Pusser said:
They're not the same as cooks' whites. You could never use the cadet trousers (or the Navy dress whites for that matter) in a kitchen. They would offer no protection against burns as they are 75% polyester. In fact, they would be dangerous in the presence of heat and open flame.
During the field phase of my QL3, melted a hole in my combat pants leaning up against, what I think was the steam line in the kitchen trailer for a split second. ;D
RemembranceDay said:
Getting burned in one of those... One of my worst fears.
As a cook you develop sort of a welders hand, to test a cookie I can pick it up in the oven, if it lifts of the sheet (parchment paper) it's pretty much done. When I first started out, I met a civilian cook whom over his numerous years as a chef in many different kitchens, told me he had been burnt at least once, everywhere on his body.
there were not many visible scars, but it didnt take me long to belive him.
Working in galley's on ship with counters that can tilt 45 to 60 degrees, with enough force to send everything flying... I have even been attacked with a knife...it was attached to a magnetic mount on the bakers rack up high and a box of Saran wrap or something on top shifted, caught the tip of the chef knife and sent the knife flying and hitting the counter beside me. It was as if someone threw the knife right in front of me as I was walking, that scared the bejeezus out of me.
My greater fear besides the above ;D would be a knife in the garbarator because god only knows where that shrapnel would fly, or tipping (breaking the tip) of the knife while de-boning a ham etc. rendering the ham unfit to eat because of the shard of metal, also
- Lifting a ham improperly to transfer pans can make it break apart spattering hot grease on you.
- Lifting a big pans of 2 or 3 big round roasts from the oven to put on the counter you have to time it, between the pitches and rolls
- Hot pans of chicken produce grease that has to be drained periodically onto a bucket on the floor add a sea state that is less than ideal.
- Deep frying at sea, not suppose to be done but sometimes it happens
- Lifting hot inserts of soups, sauces, gravy to put on the line, all the while thinking about a story told to me some time ago by a co worker...Someone lifting an insert of reheated meat sauce from the steamer and slips, getting hot meat sauce all or his stomach, the cooks throw cold water on him, rip off his shirt his stomach is covered in second degree burns.
- Steam burns are the worst...
One of my instructors on my QL3 in his younger years accidentaly bumped his fore-arm on a steam jacket kettle for not even a split second, left his skin peeling like glue to the kettle. It left a very visible indent like scar.