What does a Cook do?
Cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. They must be knowledgeable about the different recipes and ingredients needed. They are also responsible for managing the inventory and ensuring that the pantry is well-stocked. They prepare meals from scratch, cutting ingredients, measuring them, and following recipes. Cooks should be creative, especially when ingredients are lacking, and they must find alternatives that will not compromise the food taste. They should be precise, imaginative, and patient. Cooks should also have good time management skills and decision-making skills.
Cook responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real cook resumes:
- Achieve completion to cook, prep and dish meticulous meals to an immense amount of customers with proficient dexterity quality.
- Organize production and set up broiler station for lunch shift, manage grill with 30-40 steaks at varying temps and cuts.
- Lead cook line and instruct cooks and other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, and presentation of dishes.
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
- Operate large volume cooking equipment such as grills, deep fryers, and griddles.
- Used equipment in the kitchen including stoves, slicers, knives and other utensils in a sanitary and safe manner.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment such as grills, deep-fat fryers, griddle, stoves, and dough rollers, etc.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment such as grills, and deep-fat fryers while providing customer service in a busy fast pace environment.
- Prepare meals according to patients' special dietary needs, coordinating culinary department with medical department.
- Provide excellent customer service, stock inventory, maintain cleanliness, functionality and organization of the facility.
- Create and sell organic pet food for canines
- Exercise good teamwork with other kitchen staff.
- Communicate with staff on needs for the BOH and FOH
- Stock and rotate groceries and beverages according to expiration dates.
Cook skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Cooks are proficient in Food Handling, Food Service, and Cleanliness. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Physical stamina, and Sense of taste and smell.
We break down the percentage of Cooks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Food Handling, 14%
Maintain proper/hygienic food handling techniques and overall sanitation requirements of food service area and the personnel.
- Food Service, 10%
Performed function of another position within area of responsibility for the overall coverage of food service.
- Cleanliness, 10%
Provided excellent customer service, stocked inventory, maintained cleanliness, functionality and organization of the facility.
- Kitchen Equipment, 9%
Prepare food orders following specification, maintain kitchen equipment, communicate effectively, participate in teamwork.
- Basic Math, 7%
Performed basic mathematical computations to multiply ingredients in the preparation of a meal.
- Culinary, 6%
Prepared meals according to patients' special dietary needs, coordinating culinary department with medical department.
"food handling," "food service," and "cleanliness" are among the most common skills that cooks use at work. You can find even more cook responsibilities below, including:
Dexterity. The most essential soft skill for a cook to carry out their responsibilities is dexterity. This skill is important for the role because "cooks should have excellent hand–eye coordination." Additionally, a cook resume shows how their duties depend on dexterity: "weekend volunteer work entailing participation in coordinating of activities involving seniors culinary hands on experience with customers and business employees 1. "
Physical stamina. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling cook 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 resume, here's how cooks can utilize physical stamina in their job responsibilities: "completed nine week basic training 10 week advanced training in culinary arts received medals for service, conduct and physical fitness"
Sense of taste and smell. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of cooks is sense of taste and smell. This skill is critical to many everyday cook duties, as "cooks must have a keen sense of taste and smell to prepare meals that customers enjoy." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "prepared hot foods on wok and expedited orders conducted daily cleaning and organization tasks"
The three companies that hire the most cooks are:
- Compass Group USA3,661 cooks jobs
- Cracker Barrel2,652 cooks jobs
- Sonic Drive-In2,569 cooks jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable cook resume templates
Build a professional cook resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cook resume.
Compare different cooks
Cook vs. Line cook, prep cook
A line cook/prep cook is responsible for assisting with food preparations, ensuring that all ingredients are readily available and stored safely. Line cook/prep cook tasks also include reviewing and updating menus to keep the customers' patronization. Their duties also include researching the current food industry trends, managing customers' inquiries, resolving serving complaints, monitoring food supplies and inventories, and complying with sanitary regulations. A line cook/prep cook must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills to perform various tasks under strict time demands and a fast-paced environment.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between cooks and line cook, prep cook. For instance, cook responsibilities require skills such as "food service," "cleanliness," "basic math," and "math." Whereas a line cook, prep cook is skilled in "salad station," "line cooks," "sanitation standards," and "food orders." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Line cooks, prep cook really shine in the retail industry with an average salary of $33,354. Comparatively, cooks tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $34,114.The education levels that line cooks, prep cook earn slightly differ from cooks. In particular, line cooks, prep cook are 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a cook. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cook vs. Line cook/dishwasher
A line cook/dishwasher is primarily in charge of prepping food and maintaining their work station's cleanliness while adhering to health standards and protocols. Among their duties include washing and chopping vegetables, cutting meat according to requirements, preparing sauces, and cooking according to an executive chef's directives. They also participate in cleaning and sterilizing kitchen tools and equipment, monitoring the inventory of ingredients, unloading stock deliveries, and taking care of leftovers. Additionally, as a line cook/dishwasher, it is essential to maintain an open communication line with fellow kitchen staff for an efficient workflow.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real cook resumes. While cook responsibilities can utilize skills like "food service," "basic math," "quality standards," and "math," line cook/dishwashers use skills like "line cooks," "sanitation standards," "food orders," and "bus tables."
Line cook/dishwashers earn similar levels of education than cooks in general. They're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.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, cooks are more likely to have skills like "food handling," "food service," "cleanliness," and "basic math." But a prep cook/dishwasher is more likely to have skills like "wash dishes," "cooking equipment," "line cooks," and "mop floors."
Prep cook/dishwashers make a very good living in the retail industry with an average annual salary of $30,948. On the other hand, cooks are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $34,114.prep cook/dishwashers typically earn similar educational levels compared to cooks. Specifically, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cook 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.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between cooks and mexican food cooks, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a cook might have more use for skills like "basic math," "quality food," "math," and "pet." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of mexican food cooks require skills like "strong work ethic," "food quality," "production sheets," and "bars. "
In general, mexican food cooks earn the most working in the retail industry, with an average salary of $31,722. The highest-paying industry for a cook is the government industry.In general, mexican food cooks hold similar degree levels compared to cooks. Mexican food cooks are 0.0% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of cook
Updated January 8, 2025
