Uniforms in many occupations are important for a variety of reasons, from making a good impression, to suggesting responsibility, and to producing a sense of unity in the workplace. Chef hats help signify seniority in a kitchen and create an air of respectability, as well as having practical safety considerations. A chef’s hat is one of the most easily recognized hats in the world and can be found in the kitchens of every country.
The iconic tall white hat or toque blanche (white hat in French) is much more than just a show, it was first developed in France during the 16th century as a means of keeping hair out of food. One story is that one of the French kings got upset with his cook because he found a hair in his dinner, so he beheaded the unlucky cook. This started the practice of wearing a hat while working in the kitchen.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, it was uncommon for men and women to cut their hair short, which meant that many men had long hair. This often meant that the older the person, the longer their hair would become, so with age goes experience and seniority. Hats grew taller to accommodate longer hair. The older the chef, the taller the hat, with the chef being the oldest and the one with the tallest hat.
The hat is designed to keep its owners’ hair inside and prevent any chance of it getting into the food or snagging on anything in the kitchen. The creases or folds of the hat are said to represent the 100 different ways a chef is supposed to know how to prepare and cook an egg.
The traditional chef’s hat was always white to suggest cleanliness, but modern kitchens have begun to allow different colors to be introduced depending on the owner’s preference. Sometimes the entire chef’s uniform is colored to match the branding of a particular establishment.
Local health departments generally require that a suitable hat be worn in the kitchen for hygienic reasons, but the exact type depends on the particular kitchen’s choice, as long as the hair is adequately contained.
The most popular type of chef hat is still the white hat, but this white hat can come in a variety of styles, from starched cotton to disposable paper hats.
The skull cap is a favorite in many fast food restaurants, especially for people with short hair.
The Mob Cap has an elasticated opening and is ideal for those with long hair that can be tied back and tucked into the cap with the entire hairline covered.
The headscarf is not that common these days, but it is great for both long and short hair as it can be knotted around the forehead and knotted at the back containing all the hair.
The hair net is most often used in industrial food manufacturing and large-scale catering kitchens such as schools, hospitals, and airports where there are many employees. Hairnets are easy to use and work very well to keep the ear in check, which is why they are often preferred by workers and management when they are out of the public eye. They have the advantage that they are cheap and can be kept in your pocket.