You Need Gloves

Yes, it’s winter and you need outdoor gloves in the days it is below freezing, but that’s not what I am advocating. I am talking about rubber gloves. Now before you think anything kinky I am talking about wearing gloves in the kitchen.  
Years ago I developed a skin allergy to citric acid from juicing too many lemons and peeling too many tomatoes. It took years for doctors to determine that I had developed Phyto-Photo dermatitis. There is no real solution to this allergy but to keep my hands away from citrus juice which is harder than you think if you cook at all.
I have found that wearing gloves when I am cooking anything more than a salad makes life so much easier, but not just to protect myself from stray lemon juice. Wearing disposable gloves, keeps my hands from drying out or turning orange when I cut up butternut squash. It protects me from getting smelly cutting onions and I can’t say enough about handling meat. I am not squeamish about doing my own butchering, but gloves makes it more pleasant.
If I am putting a dry rub on a beef brisket doing with gloves on means that my hands do not turn red from the cayenne pepper. It also protects me from strong peppers which can burn sensitive cuticles.
The real reason you need gloves is that they are the best diet aid. I am yet to lick my gloved fingers like I would have naked fingers. Some how rolling cookie dough in gloved hands means I never taste the raw dough.  
Also wearing gloves means that my hands do not dry out which means I don’t need lotion. Lotion and food really don’t don’t mix. The taste of lotion has never improved a soup I am making.  
So consider buying a box of disposable gloves to improve your kitchen experience. Don’t steal them from the doctor’s office and make sure you get the ones without powder. Your hands will thank me.