Do you wear an apron in the kitchen?

September 27, 2018·Darcie

In addition to cookbooks, I have other kitchen obsessions: Bundt pans, ramekins, vintage food tins - and aprons. Ever since I was given an apron for my college graduation (along with a copy of Joy of Cooking), I've been hooked on having aprons on hand to keep my clothes from being splattered.

aprons

As much as I adore my beautiful and functional aprons, I have a confession to make: I hardly ever remember to wear one. One reason is that in my tiny kitchen, I have nowhere to store them. They hang in a closet in another room, one that also serves as a makeshift pantry. This arrangement doesn't lend itself to consistent application of what should be an everyday habit.

If I am ever able to remodel my kitchen, having a convenient place to hang an apron or two is high on my list of desires. It only makes sense to wear an apron - I can't tell you how many shirts I have ruined with grease splatters. Of course, I never see the stain until after I have washed the garment, killing any chance that the stain could be removed.

There is a wide variety of aprons available - and many easy patterns if you want to make your own - that having one seems to be a no-brainer. If you are feeling flush, you can take a gander at some lovely but pricey aprons that are recommended by professionals, but there is really no need to spend a lot of money.

So, a show of hands: who here has an apron collection? And which of you actually make use of your aprons? Any tips for me for remembering to go to the closet and pulling out an apron before I start cooking?

23 comments

FJTSeptember 28, 2018

I usually always wear an apron because it protects my clothes. For the last year I’ve been separated from my kitchen and my apron (still waiting for my US visa renewal to come through) and I really miss both.

angrygreycatSeptember 28, 2018

I go through spurts. I usually think about it right after I ruin some piece of work clothing. I will wear them religiously for a while and then start to trickle off again. I always wear them when doing big cooking like for holidays or birthdays. I only have a couple, one of them that is really hardy is a perma-stained one my daughter had from working at starbucks. It is clean but just has a big ink splot from a leaking sharpie marker so her boss let her take it home.

bittretteOctober 24, 2018

I have a few aprons, but I prefer dusters. They cover more of the body and of your "real" clothes. They also have other practical uses, like wearing over your nightgown when taking out the garbage.

veronicafranceSeptember 29, 2018

Only when I'm pitting cherries -- I always remember then! Like you I have a few aprons but they are not immediately to hand (no room).

readingtragicSeptember 29, 2018

mmm...I have them, but I don't wear them - I'm usually dressed in a tracksuit, and I'm forever wiping my hand in my clothes.
Don't judge me.

inflyturSeptember 28, 2018

I almost always wear an apron/pinafore when doing serious cooking. It took some time to get into the practice but my motivation was that I was tired of ruining my clothes. I guess I’m a sloppy cook. I own one cute apron but I mostly wear a linen pinafore that is stained, even fresh out of the laundry.

sir_ken_gSeptember 28, 2018

Never

JaneSeptember 28, 2018

Hardly ever when cooking, almost always when baking. They are in a drawer right next to the hob so easily accessible.

TriceSeptember 29, 2018

I always wear a linen apron in the kitchen and also have aprons to sometimes wear in the garden. My very favorite, last forever, always wash perfectly, kitchen aprons are made by Boxwood linen in Chatham NY.

matagSeptember 28, 2018

Sure i have one someplace! I sew them for gifts for other people. I have three waiting to be finished in my sewing room.

NancyLynnSeptember 29, 2018

Yes, I wear an apron 90% of the time while cooking /baking. I have about 6 that I rotate wearing. Most are hung in my hall closet, but the one I am using has a magnetic hook on the side of my frig. My grandma always wore an apron that was tied around the waist, mine are all bib style.

GlobegalSeptember 29, 2018

Almost always. Whenever I forget, invariably get grease stains on good clothes. Have one apron I sewed plastic on the back. Wear that when I do the dishes so my clothes don't set wet. They're great.

