Cook Helper Job Description – Cook helpers are essential members of the kitchen staff who assist the chef or the head cook in various tasks related to food preparation, cleaning, and stocking. They work in different settings, such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
In this article, we will explore the cook helper job description, including their duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and salary. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a cook helper or want to learn more about this role, read on!
Job Overview For Cook Helper
A cook helper is a person who assists the chef or the head cook in various tasks related to food preparation, cleaning, and stocking in the kitchen. This may involve tasks such as measuring ingredients, chopping vegetables, washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, and stocking supplies. A cook helper works in different settings, such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
A cook helper may also be responsible for basic food preparation tasks such as making salads, soups, and sandwiches. Additionally, they may be required to operate kitchen equipment, such as ovens, grills, and fryers, under the direction of the chef or cook.
This job often requires physical stamina, as it involves standing for long periods of time, lifting heavy objects, and working in a hot, fast-paced environment. Cook helpers must also be able to follow directions carefully, work well as part of a team, and have good communication skills.
While formal education is not typically required for this position, some employers may prefer candidates with previous kitchen experience or a culinary certificate. On-the-job training is usually provided.
Cook Helper Duties and Responsibilities
Cook helper duties are very complex. Therefore, they must understand the ins and outs of the kitchen, from food stock, cooking utensils, to their knowledge of the menu that will be prepared by the chefs.
Here are some cook helper duties that you can learn more in detail.
1. Preparing Cooking Utensils
Cook helpers are people who must know all the names of cooking utensils and their functions. This is because they are responsible for helping the cooks to prepare the cooking utensils needed.
Assistant cooks must know which flat pan to make pancakes, which wok pan, spatula, to all kinds of plates needed to serve dishes.
2. Preparing meal ingredients for the cook
The next cook helper duty is to prepare food ingredients and spices that will be processed by the chef into ready-to-eat dishes. This includes washing ingredients, slicing, weighing the amount of ingredients needed, chopping meat, peeling ingredients, to making spice dough.
3. Ensuring Food Stock is Maintained
In addition to preparing food ingredients, assistant cooks are responsible for ensuring that food stock is maintained. They also have a list of food ingredients that are still fresh, which ones need to be replaced immediately, and which ones have a lot or little stock.
Not only that, they must also know how to store food ingredients so that they stay fresh.
4. Properly washing and drying all dishes, utensils, cooking instruments and cutting boards.
A kitchen has limited cooking utensils. If they have been used and dirty, of course they have to be washed so that they can be used again in a clean condition. But, in washing cooking utensils you can’t be careless.
Which cooking utensils should be washed with soap or just rinsed with water, assistant cooks must master this theory.
5. Helping Chefs Cook Food
As explained earlier, cook helper will also sometimes be asked to help cook, but not completely for one dish.
This is because chefs sometimes have to work on several dishes at once so they need help to monitor the food so it doesn’t burn. This is the role of assistant cook who can add skills so that later they can become chefs.
6. Removing kitchen garbage to outside receptacles and cleaning containers
This task involves collecting all the waste materials from the kitchen, such as food scraps, wrappers, napkins, etc., and putting them in garbage bags.
It also involves taking the garbage bags to the outside bins or dumpsters and replacing them with new ones. It also involves washing and sanitizing the garbage containers with water and bleach or other disinfectants. This task helps to keep the kitchen odor-free and hygienic.
7. Keeping inventory of and distributing sanitary supplies
This task involves checking the stock of items that are used for cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen, such as gloves, aprons, towels, sponges, detergents, disinfectants, etc., and ordering more when needed.
It also involves distributing them to the kitchen staff as required and keeping track of their usage. This task ensures that the kitchen has enough supplies to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and safety.
8. Informing director of needed sanitary and cleaning supplies and needed repairs and replacement of cleaning equipment
This task involves communicating with the director or the manager of the kitchen about the status of the sanitary and cleaning supplies and equipment. It involves reporting any shortages, damages, malfunctions, or defects that may affect the quality of the kitchen operations.
It also involves requesting or suggesting any improvements or upgrades that may enhance the efficiency or effectiveness of the cleaning process. This task helps to keep the director informed and involved in the kitchen maintenance.
9. Maintaining a clean, sanitary working environment including work area and equipment
This task involves performing regular cleaning and sanitizing of the work area and equipment in the kitchen, such as counters, stoves, ovens, refrigerators, freezers, etc. It involves wiping, scrubbing, rinsing, disinfecting, and drying them with appropriate tools and products.
It also involves following the proper procedures for handling and storing food items to prevent cross-contamination or spoilage. This task ensures that the kitchen meets the health and safety regulations and standards.
10. Assisting cook with food preparation and serving meals from steam tables
This task involves helping the cook with various aspects of preparing food for cooking or serving, such as washing, peeling, cutting, slicing, mixing, seasoning, measuring, etc.
It also involves transferring food from pots or pans to trays or plates and placing them on steam tables to keep them warm until they are served. It also involves following the cook’s instructions and recipes to ensure consistency and quality of food. This task contributes to the smooth and timely delivery of food to customers or clients.
11. Packing take-out orders as needed
This task involves preparing food items for customers or clients who want to take their food away instead of eating in the premises. It involves putting food in containers or boxes, sealing them with lids or covers, labeling them with names or numbers, adding utensils or napkins if needed, and placing them in bags or carriers.
It also involves checking the orders for accuracy and completeness before handing them over to customers or clients. This task provides a convenient and satisfying service to customers or clients who prefer take-out food.
Requirements to Become a Cook Helper
The most important thing if you want to become a cook helper is that you have to be detailed, diligent, and quick. Because you have to compete with orders that keep coming in.
More specifically, here are the requirements to become a cook helper that you must meet if you want to work in this position.
The requirements for a cook helper may vary depending on the employer and the type of establishment, but generally they include:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Some experience working in a kitchen or food service setting
- Have work experience as a cook helper would be better
- A food handler’s license or certification
- Understand various kitchen utensils and their functions
- Have an understanding of how to maintain food ingredients until food safety procedures.
- Have good communication skills
- Have good time management
- Responsible and disciplined.
- The ability to stand for extended periods of time and use kitchen equipment and appliances safely
- Knowledge of food safety standards and procedures
- Strong communication, organizational, and teamwork skills
Career Path For A Cook Helper
A career path for a cook helper is a possible sequence of jobs that one can pursue in the field of cooking. A cook helper is someone who assists the chef or cook in preparing, cooking, and serving food in various settings such as restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
Some possible career paths for a cook helper are:
1. Cook
A cook is someone who prepares and cooks food according to recipes and standards. A cook may work in different types of cuisines and establishments, such as fast food, casual dining, fine dining, catering, or institutional food service.
A cook may also specialize in a certain area of cooking, such as pastry, grill, salad, or soup. To become a cook, one usually needs to have some formal training or education in culinary arts, as well as experience working in a kitchen. A cook may also need to obtain a food handler’s license or certification.
2. Chef
A chef is someone who oversees the operations of a kitchen and manages the staff, menu, budget, inventory, and quality of food. A chef may also create new dishes and recipes, train and mentor other cooks, and ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.
A chef may work in various types of cuisines and establishments, such as fine dining, catering, hotels, resorts, or private households. To become a chef, one usually needs to have extensive training and education in culinary arts, as well as experience working as a cook or sous chef. A chef may also need to obtain a food handler’s license or certification.
3. Food Service Manager
A food service manager is someone who plans, directs, and coordinates the activities of a food service establishment or department. A food service manager may be responsible for hiring and training staff, ordering and purchasing supplies and equipment, maintaining records and accounts, ensuring customer satisfaction and quality of service, and complying with health and safety regulations.
A food service manager may work in various types of food service establishments or departments, such as restaurants, cafeterias, catering services, schools, hospitals, or nursing homes.
To become a food service manager, one usually needs to have a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or a related field, as well as experience working in food service.
FAQ About Cook Helper
Formal education is not usually required for this position, but some employers may prefer candidates with previous kitchen experience or a culinary certificate. On-the-job training is typically provided.
The main duties of a cook helper include assisting the chef or cook in preparing and cooking food, measuring ingredients, chopping vegetables, washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, stocking supplies, making salads, soups, and sandwiches, and operating kitchen equipment.
Cook helpers must have physical stamina, be able to follow directions carefully, work well as part of a team, have good communication skills, and be comfortable working in a hot, fast-paced environment.
Cook helpers typically work in a commercial kitchen, which can be hot, noisy, and fast-paced. They may work early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays. The job requires physical activity, such as standing for long periods of time, lifting heavy objects, and working with kitchen equipment.
A cook helper can advance to become a line cook, a chef, or a kitchen manager with experience and additional training. There may also be opportunities to work in different types of food service establishments, such as hotels, restaurants, or catering companies.
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