You cannot and should not use alcohol gel on gloves, especially if the gloves are latex as the alcohol can degrade the glove material and cause the gloves to come apart.
Hand sanitizer does break some gloves like latex gloves and weakens the latex, tears the gloves and can completely break the gloves..
The alcohol in the hand sanitizer is what breaks the gloves.
Nitrile gloves are less likely to be broken by alcohol but it's still possible.
For most glove types, including nitrile and latex, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers is not recommended as they can compromise the glove integrity.
Nitrile gloves do degrade but it can take around 100 years for nitrile gloves to fully degrade especially when buried in a landfill.
However both nitrile and vinyl gloves are said to have an average shelf life of 5 years.
But nitrile gloves are by far the most durable type of disposable glove.
Nitrile gloves shelf life can be extended for up to 10 years if stored in ideal conditions.
The difference between nitrile gloves and latex gloves is that nitrile gloves are made using synthetic rubber which is designed to resist harsh cleaning chemicals and punctures although it impedes your range of motion.
And latex gloves are made out of natural rubber which fits comfortably and protects against bacteria and viruses.
Latex gloves are disposable and can be thrown in the garbage.
Latex gloves have been used for years in medical settings and in operating rooms for years and were always thrown away after use.
You can wash and reuse some disposable gloves although some disposable gloves only last for one use.
For cotton gloves or other non rubber gloves they can be washed and reused several times until they come apart.
Disposable gloves can be worn only once before being discarded when you're wearing the disposable gloves in a doctor or healthcare setting, surgeon or in food preparation.
If wearing the gloves at home such as for washing dishes, cleaning surfaces etc then you can wear them a few times before throwing them out.
Thicker rubber gloves can often be rinsed off and reused when washing dishes or cleaning around 20 times or more.
The reason the hands should be washed after removing gloves is to prevent spread of germs and bacteria.
When you remove the gloves with your hands you can get bacteria and germs onto your hands which can spread and by washing your hands after removing the gloves you prevent the spread of the germs and bacteria.
Kitchen staff don't have to wear gloves when handling ready to eat foods and cooked foods but kitchen staff do have to wear gloves when handling raw meat and raw ingredients.
Other foods that should not be handled with bare hands include.
Fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables for mixed drinks.
Garnishes like parsley, lettuce, lemon wedges, potato chips and pickles.
Bred, rolls, baked goods, toast.
Cold meats and sandwiches.
Salads and salad ingredients.
Prepared fresh fruits and vegetables that are served raw.
Chefs do not touch food with bare hands as chefs and cooks are required by the health department and FDA to wear gloves when handling and preparing foods.
However sometimes chefs and cooks may handle food with bare hands prior to cooking but it's generally okay in that case when the food is going to be cooked where the bacteria and germs would be cooked.
The reason chefs wear black gloves is for the professional appearance.
Wearing black gloves gives the chefs a professional look and appearance and adds an element of sophistication to a professional kitchen.
The black gloves that chefs wear also hides stains better than clear or white gloves and helps the chef maintain a clean appearance throughout the cooking process.
Wearing black gloves provide an excellent solution for situations such as catering and food service, while for food handling, processing and preparation operations, blue service gloves are probably the safest and most regulation-compliant option.
Nitrile gloves are the best gloves for chefs as they are the superior glove when it comes to puncture resistance.
The snug fit offered with Nitrile allows chefs and cooks better control of food handling not found with other lose fitting gloves.
The maximum temperature threshold that black nitrile gloves can withstand varies depending on the specific manufacturer and product line.
On average, these gloves can typically endure temperatures ranging from 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (93 to 149 degrees Celsius).
One of the primary reasons for chefs to wear disposable gloves is food safety.
Gloves act as a barrier, reducing the risk of cross-contamination between different ingredients, especially when handling raw meat, seafood, and ready-to-eat items.
This extra layer of protection can help prevent foodborne illnesses.