Cook

Description

A cook provides numerous services that revolve around food,  which includes preparing, seasoning, cooking different and all kinds of dishes such as salads, soups, desserts and the main course. A cook may be a specialist in a particular kind of cuisine, or multiple cuisines. Their job requires them to be particularly careful about their hygiene, and they must also have a good taste palette.

Common Duties/Routines

The cooks must ensure that the ingredients are fresh and hygienic. Different kinds of dishes require different inputs. This means that the cook has to grill,  bake, fry, boil,  steam the meat or vegetables as per the demand of the recipe. Specializing in all these various methods of cooking is a tough job, but its also a very important requirement for their job. The cook has to present the meal in an appetizing manner, doing necessary garnishing and serving too, if required. Presentation matters a lot in the food business, which means that the cooks need to work on their food like it's art. They also have  to clean the slabs, wash the utensils, equipment, dishes(if needed) and drain the water off them, as hygiene is a very important part of this job and there is absolutely no compromise on this. In most countries around the world, an eatery can be sued by the customer if it does not follow a hygienic routine of preparing a meal.

The cook has to store the ingredients and the food in a hygienic place. 

The cooks are often directed by chefs and head cooks,  and sometimes by food inspectors too. 

The restaurants and eateries that are based on a large scale often have a huge kitchen and kitchen staff,and they also offer a wide range of menus that the cook has to cater.

Below are the different types of cooks:

Restaurant cooks:The cooks in restaurants cook all kinds of foods offered in the menus, they are also responsible for ordering the supplies and storing them.

Fast food cooks: These type of cooks only prepare certain kind of food,  such as burgers,  French fries,  fried chicken,  nuggets,  wraps and shakes. Basically, the items that can be eaten on the go and do not require hours of preparation time.

Schools and cafeteria cooks:

These cooks work in schools,colleges, hospitals,business firms, andother institutions.They cook food in a large quantity from the pre-selected, precise list of items. However, the cooks in hospitals sometimes have to customize meals for particular patients.

Precise-order cooks:

These cooks work in coffee shops and breakfast places, serving quick preparation food such as eggs, Frenchtoasts, pancakes,coffee, tea and other break fast items.

Exclusive household cooks:

They work in private houses, and cook customized food according to the diet plan and tastes of the occupants.They are responsible to order/ shop for groceries and ingredients,storageof meat and vegetables.They also have to clean the kitchen,utensils,and do the dishes.

The household cooks may cater to private parties,lunches, picnics and high tea as per demand.Most of them work for one clientfull-time, while a few work in shifts as well.

Required/Trained Skills

The cooks can be educated in culinary schools,cooking schools, andsome learn on theon job working under the supervision of head chefs as well.

Some culinary schools offer advanced courses of a few months teaching different cuisines and dishes. They are later hired depending upon the number of courses and their duration.

The trainees are firsttaught the kitchen basics,such as hygiene,safety measures, kinds of dishes,preparatory methods of different kinds of meat and vegetables, accompanied by the skills of presentation and serving.

There’s minimal to no unemployment ratio for cooks,  and thoroughly skilled cooks get employed at upscale hotels and restaurants.

Skillset ²

Skillset

HARD SKILLS

• Creativity and imagination
• Culinary skills