What does a Cook do?
A Cook prepares food and condiments using specific cooking techniques to create meals. They may work in a domestic capacity for private families, or in restaurants, hotels and bars. Cooks also work in schools, hospitals and other public establishments. A Cook may come up with their own recipe, or follow one provided by their employers.
In the hospitality industry, Prep Cooks have an area of specialisation which only involves chopping up ingredients, plating, cleaning up prep areas and maintaining ingredient inventory, without preparing the actual meals. There are also Short Order Cooks, who work in fast-food settings, and Line Cooks, who work in large-scale restaurants where they only cook a specific part of the meal.
Cook skills and qualifications
A successful candidate for a Cook position will have the following prerequisite skills and qualifications in order to fulfill their duties effectively:
- In-depth knowledge of various cooking techniques
- Working knowledge of food safety and hygiene protocols
- Strong team spirit
- Ability to work in a high-pressure environment
- Excellent attention to detail
- Two years or more experience as a Cook in the restaurant industry
- Working knowledge of mathematical principles such as ratios and proportions
- Good dexterity
- Excellent communication skills
Cook experience requirements
Typically, a Cook will need a minimum of two years’ experience in the field or in a similar role, which they can acquire through an apprenticeship. Cooks will need to be familiar with the ingredients they work with. They benefit from knowledge of common flavour profiles and will need to know how to prepare basic dishes.
For Cooks who wish to specialise, such as Dessert Cooks, Pastry Cooks or Fry Cooks, they will need an extra year of experience working in those fields. Cooks with over five years’ of experience are eligible to manage a restaurant station, or even become a Head Cook in an establishment.
Cook education and training requirements
Cooks require a foundation degree, at the minimum, to be considered for the role. Programs in the culinary arts and professional cookery are available to aspiring Cooks at the foundation, higher national diploma and university degree levels. However, this training is not a mandatory requirement. It will be useful for Cooks to participate in an apprenticeship to learn useful skills on the job. Other useful training programs and certificates include Servesafe, a food safety training program that meets international standards.
Cook salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, Cooks in the United Kingdom earn an average salary of £9.36 per hour. This figure will vary based on number of years of experience, industry and geographical location. It will also depend on whether the Cook is employed for a domestic household or a commercial establishment and will depend on what type of establishment it is.
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