Anyone who has ever cooked in the kitchen or barbequed on the weekends knows that being around food preparation and cooking inevitably leads to spills on your clothes. Unless you don't care about stained clothing, buying an apron is a good idea. Kitchen aprons are essential and no good chef goes without one. My father, who always fired up the grill on weekends when we lived in California, would religiously put on his BBQ apron (as we called it) and start grilling. I find myself wearing one when I try to bake with my kids. They are easy to wash and when I'm wearing it I don't feel worried about spilling ingredients since I'm protected. Which stores carry aprons? All the kitchen related retailers like Sur La Table or Kitchen Kaboodle have a decent selection. We found them even in Target, Walmart, and Sears. The online world has really made it easy to shop for an apron (we will go into detail below).
Choosing Your Apron - I watch cooking shows like Top Chef on Bravo and see all these professional chefs with their own styles of aprons. Some wear black, others go with traditional white, and sometimes you'll even see more colorful patterns. Really, it's your own personality that should shine through when buying an apron. The length varies but most are made with a simple strap that goes around your neck and the apron covers your you from your thigh up to your chest level. Tie the apron in the front or the back to secure it. Worried that a particular apron won't fit your waistline? You shouldn't since you can just adjust the tie. Some aprons will have pockets. Styling - The vast majority of aprons we found are designed for women. Does that mean that men are out of luck? No, as you could always go with the basic white or black. There are also themed aprons for sports teams (get your favorite college or professional team's logo). Washable - Obviously this a key factor to any apron as you will be washing it after it gets dirty. It's always good to read reviews on particular items to make sure they don't fade or shrink after many washes. Where to Purchase - The online websites like Jessiesteele.com, Flirtyaprons.com, and Etsy.com are great places to start your search. You'll find unique designs that will add a little "spice" to your kitchen and cooking. Prices - We saw a range from $10 up to $35 for the more custom designs.
Apron Reviews - There is no better source online than Amazon.com as they carry all the leading brands like those from Flirty Aprons and Jessie Steele. Read what other men and women have to say about the quality and fit of the aprons. You can browse the best selling aprons here.
Best Aprons:
When it comes to owner reviews, the Chef Works aprons rate the highest. They offer a pocket bib apron, chalk strip bib apron, a chef coat, and the basic white aprons. They are straight forward in style and design and look great. Many of their products are under $20 including the Butcher Apron which is only $13. If you are looking to make a statement with something flashy and different, then these are not going to get the reaction you want. We suggest going with the ones we have listed below if that is what you want. Otherwise, the Chef Works line of kitchen aprons are well made, machine washable, and protect your clothing from getting food on it. I will say this about white aprons - they tend ot show food stains much more easily than say the color black. Stay away from the color white unless you are not messy.
Fun Aprons:
Not everyone takes cooking so seriously, and many of us like to have a good time in the kitchen. This can include the attire we wear while cooking food. Two of the most popular brands for womens aprons are Flirty Aprons and Jessie Steele. You'll find bright colors like red and pink polka dots, cupcapes, flowers, and all sorts of other cool designs and patterns. Most are made with soft designer fabrics and they are designed to fit every woman. I would say the womans styles borderline on flirtatious while the mens are simpler with expressions like "My Grill's Hotter than Yours" on the front. The Jessie Steele aprons are priced between $20 and $35. They remind me of aprons you might find on woman during the 1950's, almost like a vintage look. The DII chefs aprons are very colorful as well with intrique designs and patterns for all tastes.
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