Food safety and sanitation are essential in all food-related establishments. Enforcing a strict and proper safety protocol ensures no food-borne illnesses spread from the food, baked goods, and drinks you serve. This includes proper hand washing practice and wearing the right type of disposable gloves.
But which type of gloves are the best for baking? Let’s find out!
Types of Gloves Used in the Food Industry
Wearing disposable gloves helps maintain the safety of food-related establishments. Here are 5 types of gloves used in the food industry.
Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are made from synthetic material which provides strong resistance to animal fats, oils, and various chemicals. In booking and baking, there are strong ingredients that can cause skin burns or dryness, like vinegar. These disposable gloves are puncture-resistant perfect for people handling sharp objects and tools.
These disposable gloves offer a snug fit without decreasing tactile sensitivity and dexterity.
Latex Gloves
Latex gloves are the most widely used type of disposable gloves across the globe. They are flexible, affordable, and durable. Latex gloves provide excellent tactile sensitivity, perfect for chopping and handling small ingredients.
However, latex can cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin. This became the #1 issue with latex gloves.
Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl gloves are cost-effective, durable, and tear-resistant. However, they’re not as durable as nitrile gloves and as flexible and comfortable as latex gloves. However, vinyl gloves are food safe and used in food service, handling, and clean-up duties.
These disposable gloves are not ideal for handling hazardous and strong ingredients and chemicals.
Polyethylene Gloves
Poly gloves are thinner and less durable compared to latex, nitrile, and vinyl gloves. As a result, they’re only used for light-duty, quick tasks without being in direct contact with food or ingredients. However, polyethylene gloves are affordable, thin, loose, and easy to don and remove.
These disposable gloves are not resistant to chemicals and strong substances.
Neoprene Gloves
Neoprene gloves are reusable, heavy-duty gloves typically used in cleaning and dishwashing. They’re not ideal for cooking or food preparation due to their thick material. However, neoprene gloves are heat-resistant, and flexible, and offer excellent protection against strong cleaning agents, acids, chemicals, and other harmful substances.
How To Choose The Best Gloves For Your Food Business
Every food-related business and establishment handles different ingredients, materials, tools, and equipment. Hence, they have different requirements with the disposable gloves they use. Some types of gloves might not be ideal for a specific task. That’s why searching for the best disposable gloves based on your food business is crucial.
Bakeries
Latex and vinyl gloves are typically used in baking. They protect the skin from burns. However, they shouldn’t be used as a substitute for oven mitts.
Poly gloves are also ideal for bakeries and pastry shops where consistent changing of gloves is required. However, polyethylene gloves can only be used for decorating or other lightweight tasks. Remember, poly gloves are very affordable and consistently changing them will not cost too much.
Delis
Making sandwiches and serving side dishes required frequent changing of gloves. Because of this, affordable disposable gloves like poly gloves and vinyl gloves are ideal. However, keep in mind that poly gloves are not stretchable. Once they are stretched and compromised, replace them at once.
Nitrile gloves might not be affordable but they’re durable. If you handle sharp objects, nitrile gloves are perfect for you.
Buffet
Buffet lines are always busy. It’s imperative that workers should wear durable gloves while serving food to people without getting in contact with the food, people, and other staff. If you’re behind the counter and serving food, nitrile gloves are the best option for you. There’s no need to always replace gloves after a customer because you’re not getting in contact with them.
Wearing lightweight gloves in this setting will be tricky. Workers will have to replace their gloves frequently and slow down the queue which is not good for the busy setting in buffets.
Industrial Kitchen
Working in an industrial kitchen requires both low and high-risk tasks. Some workers chop vegetables and meats while others are responsible for grilling meat and other heavy tasks.
In this hectic setting, nitrile gloves are your best option. Nitrile gloves are very durable, stretchable, comfortable, and breathable. They are perfect for long hours inside the kitchen. These disposable gloves are puncture resistant, making them ideal for using knives and other sharp objects. Nitrile gloves are resistant to oils and strong ingredients.
However, if your tasks involve food preparation tasks, latex or vinyl gloves will suffice. As long as you’re not handling any knives. But if you’re tasked with cleaning and dishwashing, consider using neoprene gloves.
Are Nitrile Gloves The Best For Your Business?
The best type of gloves depends on the tasks you must execute.
Latex, poly, and vinyl gloves are affordable but aren’t ideal for handling sharp objects like knives. While neoprene gloves are only used for cleaning and dishwashing. Nitrile gloves are your best option for food-related businesses.
Nitrile gloves are stretchy, durable, and comfortable, perfect for working long hours in the kitchen and food establishments. They don’t affect dexterity and tactile sensitivity which is crucial for identifying whether meat is cooked or not. These disposable gloves can be more expensive but they’re puncture-resistant which is a must in ensuring no food-borne illnesses spread from the food you serve.
