What does an assistant cook do?
Assistant cook responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant cook resumes:
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Operate stoves, food processors, steamers, slices, ovens.
- Ensure ovens and stoves are clean and ready for use.
- Train new and current cooks on menu conversion, garnishing, and food presentation.
- Prepare and deliver food trays to hospital patients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Supervise and maintain HACCP standards, training processes for cooks and monitor aspects of contract compliance.
- Carry pans, pots and trays of food to and from workstations, stoves and refrigerator.
- Assist in interviews of new hire employees and train cooks and food service workers in the HACCP and food storage regulation.
- Used a variety of kitchen and cooking equipment, including step-in coolers, high-quality knives, meat slicers, and grinders.
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Full knowledge of kitchen areas such as; grill, fry, saut and pantry.
- Return all food items not used to designate storage areas, being sure to cover/date all perishables.
- Date all food containers and rotate as per hotel standards, making sure that all perishables are keep at proper temperatures.
- Maintain and follow proper hygiene and sanitation standards.
Assistant cook skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Assistant Cooks are proficient in Food Handling, Kitchen Equipment, and Dishes. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Physical stamina, and Sense of taste and smell.
We break down the percentage of Assistant Cooks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Food Handling, 12%
Received Food Handling Safety and Sanitation certification.
- Kitchen Equipment, 11%
Ensured sanitation rules were observed and maintained kitchen equipment and utensils.
- Dishes, 9%
Tallied food totals Provided assistance to customers/campers Prepared a variety of dishes Maintained organization and cleanliness
- Food Service, 8%
Performed routine food service activities related to the setting up of serving areas and serving food to the patients and staff.
- Customer Service, 7%
Provide customer service at point of sale computer along with sanitation and safety guidelines, security and program regulations and accountability.
- Cleanliness, 6%
Maintained restaurant cleanliness and organization of resources with team members.
Most assistant cooks use their skills in "food handling," "kitchen equipment," and "dishes" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential assistant cook responsibilities here:
Dexterity. The most essential soft skill for an assistant cook to carry out their responsibilities is dexterity. This skill is important for the role because "cooks should have excellent hand–eye coordination." Additionally, an assistant cook resume shows how their duties depend on dexterity: "inventory dietitian sanitation food safety course warehouse forklift safety certification custodial worker general maintenance / preventative maintenance"
Physical stamina. Many assistant cook duties rely on physical stamina. "cooks spend a lot of time standing in one place, cooking food over hot stoves, and cleaning work areas.," so an assistant cook will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways assistant cook responsibilities rely on physical stamina: "formulated menus for therapeutic diets based on medical and physical condition of patients, intergrating them with basic institutional menus. "
Sense of taste and smell. assistant cooks are also known for sense of taste and smell, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to assistant cook responsibilities, because "cooks must have a keen sense of taste and smell to prepare meals that customers enjoy." An assistant cook resume example shows how sense of taste and smell is used in the workplace: "prepared nutritious meals and snacks for enrolled children; prepares substitute items for children on restricted diets. "
The three companies that hire the most assistant cooks are:
- Pride International48 assistant cooks jobs
- Save the Children US13 assistant cooks jobs
- Bickford Senior Living11 assistant cooks jobs
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Compare different assistant cooks
Assistant cook vs. Cook/dietary aide
A cook/dietary aide is an individual who works along with the dietary managers, cooks, and dieticians. Dietary aides prepare meals, beverages, and snacks. They set up tables or dining areas with proper order and cleanliness. They serve meals and make sure that the hygiene and safety protocols for food are followed all the time. The skills significant for this job include attention to detail, strong communication skills, excellent customer service, and knowledge in food preparation and its safety protocols.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an assistant cook are more likely to require skills like "dishes," "cleanliness," "harvest," and "cpr." On the other hand, a job as a cook/dietary aide requires skills like "diet orders," "tray line," "home health," and "excellent interpersonal." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Cook/dietary aides really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $29,467. Comparatively, assistant cooks tend to make the most money in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $35,456.cook/dietary aides tend to reach similar levels of education than assistant cooks. In fact, cook/dietary aides are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Assistant cook vs. Cook/dishwasher
Cooks/dishwashers must develop kitchen skills to excel in this line of job. Each cook or dishwasher must learn to develop skills in food preparation, sanitation, and customer service. Cooks or dishwashers can be assigned to different areas, either in the kitchen area, food preparation, or in washing dishes. The scope of their responsibilities may include the cooking surface area, specific food items, or menu items. Also, they are expected to maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen, assist in preparing food, and may do any other duties demanded by the chef.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that assistant cook responsibilities requires skills like "food handling," "dishes," "food service," and "cleanliness." But a cook/dishwasher might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "wash dishes," "prep food," "mop floors," and "bus tables."
Cook/dishwashers earn a lower average salary than assistant cooks. But cook/dishwashers earn the highest pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $27,723. Additionally, assistant cooks earn the highest salaries in the hospitality with average pay of $35,456 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Cook/dishwashers tend to reach similar levels of education than assistant cooks. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant cook vs. Prep cook/dishwasher
A prep cook and dishwasher is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing kitchen items and utensils, and performing basic cooking tasks under the supervision of chefs or cooks. It is also their responsibility to prepare ingredients by washing, chopping, weighing, and ensuring that they are the correct quantity and quality. Furthermore, a prep cook and dishwasher may also have to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen, clear tables, monitor inventory of ingredients in storage, coordinate with the kitchen staff, and meet all health standards and policies.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, assistant cooks are more likely to have skills like "food handling," "dishes," "food service," and "customer service." But a prep cook/dishwasher is more likely to have skills like "wash dishes," "cooking equipment," "line cooks," and "mop floors."
Prep cook/dishwashers earn the highest salary when working in the retail industry, where they receive an average salary of $30,948. Comparatively, assistant cooks have the highest earning potential in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $35,456.Most prep cook/dishwashers achieve a similar degree level compared to assistant cooks. For example, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant cook vs. Cook/trainer
Types of assistant cook
Updated January 8, 2025
