Restaurant Cook
Other Titles
Appetizer Preparer, Back Line Cook, Banquet Cook, Breakfast Cook, Broil Cook, Cook, Fry Cook, Grill Cook, Line Cook, Prep Cook (Preparation Cook)
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. Expected to have an expert knowledge of various food recipes as well as the skills to prepare them perfectly and quickly. They will be tasked with preparing main courses, appetizers and desserts. May also be required to handle a wide range of cooking equipment when preparing the foods. Restaurant cooks typically work in collaboration with a number of other kitchen workers. They often have to handle multiple customer orders, so they are expected to be able to prepare various foods simultaneously. Finally, may order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment and work surfaces, or serving areas to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
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.
Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption.
Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
Estimate expected food consumption, requisition or purchase supplies, or procure food from storage.
Substitute for or assist other cooks during emergencies or rush periods.
Consult with supervisory staff to plan menus, taking into consideration factors such as costs and special event needs.
Prepare relishes and hors d'oeuvres.
Carve and trim meats such as beef, veal, ham, pork, and lamb for hot or cold service, or for sandwiches.
Bake breads, rolls, cakes, and pastries.
Butcher and dress animals, fowl, or shellfish, or cut and bone meat prior to cooking.
Keep records and accounts.
Plan and price menu items.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Assisting and Caring for Others→ Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Developing Objectives and Strategies→ Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates→ Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources→ Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment.
Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards.
Cook foods.
Check quality of foods or supplies.
Assess equipment functioning.
Maintain food, beverage, or equipment inventories.
Arrange food for serving.
Serve food or beverages.
Measure ingredients.
Mix ingredients.
Prepare foods for cooking or serving.
Coordinate activities of food service staff.
Estimate supplies, ingredients, or staff requirements for food preparation activities.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Assist chefs or caterers with food or drink preparation.
Cut cooked or raw foods.
Plan menu options.
Record operational or production data.
Prepare breads or doughs.
Determine prices for menu items.
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Trunk Strength→ The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Visual Color Discrimination→ The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Food Production→ Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Compliance software -- Food safety labeling systems
Database user interface and query software -- Menu planning software
Inventory management software
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software -- Recipe cost control software
Office suite software -- e.g., Google Workspace; Microsoft Office
Point of sale POS software -- Point of sale POS restaurant software
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Google Sheets; Corel Quattro; Microsoft Excel
Web page creation and editing software -- e.g., Instagram; Facebook
Word processing software -- e.g., Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Commercial use blenders→ Blenders
Commercial use broilers→ Charbroilers
Commercial use convection ovens→ Convection ovens
Commercial use cutlery→ Boning knives; Chefs' knives; Paring knives
Commercial use deep fryers→ Fryers
Commercial use food grinders→ Grinders
Commercial use food slicers→ Food slicing machines
Commercial use griddles→ Griddles
Commercial use grills→ Gas grills
Commercial use microwave ovens→ Commercial microwave ovens
Commercial use ovens→ Conveyor ovens; Rotating rack ovens; Salamander ovens
Commercial use pasta cookers→ Pasta cookers
Commercial use pizza ovens→ Pizza ovens
Commercial use ranges→ Wok ranges
Commercial use rotisseries→ Rotisserie ovens
Commercial use smokers or smoke ovens→ Smoking cabinets
Commercial use steamers→ Food steamers
Cutting machinery→ Meat saws
Domestic knives→ Cimeter knives; Filet knives; Utility cutlery
Personal computers
Point of sale POS terminal→ Point of sale POS computer terminals
Slicing machinery→ Meat and cheese slicing machines
Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Enterprising→ Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.