Kitchen Linens

Finding the Best Kitchen Linens

Keep yourself and your kitchen clean with high-quality kitchen linens. When preparing a meal, kitchen textiles are an essential part of the process. From aprons for protecting your clothes, dish towels for drying your hands and oven mitts for removing hot dishes from the broiler, these practical kitchen accessories make it easier and safer to get dinner on the table. So what are the different types of kitchen linens for exactly, and how many should you have of each? While most people may think of an apron as a coverall to keep clothing free of stains and splatter while cooking, these versatile coverings also offer a convenient place to wipe fingers free of flour or seasoning between dishes. Styles with pockets double the functionality by giving home chefs a place to stow useful tools, such as a timer, recipe card or cell phone. Because they do not come into contact with the dish you are preparing, it's alright to keep your apron collection small. If one family member takes care of most of the meal preparation, then one apron should suffice, while two or more might be necessary for couples who like to cook or families with kids who enjoy assisting the grownups with mixing or stirring. Oven mitts and pot holders, used for grasping the handles of pots and pans hot off the stove or out of the oven, are also not likely to require frequent changes. Two oven mitts for carrying heavy dishes and two pot holders for cumbersome pots will cover most cooking sessions—just be sure to wash them if they come in contact with food so that they're ready for next time. You will, however, want to make sure that you've got a generous supply of dish towels for the kitchen. Because of their many uses and versatility, from mopping up spills to drying hands and dishes, these kitchen linens should be replaced and washed every few days to prevent the spread of germs. (And of course, throw any kitchen textiles that have come in contact with meat into the machine immediately.) To make sure you've got enough to last you through a wash cycle, consider purchasing between eight and ten kitchen cloths, at the very least. Look for breathable, absorbent materials such as cotton or linen, from which water can evaporate quickly.

Styling Your Space with Kitchen Linens

Just because they are practical doesn't mean your kitchen textiles can't look great, too. Available in a variety of colors, patterns and materials, the linens you choose for your prep area help contribute to the look and feel of the space. To keep things cohesive, go with a modern kitchen linen set featuring an apron, kitchen towel and oven mitt in the same design. A classic white set of kitchen linens, for example, gives off a clean, professional feel when guests stop by to see what's cooking, while a pale blue or warm red bundle evokes a cozier vibe. Prefer to purchase each type of kitchen linen separately? Try to stick to a single color scheme, such as warm or cool hues, to avoid a mismatched look. For a festive touch to your food preparation