different types of cloth are required including tea towels, glass cloths, oven cloths and microfibre cloths all serving an important purpose. 

Premium-Quality Chef Uniform Hire 

Stalbridge Linen Services provide a range of high-quality kitchen uniform options available for hire. For kitchens of all sizes, our range of high-quality and practical chef clothing is designed for the kitchen environment. With products including chef whites, chef jackets, aprons, polo shirts and chef trousers, our range provides a practical and professional look for a kitchen setting. 

We also offer flexible options so you can change your chef clothing requirements as kitchen staffing requirements evolve and change with your business.

With significant experience in hospitality, Stalbridge Linen Services also provide a range of products and services for restaurants and hotels including table linen, serviettes and hotel linen. Get in touch today to discuss your chef uniform hire requirements and see the difference that premium-quality kitchen uniforms can make.