All professional chefs have a food apron, but how many of them have a towel? Chefs use towels to absorb spills, dry their hands, wipe down appliances and cutting boards, and wipe up messes around the kitchen. But before a chef starts washing up, they need a towel. So, why do chefs always have a towel?
Why Do Chefs Always Have A Towel?
The origin of the towel can be traced back to ancient times when chefs were using it as a handkerchief. In the kitchens, they needed to keep their hands clean while cooking and so they would use a cloth to wipe their hands. Nowadays, chefs are in charge of maintaining hygiene in the kitchen, which includes washing their hands before preparing food and after handling raw ingredients. They need to use towels on their hands because they are exposed to raw meat and other food items that may contain bacteria or germs that could cause sickness if touched by an unwashed hand.
What Are Kitchen Towels?
Towels used in the kitchen are, by definition, chef kitchen towels. While it seems simple enough, there’s more to it than meets the eye. One of the most useful and versatile kitchen items you will own is a towel that can be used in a variety of situations and all over the kitchen. A kitchen towel, for example, is usually more durable than most towels. Aside from absorbing liquids, they are good for wiping up spills, cleaning off cutting boards, drying dishes, drying hands, and even holding a hot item such as dishes or pans with hot handles. Towels should always be on hand whenever you cook. Kitchen towels are used for wiping up spills or cleaning dishes. They’re also useful for drying off hands after washing them. If you don’t use a kitchen towel when cooking, then you might end up with grease stains on your clothes.
There Are Many Types Of Kitchen Towels
There are many types of kitchen towels that are available out there for you to choose from. Some of them are soft, some are absorbent, and some have a variety of colors. You can use different types of kitchen towels for different purposes. For example, you can use a microfiber towel to dry dishes and cookware, while you can use terry cloth towels to clean your floor or a bath mat.
Bar Mops
Its original application was to clean up bar messes, as its name suggests. With bar mops, you can dab away leftover residue on knives, brush off scraps into the garbage, or dab at knife residue.
Dish Towel
A dish towel is a small cloth that is used for cleaning dishes and other kitchen utensils. They are commonly used in a kitchen and are usually made of cotton or linen.
Chef Towel
A chef towel is a kitchen cloth that is used to remove grease from dishes, clean the stovetop, handle hot pans, or wipe up spills. Chef towels have been around for centuries. In fact, it was during the Middle Ages that chefs began to use towels as a way to protect their hands from heat and oil. They need to be extremely durable to handle the heat of the kitchen!
Tea Towel
A tea towel is a type of cloth used to dry dishes after washing them. They are often absorbent and used to protect surfaces from water, food, and stains.
What Kinds of Materials Are Used in Kitchen Towels?
The types of materials used in kitchen towels depend on the purpose for which they are being used. For example, if you need to clean up spills on the floor, you will want to use a towel that is absorbent and has a lot of surface area for better cleaning. If you want to dry dishes by hand or machine, then you will want to choose a towel that has more strength than one with less surface area. Here are some of the more common types.
Linen
Linen is a natural fiber that is absorbent making it perfect for use in cleaning up messes in the kitchen. Linen was traditionally used for kitchen towels because it’s absorbent and can be easily cleaned with soap and water.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural fiber that has been used for centuries. It is soft and absorbent, making it ideal for kitchen towels. Cotton absorbs more moisture than other materials like polyester or rayon, which makes it the perfect choice for kitchen towels because they are constantly being washed with soap and water.
Terry Cloth
Terry cloth is a type of cotton cloth that has been woven in a pattern with loops. The loops give terry cloth its characteristic puckered surface, which makes it absorbent. Terry cloth is used for kitchen towels because it has a high absorbency and can be easily cleaned by hand. Moreover, they are cheap to buy in packs and easily replicable.
Paper
The most common use of paper towels is for cleaning up spills or drips from wet objects like food or drinks. These paper towels can be stored in a dispenser that is mounted on the wall. They are not to be used in the same way as oven mitts and you should never use them to handle a hot dish. They are purely used as a wet towel for disposable cleaning.
Kitchen Towels Are Used For Various Purposes
You may want to keep some kitchen towels on hand in case you need to use them for whatever purpose. It can be relied on for a variety of situations when a kitchen towel is well-made and made of high-quality materials. There are a few uses for kitchen towels that make them more popular than just drying your hands. Here are just a few:
- As a non-slip surface for your kitchen countertops
- A way to clean your cooking utensils
- A way to dry off your hands
- Something to help you to hold onto pots and pans
Things Not to Do With Kitchen Towels
There are lots of ways to use kitchen towels, but there are a lot of ways to misuse them, particularly regarding sanitary issues.
- Never use the same towel for drying dishes and hands simultaneously.
- Don’t clean the sink with a kitchen towel.
- Avoid using a kitchen towel in conjunction with any cleaning product.
- Do not throw your towel on your countertop (treat them with respect!).
How to Choose a Kitchen Towel
If you are shopping for a kitchen towel, you have plenty of options. There are several factors to take into account when choosing the best kitchen towel set for your needs, even though it seems like a simple product.
- Look for towels made using natural fibers
- Opt for ones that are flat-woven and lint-free
- Ensure it is durable enough to last the course
- It should be easily washable
While all chefs have their techniques, personal recipes, and culinary secrets, most chefs have a common trait. When cooking in the kitchen, all of them will use different types of towels for different purposes.