The cook is an employee of a catering establishment, so he must not only cook well, but also have a flawless appearance. There is a special uniform for this, which is convenient and practical, and is also able to protect the products used in cooking from contaminants. We will talk about the features of work clothes for cooks, its main types and selection rules in our article.
Features
The main requirements for overalls for a cook can be called Cleanliness, comfort and safety. She must possess all these characteristics. And also when choosing, you need to consider the environmental friendliness of the materials of manufacture. Chefs work in humid and rather high-temperature conditions, so synthetic fabrics are completely unsuitable for such work. In addition, the wear resistance of workwear is important. The work form has to be washed almost daily, but this should not be reflected in its appearance. Some representatives of this profession consider it very important that it does not require ironing.
It should be noted that the work of the cook will not do without the appearance of stains on clothes. This fact may require exposure to aggressive detergents to help eliminate contamination.
Quality materials should tolerate contact with them well. And also various mechanical influences are possible, therefore density and durability of clothes is very important.
What is it used for?
The chef's uniform is designed to make work at the stove comfortable and safe for its owner. therefore the rules for wearing it are indicated in the sanitary rules and regulations (SanPiN). In addition, some consider overalls for cooks to be an unnecessary whim of employers or regulatory authorities. I must say that this position is erroneous. The uniforms help maintain cleanliness and sanitary standards in the workplace. With its help, all kinds of contaminants, for example, hair and sweat, are excluded from food. It should be worn not only by cooks, but by all other kitchen workers. This is an integral part of the institution's reputation, as it affects the health of its visitors and aesthetics, as well as the taste of the served dishes.
As for comfort, it is also difficult to argue with this paragraph. In the case when the form is made of quality materials, it will not be hot in it. And also it helps to protect against external influences (hot surfaces, steam and liquids, which can be contacted in the work process).
Varieties
If we talk about the types, then the basic and casual uniform are considered the main ones. In the first, as the name implies, the cook will work daily, the second is intended for special occasions, for example, when you want to go to the hall to visitors. Most often, a suit includes trousers, a jacket or a tunic, as well as a hat. The suit should be free enough so that there is no feeling of stiffness in the movements.
Jackets come with long or short sleeves. If the sleeves are wide, Velcro or buttons should be present on the sleeves, which serve to fix these elements of clothing. The jacket assumes the presence of wide comfortable pockets. They can also be on an apron, the use of which is no less appropriate. The apron allows you to protect the main clothing from dirt, and in general it looks very organic.
The collar is usually tall, but it can be replaced with a special neckerchief.
The length of the tunic and apron should reach the cook about the middle of the knee. Buttons are usually missing; fasteners are mostly hidden. As for the color of the clothes of cooks, the undeniable classic is white. However, this is not a prerequisite. A number of restaurants are developing their own signature uniforms. It can have different shades and complemented by bright elements.
Famous establishments prefer to place their logos on the clothes of the attendants. This is especially true for cooks in those cases when they go to the hall for communication with visitors or the kitchen is open. Distinguish male and female chefs uniforms. However, women often refuse skirts in favor of more comfortable and practical trousers.that are visually slightly different from men, because they look more sophisticated and elegant. The same applies to jackets.
A hat for cooks of any skill is a must-have item. It can be a small cylindrical hat (cap), a special protective scarf or a cook's beret. The main thing is that under a hat you can securely and completely remove hair. In noble institutions, even special marks of distinction in qualifications have been introduced, including the fact that this is reflected in clothing and headgear. Male chefs should also wear masks on their faces if they have beards or mustaches.
In addition, it is impossible not to say about shoes. She has a special style. A prerequisite is the presence of an orthopedic base. The sole of the shoe should not slip. Materials should be selected so that they let air through. Special shoes for kitchen workers are called "clogs." In them, the legs on which the chef has to spend a large amount of time, get tired much less.
Materials
If we are talking about overalls, the standards of the material of manufacture are necessarily prescribed in GOST and the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor. The main conditions that such a fabric should meet are as follows:
- high strength;
- environmental friendliness;
- high wear resistance while maintaining a presentable appearance for a long time.
It should be said that synthetics are highly resistant to external influences. But at the same time, its disadvantages are a high level of electrostaticity and reduced hygroscopicity. Cotton materials boast excellent heat transfer. In addition, they are pleasant in contact with the body and very comfortable. Of the minuses, one can name the ability to crumple strongly and wear out quite quickly due to frequent washes.
A lot of modern materials are presented on store shelves. Mixed are very popular. Consumers believe that they combine the main advantages of both synthetic and natural fabrics. They are durable, tolerate external adverse effects, and also usually have a special water-repellent impregnation. Great demand also twill and poplin.
A complete set of cookery uniforms includes a hat, jacket, pants, apron and towel. All these things must be made of environmentally friendly materials that are allowed when working with food.
Optimally, if the fabric will also protect a person from exposure to heat and steam. Hypoallergenicity will be another positive property.
Selection rules
To choose the right clothing for the cook, you need to follow some recommendations. For example, Do not forget about the presence of a hat. Kitchen staff with long hair must definitely clean them. It became very convenient to use a disposable hat. The length of outerwear should reach the knee. Sleeves are equipped with buttons or Velcro. All fasteners on suits are necessarily made hidden, and the presence of buttons is unacceptable. Patch pockets are located below.
To adjust the size on the uniform there are elastic bands or special tightening cuffs. You can use an antimicrobial composition to process the uniform. It also requires daily washing, so you should not choose especially light fabrics. When choosing shoes, you need to check so that the sole does not slip. Having a hard toe will help protect your foot from possible damage, for example, if a heavy object falls on top.
In the next video, you will find a complete overview of the form of the cook.