White is one of the most common colors seen in a kitchen. From chefs in their chef coats and best chef aprons, to dishwashers in their shirts and bib aprons, white uniforms can be seen on everyone in the food industry. The color has been around for centuries and became a symbol of cleanliness and purity when it was adopted by cooks long ago.
There are several benefits to wearing white in the kitchen.
White is considered by many to be the color of cleanliness. This is because white reflects light. This makes it easy to spot stains on clothing, especially the traditional chef's whites (or chef coat) which are typically made from cotton or polycotton blends.
Chefs wear uniforms that include protection layers such as long-sleeved shirts and pants in addition to their clean outer layer of a coat, hat, and neckerchief and apron. Think about how many times you have spilled something while cooking. The great thing about wearing all this protective gear is that once your clothes get stained by food or grease, they will be much easier to remove thanks to the fact that one can bleach them without worrying too much about losing color like with other colors of fabric. You don't want people judging you for having dirty work clothes, and it is a lot more professional to have clean clothes even if you do get them stained.
Wearing an apron over your coat also helps protect it from getting dirty, which makes this style of uniform very practical. Not only can they be bleached for cleaning but aprons are made with fabrics such as cotton or polycotton blends that will not shrink too much after being washed and dried in the laundry room. Depending on how often one has to wash their work clothes, some chefs choose to wear disposable coats so that they don't have to spend time worrying about laundering all of their jackets every day before coming back into work again the next morning. This way there is no need to worry about shrinking either because these special chef uniforms tend to be far more resilient and a whole lot more durable than traditional cotton coats.
White is a color that is easy to spot in a kitchen full of food and dirty dishes. This is helpful because chefs tend to have their hands dipped into foods while cooking, meaning that stains are more likely to appear on one's clothes. White also means that the fabric won't absorb liquids or oils which can cause lasting stains as well. Chefs may choose white coats for practical reasons but it has become an iconic sign associated with restaurants across North America.
White is a reflective color, meaning it is easier for chefs to see their hands and the food they are preparing. This is particularly helpful when cooking at night or in dimly lit restaurants which can be common with certain types of cuisine like sushi. The choice of whether or not to wear white depends largely on personal preference and what kind of work environment the chef has in his or her restaurant.
A chef can be very easy to spot when he or she is wearing their white chef coat. The first chefs wore white coats because it was the only color that could be bleached clean. Historically, this made sense as kitchens were usually very dirty and unwashed uniforms would quickly deteriorate into an unsanitary mess. Today, many restaurants still maintain a policy requiring their employees to wear white chef coats for hygiene reasons since they can easily be washed and bleached between uses; however, other restaurant owners prefer black or brown cotton jackets to reduce costs.
The white uniforms also portray an aura of professionalism that you simply cannot get from other colors such as black or red or green. It also ensures cleanliness and customers will feel secure that they are not going to encounter any unsanitary elements.
The history of the white chef uniform dates back to ancient China where chefs painted their faces and hands with a mixture of flour, eggs, turmeric or ash before cooking so that they would appear more appetizing during food presentation. This tradition soon became popular in Europe as well because it was believed by some people at this time that these products were effective germ-killers. However, eventually over time this practice faded away due to the fact that there is really no evidence which supports these claims about using ash or turmeric on your skin being able to kill harmful bacteria.
In the early days of cooking, chefs were actually advised to wear white clothing in order to make food look more appetizing when it was served up on a plate.
Of course, it’s not just about the color. White clothes are easier to clean and maintain than other colors, which is important when you spend as much time in a kitchen as chefs do. However, there's also something more symbolic going on here too; white symbolizes purity and honesty, qualities that many people associate with food preparation or serving others delicious meals. Consider incorporating this into your next marketing campaign.