GiselleMarieOctober 9, 2018

I always wear an apron, even when I’m wearing junky clothes. I can’t help it. For some reason, I’m not at peace cooking without one. When I put an apron on, I feel an inward “Ahhh...Now I’m comfortable!” Oddly, when my sister and I were past forty, she told me she had a strange quirk: she wore an apron even if her clothes we’re old and worn. It must be in our DNA! I store my aprons in a kitchen drawer with pot holders. My oldest apron is one that my great grandmother made by hand. When my 87-year-old aunt gave it to me, she told me she remembers being a little girl and watching her grandmother sewing it. My newest apron is a gift from a friend who just returned from Estonia, where they are famous for their linen. The colorful print on this new apron is so beautiful and its construction and fit are so perfect that I’ve been wearing it every time I cook!

CarolineCapleSeptember 28, 2018

I always wear an apron - they live folded up in my kitchen drawer with t-towels so always to hand or slung on the back of a dining chair as I often forget that I’m still wearing it when I sit down to eat!

vicksterSeptember 28, 2018

I have developed a small apron collection. Like you, I forget to wear them and hope somebody comes up with an idea for this. I also keep them on back of door in nearby room, but I do have a hook hanging from stainless steel rack in kitchen and I am going to start hanging them there where I will more easily see them and hopefully remember to wear.

stephlindeOctober 25, 2018

My aprons hang on a hook in my kitchen. I wear them when cooking with my kids, and when doing anything with flour, oil that might spatter, or pitting fruit where I might get juice sprayed on me. So not all the time - but I do wear them. My favorite is one from my mom that has 1/2 sleeves and ties in the back. I would love to get a Japanese style apron that crosses in the back. I avoid the typical style apron that has a strap around the neck and waist, as the neck strap tends to bring on headaches for me.

lkgroverSeptember 28, 2018

I have 3 aprons. I usually wear one for baking. For cooking, I wear one for recipes with long or complicated preparation. Otherwise, they stay on a hook inside the closet near the kitchen (along with the vacuum). When my 11 year old niece visited, she loved wearing an apron to help make dessert.

etcjmSeptember 28, 2018

Always. Otherwise I ruin my clothes. Last Xmas I got a MasterChef style jacket which I wear when I cook curries, helps to stop inadvertent orange splashes! My problem seems to be taking it off - done school pick ups and realized I'm sat in the car with it on!

hillsboroksSeptember 28, 2018

After ruining too many clothes I became an apron devotee. Unless I am in an old t-shirt and jeans I put on an apron from the hook rack in the closet next to the kitchen and always for baking. My favorite came from the County Kerry Craft Guild shop in Dingle, Ireland about 10 years ago. It has a clever placket sewn on the front with buttonholes in it to button on the towel that matches the apron. I could only fit one for me in my suitcase but I copied it when I got home and made 12 for friends and family for that Christmas. The towel is bar mop size and I bought more to match my apron and sewed buttons on the ends so now if my towel gets wet or dirty I take it off and button on a clean one - ingenious design!

RinshinSeptember 28, 2018

Never wear one and neither did my mom who cooked all meals like me unless traveling.

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DeepCreekKitchenOctober 25, 2018

I always wear an apron and I usually find I leave it on all day. Love ties that are long enough to reach around front to tie and pockets. I’ve make aprons for myself and as gifts but also buy them as souvenirs when we travel. Can’t have too many because my husband wears one when cleaning up and one day’s cooking might be all it takes to land one in the laundry.

bittretteFebruary 6, 2023

Despite what I said about aprons vs. dusters, on second thought I don't see much difference. Both an apron and a duster cover the parts most likely to get dirty.
I wear whatever is at hand - an apron, a duster, or just plain grubby clothes.
To go for a fashionable, high-priced apron is just plain silly, unless you're a professional or TV chef and your apron is your uniform. A man would probably want a tailored look, so as not to look like Jim Backus. Beyond that, it's just plain protective clothing!