What does a cook do?
A cook works in a kitchen alongside more junior and senior kitchen staff. Their daily tasks include ensuring all food is fresh and stored hygienically, preparing and cutting food, using different ingredients and seasoning, and plating the food, so it is ready to be served to diners.
Cooks can work in a variety of establishments, from bars and restaurants to airline catering businesses and childcare facilities, or even hospitals or university cafeterias. The food prepared by a cook is usually simple and based on set recipes.
Most cooks work in high-volume settings and need to process multiple orders at once.
Cook skills and qualifications
To perform their role well, a successful cook should have the following skills and aptitudes:
- Knife skills and knowledge of cutting techniques
- Knowledge of various cooking methods
- Ability to work under pressure
- Awareness of food safety and hygiene standards
- Ability to multitask
- Excellent communication skills
- Great team worker
Cook experience requirements
Cook is often an entry-level position that requires no previous experience. However, most cooks will start as kitchenhands and gradually work their way up the ladder. Some may eventually pursue a career as a chef or kitchen manager.
Cook education and training requirements
In Australia, cooks can work without meeting any formal education requirements. However, most employers prefer candidates who have completed the vocational Certificate III or IV in Commercial Cookery offered by TAFE. Most budding cooks will complete an apprenticeship to acquire the practical skills necessary for the role.
Note that any cook you employ must obtain a Food Handling Certificate to comply with Australian legal requirements for anyone handling or serving food as part of their job.
Cook salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a cook is $72,501 per year. Cook salaries are largely consistent across various cities in all states and territories, although some private companies in the catering and food & beverage sectors offer up to $20,000 above the reported average national rates.
Job description samples for similar positions
There are several roles that are similar to that of a cook. Read the descriptions to decide if you need to hire one of these food experts in addition to or instead of a cook:
Cook job description FAQs
What makes a great cook?
A great chef will have a flair for food and be passionate about cooking. In addition, they will have stamina and be able to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Good communication skills are also a plus, as a cook will be in constant dialogue with kitchenhands, servers, managers and more senior chefs.
In addition, good cooks are always willing to learn, further develop their cooking skills and broaden their culinary horizons.
What is the difference between a cook and a chef?
Cooks and chefs both work in kitchens and handle food. The main difference between the two roles is the extra skills and qualifications chefs typically have acquired over time compared to cooks. Professional chefs normally have at least two to four years of professional kitchen experience and often choose to obtain further qualifications such as the Certificate III in Bread Baking or the Certificate III in Patisserie.
Anyone preparing food and basic meals can be referred to as a cook, but a chef gives creative input, and designs and plans menus and recipes, which are then executed by a cook. What’s more, a cook may be asked to carry out other tasks, such as cleaning the kitchen, while a chef is further up the kitchen hierarchy and may delegate tasks to cooks and kitchenhands.
Is cook a physically demanding role?
Working in a kitchen can be physically demanding. A cook spends their entire shift on their feet and may be required to lift and carry large boxes of ingredients when restocking pantries and fridges. What’s more, kitchens can get hot and busy, so the working conditions of a cook may be uncomfortable at times.
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