What does a head cook do?
A head cook is responsible for organizing the food preparation, organizing the kitchen operations, and ensuring the quality of the food presented. Head cooks' duties include monitoring the food inventory, creating new recipes, researching current market trends, responding to guests' inquiries and complaints, distributing kitchen tasks to the staff, and maintaining budget goals while maintaining the highest food quality. A head cook must always adhere to the sanitary procedures and hygienic standards, as well as have a broad knowledge of the food industry.
Head cook responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real head cook resumes:
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Accommodate all campers and staff with dietary restrictions, food allergies as well as providing vegetarian and vegan options.
- Follow all equipment and safety procedures in all operations including slicers, choppers, mixers and other meal processing equipment.
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Scramble eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscits and gravy.
- Create and execute menus for the buffets.
- Train workers in methods of cooking, prep-cook, floater, and dishwasher.
- Ensure attractive display of food items, showpieces, etc., on display counters, buffets or where require.
- Check food temperatures as well as coolers, freezer, and dishwasher to ensure that kitchen is within health guidelines.
- Maintain and follow proper hygiene and sanitation standards.
Head cook skills and personality traits
We calculated that 41% of Head Cooks are proficient in Kitchen Equipment, Meal Preparation, and Food Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Head Cooks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Kitchen Equipment, 41%
Utilized computer software specific to nutrition analysis, menu planning, scheduled maintenance and repairs for kitchen equipment.
- Meal Preparation, 15%
Manage cooks for the operation on a 365 Yearly basis and use of donations and purchased food for meal Preparation.
- Food Service, 7%
Lead and oversaw food service workers and advised management on productivity.
- Food Preparation, 3%
Emphasized maintaining food preparation and serving area in a condition that exceeded compliance standards for sanitation.
- Quality Standards, 3%
Followed recipes and maintained quality standards according to corporate guidelines.
- Safety Standards, 2%
Monitored sanitation practices and followed kitchen safety standards in all work areas.
"kitchen equipment," "meal preparation," and "food service" are among the most common skills that head cooks use at work. You can find even more head cook responsibilities below, including:
Business skills. The most essential soft skill for a head cook to carry out their responsibilities is business skills. This skill is important for the role because "executive chefs and chefs who run their own restaurant need to know how to budget for supplies, set prices, and manage workers so that the restaurant is profitable." Additionally, a head cook resume shows how their duties depend on business skills: "make all kitchen and food preparations for the following business day. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling head cook duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "chefs must convey their instructions clearly and effectively to staff so that patrons' orders are prepared correctly." According to a head cook resume, here's how head cooks can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "people skills, communication skills and great team work and leadership skills, and high tempo production. "
Creativity. This is an important skill for head cooks to perform their duties. For an example of how head cook responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "chefs and head cooks need to develop and prepare interesting and innovative recipes." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a head cook: "be aware of and plan accordingly special dietary needs and allergies responsible for helping in food control and inventory. ".
Leadership skills. For certain head cook responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "leadership skills." The day-to-day duties of a head cook rely on this skill, as "chefs and head cooks must be able to motivate kitchen staff and to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what head cooks do: "learned leadership skills and how to stay focused and productive in a fast paced working environment. "
Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for a head cook to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what head cooks relies on this skill, since "chefs and head cooks must ensure efficiency in meal preparation and service, especially during busy hours." How this skill relates to head cook duties can be seen in an example from a head cook resume snippet: "ensured food orders were placed and arrived on time * ensured kitchen was in working order and sanitary. "
Dexterity. Another skill commonly found on head cook job descriptions is "dexterity." It can come up quite often in head cook duties, since "chefs and head cooks need agility to handle knives properly for cutting, chopping, and dicing." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day head cook responsibilities: "drop chicken, manage kitchen, make batter , lift heavy objects , close/open, clean fryers , etc. "
The three companies that hire the most head cooks are:
- Lutheran Social Services of Michigan5 head cooks jobs
- Sodexo Management, Inc.5 head cooks jobs
- Aramark4 head cooks jobs
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Compare different head cooks
Head 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.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, head cook responsibilities require skills like "quality food," "food storage," "sanitation practices," and "kitchen operations." Meanwhile a typical cook/dietary aide has skills in areas such as "meal service," "food handling," "patients," and "diet orders." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Cook/dietary aides tend to make the most money working in the hospitality industry, where they earn an average salary of $29,467. In contrast, head cooks make the biggest average salary, $43,083, in the manufacturing industry.On average, cook/dietary aides reach similar levels of education than head cooks. Cook/dietary aides are 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Head 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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real head cook resumes. While head cook responsibilities can utilize skills like "meal preparation," "food service," "quality standards," and "servsafe," cook/dishwashers use skills like "wash dishes," "customer service," "dishwashers," and "prep food."
Cook/dishwashers may earn a lower salary than head cooks, but cook/dishwashers earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $27,723. On the other hand, head cooks receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $43,083.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Cook/dishwashers tend to reach similar levels of education than head cooks. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Head cook vs. Cook/trainer
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.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from head cook resumes include skills like "meal preparation," "food service," "quality food," and "servsafe," whereas a cook/trainer is more likely to list skills in "food handling," "cleanliness," "culinary," and "food safety. "
When it comes to education, cook/trainers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to head cooks. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Head cook vs. Line cook, prep cook
Types of head cook
Updated January 8, 2025
