Step-by-step instructions on how to starch a cap at home
The chef's appearance plays an important role, as does his professionalism. A neat and clean robe and cap indicate that the chef observes the rules of hygiene in the preparation of food. The toque attracts particular attention. Complex in shape, it always rises on the head thanks to correct starching. I wonder how to starch a toque so that it is resistant and elastic.
What substances are used for starch
Cotton products have always been starchy, as the procedure helped stiffen the shape of the product. After being starched, the fabric became snow-white and did not get dirty for a long time. For the procedure, starch was used, which is found in many plants: corn, potatoes, rice. But you can also use synthetic products for starching products.
Edible gelatin
Perfectly fixes the shape of the hat if it is sewn from colored fabrics with synthetic additives, gelatin.The substance is diluted in water at the rate of 3 tablespoons per liter. Slowly heat the solution while stirring to completely dissolve the crystals. Caps, medical or chef, are dipped in hot liquid. The fabric must be completely saturated. Then they are removed, squeezing excess liquid from the product by hand. Give the headdress the desired shape and let it dry.
PVA glue
For white caps, PVA construction glue is useful. It will increase the whiteness, but the office will make the cotton yellowish.
Glue is more often used for products made from synthetic fibers.
Dilute the substance with water, taking the components of the solution in equal amounts. Soak the thing in the liquid for 15 minutes. Then you need to remove, remove excess liquid without twisting. Then they put the cap on the jar or container, giving the cap the desired shape.
Potato or corn starch
One of the best hardening agents for cotton or natural silk is potato or corn starch. It only needs 5 to 30 grams per liter of water. In order for a medical or chef's cap to be well starched, it is soaked in a dry solution. Borax, which is added to the solution, will help improve the quality of the procedure. It should take 15-20% of the amount of starch.
Liquid starch
To speed up the procedure, you can purchase special products that are sprayed on the laundry before ironing. They contain starch.
But you can also make liquid starch yourself. The white powder is dissolved in a little cold water. Then the resulting mass is gradually poured into boiling water, stirring.It is necessary that there are no lumps in the dough. Now the resulting sticky transparent mass is poured into cold water. It remains to mix in it and lower the cap.
Starch sprays
The chef's cap is perfectly shaped by sprays that are sprayed on the items before ironing. Among the sprays, it is advisable to use the Luxus Professional or Cotico brand. The sprays even out the structure of the natural fabrics and help shape the toque.
The basis of the starch agent is polyvinyl acetate. The advantages of the spray are convenience and ease of use. You can process each crease, bend the chef's cap with a gun before ironing the product. Spray from a distance of 30 centimeters. You can adjust the intensity of the liquid coating yourself. Thus, the bottom of the dress is treated with medium intensity. The loose top is more strongly impregnated with liquid.
Starch effect detergents
In specialty stores you can find detergents that also have a starching effect. They are used for automatic washing machines. It is convenient to use such products if you need to wash the caps of employees of a large restaurant or canteen. The individual hood can be hand washed with starch.
Starching Instructions
You need to starch your clothes properly to make them look good. If the washing steps are not followed, the hood will be gray or streaky, and the bulky top will hang and not ride beautifully on the chef's head.
Remove stains and wash
Before soaking the cork in a starch solution, you must:
- wash thoroughly;
- apply hydrogen peroxide to stubborn stains;
- remove areas of yellowing with bleach.
You should know that stains can be removed before washing, and yellowing after. It is necessary to wash the hat with soapy water, first wiping off the dirt with laundry soap and leaving it for a few minutes. If the dirt is strong, you can soak an object made of natural fabric in water heated to 40 degrees. Add baking soda or powder. You can drop a little ammonia. The fibers are softened and the impurities are eliminated.
It is advisable to boil natural cotton products before washing.
Preparation of the solution
When potato starch is taken, the amount is calculated so that the fabric of the cap becomes moderately stiff. You can take one teaspoon or one tablespoon per liter of water. Sometimes 2 tablespoons of starch won't hurt. It is diluted with cold water. Then heat gently, stirring occasionally. As soon as the solution becomes sticky and transparent, without lumps, turn off.
How to starch correctly
A clean object is completely immersed in a hot solution. You need to keep it for 10-15 minutes. Then they are removed loosely. Run your hand over the cap, trying to squeeze out excess liquid. You can wash the hood in an automatic machine. But to give the fabric stiffness, liquid starch is poured into the last rinse.
Drying
To make the shape of the starched thing beautiful, without wrinkles, it is better to put a cap on the jar. The upper part is laid so that the volume of the cork is visible.
How to speed up drying
A chef's or doctor's hat dries faster if ironed damp. The product should be slightly damp. If the fabric is already dry, sprinkle the cap with water. The iron will not stick to the starchy material if milk is added to the solution.The headdress dries faster if you direct the jet of a hair dryer on it. Do not tumble dry a starched item in the freeze. The fabric will become brittle and the hood will become unusable.
How to make starch yourself
You can make your own potato starch. To do this, take 2-3 kilograms of high-quality tubers. After peeling the potatoes, pass the tubers through a meat grinder or grate. The resulting mass must be filtered through a sieve. The rest is poured with cold water, then filtered again. Once the liquid is deposited, a dense white precipitate will appear at the bottom. It is starch. It is necessary to spread the wet mass in a thin layer on a baking sheet or a plate to dry.
The powder will dry faster at room temperature with 40-50% humidity. Starch is constantly rubbed so that it does not clump together and form lumps. It takes an average of 3 days to dry.
The snow-white product is stored in a tightly closed container, using as directed.
Peculiarities of the medical cap and the leader
Caps as hats are used not only by chefs, but also by medical personnel. The difference between objects is their shape. The toque has a voluminous top. It can be round in shape or complex in design with different wavy folds. Therefore, when starching, you need to dip the upper part in a concentrated starch solution. For the lower part, a solution of medium concentration is sufficient. When drying, you need to put a hat on a jar or other container and give the top of the garment the desired shape.
The medical cap has a simple shape.The headdress fits snugly on the doctor's head, does not rise above it. Therefore, it is easier to starch the article. It can be placed in rice water. Rice is boiled for half an hour, taking 50 grams of cereal per liter of water. Strain the liquid, let cool slightly and place a hat in a hot broth.
Why You Can't Use Sugar
Sugar is not used to starch the hats. With a sweet product, curtains and towels can be made very hard. Syrup is not used for hats. This is due to the fact that flies, insects, which have no place either in canteens, or in restaurants, or in hospitals, flock to the smell.