Cook (Restaurant)

Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Back Line Cook; Banquet Cook; Breakfast Cook; Cook; Fry Cook; Grill Cook; Line Cook; Prep Cook (Preparation Cook); Prep Person (Preparation Person); Saucier

Tasks

• Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
• Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
• Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
• Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
• Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
• Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
• Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
• Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
• Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.
• Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils.
• Substitute for or assist other cooks during emergencies or rush periods.
• Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption.
• Bake breads, rolls, cakes, and pastries.
• Carve and trim meats such as beef, veal, ham, pork, and lamb for hot or cold service, or for sandwiches.

Knowledge

• Food Production
• English Language

Skills

• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Near Vision
• Manual Dexterity
• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Information Ordering
• Perceptual Speed
• Selective Attention
• Time Sharing
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Finger Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Trunk Strength
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity