It's a good idea to wear latex gloves while dehydrating food. Why?
Two reasons: Keep germs at bay AND they're a big help with frozen foods. Read on for more about 'frozen foods'!
You see, there's absolutely no point in ruining your dehydrated fruits and veggies with 'dirty' hands!
It's easy to keep your germs all to yourself by simply slipping on a pair of gloves... and you're good to go!
And there's no need to throw them away after just one use. See my comment as to why at the bottom of the page!
What are the different sizes of latex gloves?
Latex gloves come in a variety of sizes, including small, medium, large, and extra-large. The size of the glove should be determined by the width of the hand.
What are the different colors of latex gloves?
Latex gloves are available in a variety of colors, including white, black, blue, and green. The color of the glove does not affect its function. I know I always associate 'blue gloves' with doctors!
There are a few advantages to wearing latex gloves when handling fresh or frozen foods prepping for dehydration:
1. Food Safety - Wearing gloves forms a barrier that helps prevent any germs, bacteria, or microbes that may be present on your skin from contaminating the food you will be dehydrating. This leads to better food safety practices.
2. Cold Temperature Protection - If working with frozen foods, the insulation of the gloves protects your hands from the cold temperatures, keeping them more comfortable while still allowing dexterity to manipulate and slice the foods as needed.
3. Moisture Protection - The latex material provides a waterproof lining that keeps your hands from becoming wet and chilled if working very moist fresh produce like berries, tomatoes, or juicy fruits for extended periods. This makes for easier food handling.
4. Cleanliness - Wearing disposable latex gloves means you can avoid needing to constantly wash your hands to stay clean. They keep hands hygienic as you transfer between handling and preparing different food items.
While good hand washing is still important and latex could pose allergy risks for some - wearing disposable hypoallergenic gloves provides an extra safeguard in terms of food prep sanitation and personal protection as needed when working with items destined for the dehydrator.
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Treat yourself today with my free eBook. Learn how to dry the top six herbs and make herb-infused oils and vinegars!
Click the book cover and that will take you to my secure download page and full deets.
It's my gift to you as a way of saying "thanks for stopping by!"
It takes no time at all to slip on a pair of gloves... no, not boxing gloves... but a pair of latex gloves—see the photo at the top of the page.
If you want large quantities, check out Amazon.com for good deals. More about that coming up.
Latex gloves are made from natural rubber latex, which comes from the sap of the rubber tree. The sap is collected and then processed to create latex gloves.
The manufacturing process for latex gloves includes vulcanization, dipping, and leaching.
I use the vinyl variety all the time, not because I'm allergic to latex, but because there's no white powdery stuff left on your hands... this is a nice feature!
The gloves shown are actually vinyl and do not have powder in them and I highly recommend them. I order mine from good old Amazon—from various Amazon vendors, so do your due diligence.
Prices for the same item vary from order to order. They come in packs of 100. Should last a long time!
Latex allergy is a reaction that occurs when someone is exposed to latex. Symptoms of latex allergy can include itching, redness, swelling, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, anaphylaxis may occur.
There are several different types of latex gloves, including powder-free, exam, and surgical gloves. Powder-free gloves are less likely to cause allergic reactions than gloves that contain powder.
Exam gloves are designed for use in medical settings, while surgical gloves are meant for use in operating rooms.
What I have noticed while wearing them is it makes it much easier to smooth out frozen peas or corn on your dehydrator tray's mesh sheets.
The warmth of your hands doesn't melt the frozen peas (or frozen corn) as fast because you're wearing them and it provides a barrier that slows down the heat transference!
Heck, that sounds too scientific, but you know what I mean... And this means no more peas and corn stuck to your bare hands! It's very easy to break up clumps too when you wear gloves.
ComfitWear Latex Gloves 100-pk
Dynarex Safe-Touch Exam Gloves, 100-pk
Dynarex Powder-Free, Clear Gloves 100-pk
* As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.
There's no need to throw a pair away when I'm done using them. Either wash them while I'm still wearing them and then let them air dry on the dish drainer. Consider saving them the second time around for household chores or for washing the car!
Waste not, want not...
as the old saying goes!
Thanks for stopping by my wear latex gloves while dehydrating page.
You've learned just how easy it is to handle frozen peas!
Hi, I'm Susan Gast, founder of Easy Food Dehydrating. My passion for dehydrating food began in 2010 while seeking crafty uses for abundant tomatoes. I've since devoted myself to elevating the art of removing moisture from fruits, vegetables, meats, and so much more!
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