What does a cook/baker do?
Cook/baker responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real cook/baker resumes:
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Use different kitchen tools (knives, slicers, kettles, dicers, ect).
- Follow haccp and sanitation practices daily.
- Gain a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of culinary, sanitation and organizing.
- Perform research on any given culinary or nutrition base questions guests may of have.
- Keep accurate temperature records of food items and practice FIFO in storing and using food items.
- Put away food deliveries per FIFO, bake cornbread, cakes, brownies, bread pudding, puddings.
- Maintain cleanliness and assist customers, operating on Holidays/weekends.
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Work as lunch cook, prep cook, fry cook, dishwasher and maintenance person.
- Perform dishwasher duties and maintain sanitation.
- Maintain and follow proper hygiene and sanitation standards.
Cook/baker skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Cook/Bakers are proficient in Kitchen Equipment, Food Service, and Patients. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Physical stamina, and Sense of taste and smell.
We break down the percentage of Cook/Bakers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Kitchen Equipment, 19%
Inspected & cleaned commercial kitchen equipment, utensils, and work areas in order to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
- Food Service, 15%
Utilize food service management directing kitchen operations.
- Patients, 12%
Prepared foods for cafeteria and patients, operated cash register in cafeteria, sanitized food preparation and service areas.
- Food Handling, 9%
Tasked with the supervision and production of daily meals in accordance with food handling procedures and codes.
- Cleanliness, 7%
Maintained cleanliness and assisted customers, operating on Holidays/weekends.
- Math, 7%
Clean driving record, good sense of direction, clean-cut dress, along with basic mental math skills.
"kitchen equipment," "food service," and "patients" are among the most common skills that cook/bakers use at work. You can find even more cook/baker responsibilities below, including:
Dexterity. One of the key soft skills for a cook/baker to have is dexterity. You can see how this relates to what cook/bakers do because "cooks should have excellent hand–eye coordination." Additionally, a cook/baker resume shows how cook/bakers use dexterity: "wash hands, sanitize work area, cook meals according to specified menu.prepare and maintained accurate records of food inventory. "
Physical stamina. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling cook/baker duties is physical stamina. The role rewards competence in this skill because "cooks spend a lot of time standing in one place, cooking food over hot stoves, and cleaning work areas." According to a cook/baker resume, here's how cook/bakers can utilize physical stamina in their job responsibilities: "received deliveries, rotated stock, maintained a physical inventory, and distributed food products to shift managers. "
Sense of taste and smell. This is an important skill for cook/bakers to perform their duties. For an example of how cook/baker responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "cooks must have a keen sense of taste and smell to prepare meals that customers enjoy." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a cook/baker: "helped in preparing the meal for 150 residents; hot food and desserts and ran the buffet line. ".
The three companies that hire the most cook/bakers are:
- Loma Linda University Health12 cook/bakers jobs
- Albuquerque Academy6 cook/bakers jobs
- AdventHealth5 cook/bakers jobs
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Compare different cook/bakers
Cook/baker vs. Mexican food cook
A Mexican Food Cook works at restaurants or similar establishments that specialize in Mexican cuisine. Their responsibilities revolve around cutting meat and vegetable in portions, cooking and preparing according to company menu and guidelines, monitoring the supply of ingredients, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. There are also instances where they must delegate tasks among staff, coordinate with managers, and resolve order problems. Mexican Food Cooks must work while adhering to the company and the government's health and safety regulations and standards.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, cook/baker responsibilities require skills like "math," "safety regulations," "quality food," and "food storage." Meanwhile a typical mexican food cook has skills in areas such as "mixers," "work ethic," "strong work ethic," and "food quality." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Mexican food cooks tend to make the most money working in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $31,722. In contrast, cook/bakers make the biggest average salary, $32,857, in the hospitality industry.mexican food cooks tend to reach similar levels of education than cook/bakers. In fact, mexican food cooks are 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Cook/baker vs. Short order cook
A short-order cook takes responsibility for preparing foods in cafes and restaurants. Usually, they fry eggs, cook fries, and prepare sandwiches. Short order cooks work alongside line chefs in the foodservice market. Their manner of preparing food is quick, easy, and simple. They plan and handle work orders ensuring that all orders are complete and served on time. Strong communication, customer service, a good sense of taste, and the ability to work efficiently are necessary requirements for the job.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that cook/baker responsibilities requires skills like "patients," "cleanliness," "math," and "safety regulations." But a short order cook might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "food preparation equipment," "good communication," and "quality standards."
Short order cooks may earn a lower salary than cook/bakers, but short order cooks earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $31,094. On the other hand, cook/bakers receive higher pay in the hospitality industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,857.short order cooks earn similar levels of education than cook/bakers in general. They're 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cook/baker vs. Breakfast cook
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from cook/baker resumes include skills like "patients," "math," "safety regulations," and "haccp," whereas a breakfast cook is more likely to list skills in "quality standards," "dependability," "guest satisfaction," and "hotel guests. "
Breakfast cooks earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $36,931. Cook/bakers earn the highest pay from the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $32,857.Most breakfast cooks achieve a similar degree level compared to cook/bakers. For example, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cook/baker vs. Assistant cook
Types of cook/baker
Updated January 8, 2025
