Cook Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Cook, sometimes called a Chef, prepares and serves meals. Their duties include preparing and measuring out ingredients according to recipes, plating meals and maintaining condiments and foodstuff.

 

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Cook duties and responsibilities

A Cook’s main responsibilities and duties include:

  • Measuring out meal ingredients according to a recipe
  • Prepping various ingredients such as meats and vegetables 
  • Collaborating with the Executice Chef and Cooks to prepare meals 
  • Serving food and drinks to their customers and employers
  • Cleaning up the kitchen space after cooking each meal and ensuring the prep area and kitchen is cleaned and sanitised at the end of the shift
  • Maintaining a pantry stock record
  • Rotating stock items as per established procedures
  • Restocking the pantry and fridge or freezer as necessary
  • Properly storing food items at appropriate temperatures
  • Ordering new ingredients as required

 

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Cook Job Description Examples:

 

Example 1

*Stem & Glory *is seeking a chef looking to grasp new opportunities within a fast growing vegan brand. The post is at our brand new site in Cambridge. Some chef experience is preferable, but we are seeking someone with ambitions to learn grow as a chef and full training will be provided. The LINE CHEF is responsible for dish preparation to a very high standard and managing a busy station during service. The LINE CHEF contributes to food ordering and storage and maintaining our high standards of food hygiene and safety. The LINE CHEF reports to our LEAD CHEF, and can expect to take direction from our Executive CHEF and Restaurant Manager. *ROLE & Responsibilities* Creative * Preparing and cooking to a high standard for diners and catering clients Responsibilities * Supporting other Kitchen staff * Working quickly and accurately, especially during busy periods * Taking on extra duties, such as cleaning, when the kitchen is short-staffed or the restaurant is particularly busy * Daily food ordering when closing a shift. * Monitoring stock levels. * Ensuring correct stock rotation procedures are followed. Health & Safety * Managing the service of daily specials and their ingredients, with particular attention to allergens * Following best food safety best practices and assisting other kitchen staff members do the same * Complying with in house mandatory requirements to follow all food hygiene procedures and fill out documentation on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. * Recording any and all incidents and accidents in the correct and timely manner. * Acting with appropriate caution in a dangerous environment where there are knives and surfaces * Implementation of health and safety procedures in the kitchen. *Skills & Experience* Person Specification We are seeking an ambitious individual with a proven track record in the following areas: * Creativity * Organisation and self motivation * Precision * Team working * Plant based cuisine Experience * 1+ years in a Similar position desirable * Valid level 2 food hygiene certificate or above * Fast and organised working. * Physical stamina * Creative flair * Flexible approach to working hours * Strong communication * Good organisation and time-management skills. * Team mentality The post is full time, paid hourly, a min of 36 hours per week over 5 days. You must be prepared to work evenings and weekends. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: £9.00-£12.00 per hour Additional pay: * Tips Benefits: * Employee discount Schedule: * 8 hour shift Experience: * Chef: 1 year (preferred) Work remotely: * No

Example 2

Appleby Manor Country House Hotel 31 bedroom hotel and luxury spa with 2AA rosette Restaurant We're looking for a Chef de Partie to complete our expanding team for our 2 AA rosette restaurant and bistro. Expected to cover one of the sections in the Kitchen Benefits £2500 Sign on Bonus - details given at interview stage Excellent Basic Salary of between£23,000 to £25000Depending upon Experience Equal Share of Staff Tips Live in accommodation available in staff cottage 28 days leave per year Staff discount scheme for hotel stays Company Pension With 28 days holiday and a competitive starting salary, there is great potential to progress within Appleby Manor. In addition, we always close for Christmas so you can spend quality time with friends and family and you will recieve a share of staff gratuities. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: per year Additional pay: * Signing bonus * Tips Benefits: * Company pension * Discounted or free food * Employee discount * On-site parking * Sick pay Schedule: * 10 hour shift Work remotely: * No

Example 3

Repost 24 APRIL 2021 Chef de Partie / Commis Chef Role. Ashtree House is a boutique style Hotel located in the heart of Paisley with easy transport links. Due to expansion we are excited to be creating a new Commis/ Chef De Partie position (16-37 hours per week). We offer above national minimum wage with incentives. We currently have a varied service from Breakfast, Light Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner. In the coming months we will be opening a 30-cover intimate restaurant to the public with plans to expand this in the New Year along with other parts of the Hotel. Are you…
  • An experienced chef with food safety certification that loves working with quality ingredients and creating high quality products.
  • Some pastry skills an advantage.
  • Like working in a small fast pace kitchen where food is made to order.
  • Thrive working in a small (growing) team and also able to work independently.
  • Have a desire to contribute to the menu and daily specials and to develop these.
  • Willing to ensure that the hotels kitchen is kept to a high standard of hygiene and safety and meet statutory recording requirements.
  • Strive to motivate the team with ability to work under pressure.
  • Willing to work hard and grow both the kitchen and your own development. Experience… Past time in a similar role is preferred but if you’re an enthusiast student with real experience looking to get up the ladder please send us your CV. Reporting to the duty manager, open communication is key for this role. Shifts will consist mainly of a mix of Early shifts 07:00am-11.00, and Evening shifts 5:00pm-9.00pm (or until kitchen close). May vary slightly with booked events and in line with business growth. Chef de Partie / Commis Chef Role [website] To Apply…In the first instance please send your CV to . Our front of house team are extremely busy at this time of year and cannot discuss the vacancy over the phone or in person. We hope to contact eligible candidates for an informal interview as soon as possible. If you have not been contacted by us within 1 week of submitting your application, we are sorry but you will have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

    • 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.

     

    Job description samples for similar positions

    If you liked this job description sample, but are not interested in this particular role and would like something related, here are some job description samples for similar positions:

     

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    Cook job description FAQs

     

    What is the difference between a Cook and a Chef?

    A Chef is a highly-skilled Cook who has undergone professional training in culinary arts. A Cook, however, may not necessarily be professionally trained and/or certified.

     

    Who does a Cook report to?

    This depends on where they work, but in a domestic setting, a Cook often reports to the Housekeeper who manages the daily operations of the household. In a restaurant, the Cook reports to the Head Cook. In a hospital, the Cook will report to the Matron.

     

    What are the different types of Cooks?

    Types of cooks include the Prep Cooks, who assist with preparing raw ingredients and plating, Short-Order Cooks, who work on preparing quick meals in a fast food setting and Line Cooks, who work on only one part of the meal in a large kitchen setting. Other types are assigned according to their specialisations such as Vegetable Cook, Fry Cook or Dessert Cook.

     

    What should you look for in a Cook's resume?

    Look for experience handling relevant food types, mastery of culinary techniques and the ability to learn quickly. It can also be helpful to look for the kind of environment they worked in previously.

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