Personal Hygiene and Appearance

Appears in
Cuisine Foundations
Cuisine Foundations

By Le Cordon Bleu

Published 2010

  • About
In a commercial kitchen, these hygiene practices should be followed:
  • Be dressed in a complete and clean uniform for each shift.
  • Remove all jewelry or secure it underneath your uniform. Dangling earrings, chains, watches, and rings can pose a safety risk by getting caught in machinery;
  • Change your jacket, apron, and side towel as often as needed.
  • Use the side towel exclusively for handling hot pots and pans.
  • Ensure that your hair is enclosed sufficiently with most of it tucked under a toque, cap, or hairnet. Beards should be enclosed as well.
  • Wash your hands before and after each task, using designated sinks to do so. Do not use your side towel for drying your hands; instead use paper towels to avoid cross-contamination.
  • Keep your nails short and clean.
  • Wear safety shoes. Tennis or running shoes are a safety risk as they do not prevent slipping nor sufficiently protect your feet from spilled hot liquids or falling knives.
  • Do not wear your uniform outside of the workplace because airborne bacteria can be brought into a kitchen this way.