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cooking question: how do you keep your hands dry with frequent washing/rinsing?

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In recipes and on cooking shows, chefs are always sprinkling kosher salt and other spices by hand, and they're doing so in-between washing their hands after touching raw meats or rinsing veggies, etc. They seem to just do a casual hand wipe on a towel hanging off them or even on their aprons.

I don't know if it's my skin or what, but I can't get away with doing that. If my hands get wet, I need to spend like a good 45+ seconds drying them before I can reach into a salt container to grab a pinch. That really ruins the flow of whatever I'm trying to make, especially if I'm hurrying to juggle two or three components of the meal at once.

Are there any tips for getting your hands dry quickly? Is it possible I have a skin type that retains water? Do you have towel recommendations that will dry your hands instantly?
 

gaugebozo

Member
Yeah, I'm constantly wiping with a hand towel. I think some that are more like bathroom towels (terrycloth) are better suited for drying. Maybe try those?
 

A Fish Aficionado

I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
have you ever worked in a kitchen?
lots and lots of towels are used.
One can never have too many fresh towels
 

Hale-XF11

Member
I just wash my hands with soap and water, then dry them off with a clean towel. I have a cupboard full of nothing but clean, dry towels ready to use at any given time. I prepare and eat most of my meals at home, so it's pretty necessary to have those available.
 
have you ever worked in a kitchen?
lots and lots of towels are used.
One can never have too many fresh towels

I just wash my hands with soap and water, then dry them off with a clean towel. I have a cupboard full of nothing but clean, dry towels ready to use at any given time. I prepare and eat most of my meals at home, so it's pretty necessary to have those available.
This is starting to make more sense. I just have the one hanging off the oven handle, so it's probably not doing me any good after the first time I use it.
 
Make arm tornados
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Steiner84

All 26 hours. Multiple times.
so it's come to this. a thread asking how to wash and dry your hands.

its a serious question. when users report that you need truckloads of fresh towels then you need to start to ask "is it really worth it? IS it econommicaly feasable to prepare your food by yourself? Where is the break even point?"
I would guess you would need at least a partner + 1 kid for cooking to make sense with that amount of dirty and used towels on the negative side of the equation.
 

Apt101

Member
Use lotion throughout the day, after every hand washing. Keep a tube of lotion in your office at work, even. After a few weeks the problem should go away. I got this tip from an actual dermatologist and it worked for me (I used to have the same problem).
 
Use lotion throughout the day, after every hand washing. Keep a tube of lotion in your office at work, even. After a few weeks the problem should go away. I got this tip from an actual dermatologist and it worked for me (I used to have the same problem).
This is interesting. I guess dry hands are like the desert that can't absorb rainwater and causes a flood?
 
Just put all your spices and things in portioned bowls before you start cooking. Once you get a hang of how much you need you will not waste much and it doesn't matter if your hands are a little bit wet since its all going on the food.
 

akira28

Member
wet towel/dry towel.
expect to use up a few wet towels to dry after you wash, and one dry towel to absorb "dampness"* and wipe off salt and oil and other types of dry litter.

may even substitute paper towels for the wet towel.



*(because yes 45 secs to dry your hands is a little excessive if you actually count it out. unless your hand drying furor bends time.)
 
I don't like loop towels that are more like bathroom towels. Try getting some tea towels or flour cloth towels.

I wash my hands about a dozen times making dinner. Although try dealing with your meats all in one process before changing to your produce to help reduce the handling of meats.
 

Apt101

Member
This is interesting. I guess dry hands are like the desert that can't absorb rainwater and causes a flood?

I have no idea, I forget exactly what she said. It may just be a mental thing/placebo and I'm fine with that. All I know is that I don't feel like I have to dry my hands for 15+ seconds anymore.
 

Hale-XF11

Member
This is starting to make more sense. I just have the one hanging off the oven handle, so it's probably not doing me any good after the first time I use it.

It doesn't have to be one and done. Just keep the same towel on the oven handle (which is what I do too, btw) until you feel it's time to switch it out with a cleaner towel. Depending on how often you use it, you can probably get away with going nearly a whole week with the same towel unless it's really grungy.
 
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