The term “food service glove” refers to a type of glove that is worn by those who handle food or serve food to other people, both in public and in private. Many restaurants and food businesses alike require workers to use food service gloves since employees in these industries often come into direct contact with the food during the preparation process. With food service gloves, you can ensure that dirt, particles, bacteria, and viruses won’t transfer from their hands to the food.
What To Consider When Shopping For the Best Food Service Gloves
When shopping for food service gloves, it’s important to understand why food service gloves are so useful in the first place.
Reasons Why Food Service Gloves Are So Useful
They make it possible for you to touch food directly when cooking
It’s no secret that some dishes and recipes require you to make direct contact with food. You can, of course, cook food with the help of utensils, but your hands can often grant you a certain level of accuracy and precision that tools can’t provide. With food service gloves, you can handle food more precisely.
They minimize direct contact with food in restaurant settings
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant or another setting where food is involved, then you know the importance of covering your hands when handling food. You can’t touch food with your hands when you’ll be serving it to the public, and with food service gloves, you can make sure you adhere to safety protocols in food-service places.
They let you pick up food without getting your hands dirty
Some foods are simply better when you eat them with your fingers. From chicken wings and ribs to tater tots and French fries, It’s not impossible to eat them with utensils, but you miss out on the overall experience when you don’t eat them as finger foods. However, since eating with your hands can be unsanitary — and sometimes impolite — gloves are the next best thing.
Types of Materials Used in Food Service Gloves
Plastic
Plastic is the most affordable material, making plastic food service gloves the cheapest option in terms of price. Plus, plastic food service gloves are lightweight and transparent. They’re also very easy to dispose of, though they might break or rip open unexpectedly. As a result, they are generally only suitable for use when serving and eating food, not preparing it.
Vinyl
Vinyl is the middle ground of food service glove materials. While vinyl gloves are not as durable as nitrile gloves, they are a step up from plastic in terms of durability. Vinyl gloves can provide you with a tighter on your hands, making them well-suited when preparing food.
Nitrile
Nitrile is incredibly durable, making it the most suitable material when engaging in heavy-duty work. If you plan to wear food service gloves for more than simple food prep sessions, nitrile is an excellent choice. The only major downside is that nitrile gloves cost more than vinyl or plastic ones, though that’s the price you’ll have to pay for gloves that last for a long time.