What does a line cook, prep cook do?
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.
Line cook, prep cook responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real line cook, prep cook resumes:
- Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
- Prepare cold foods, operate ovens, stoves, grills, microwaves, and fryers.
- Expedite orders while maintaining food being cook in ovens, griddles, stoves and fryers.
- Observe and test foods to determine quality and safety by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and fryers.
- Set up and break down for any catering parties or buffets.
- Cook foods by baking, roasting, broiling, frying, steaming, grilling.
- Maintain inventory in freezer, refrigerator and store room, and utilize the FIFO system of rotation.
- Prepare dinner items prior to service base on typical volume of each night using standard FIFO guidelines.
- Set up and prep for banquets, buffets and high volume production events in a ministry relate setting
- Assist and train other BOH personnel in proper guide lines in temperature control and sanitation of work stations.
- Experience in baking, roasting, grilling, boiling, and frying meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods
- Utilize all cooking machines (char boilers, grills, conventional oven, deep fryers, crepe makers, toasters . )
- Work as a line cook, quickly moving up the line to the busiest station, which are also the expediter.
- Polish restaurant with Cajun/Italian cuisine.
- Investigate customer complaints and operate equipment, food expediter
Line cook, prep cook skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Line Cooks, Prep Cook are proficient in Kitchen Equipment, Food Handling, and Culinary. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Physical stamina, and Sense of taste and smell.
We break down the percentage of Line Cooks, Prep Cook that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Kitchen Equipment, 25%
Prepared community donated ingredients; planned meals based on available food; cooked meals from prepared ingredients using commercial kitchen equipment
- Food Handling, 11%
Applied basic sanitation requirements for food handling and equipment safety and sanitation.
- Culinary, 10%
Prepared different types of culinary items, assisted executive chefs and food technologists, and participated in identifying new products
- Customer Service, 10%
Worked in high-demand, fast-paced environment Customer service Stock maintenance, inventory management Cleaned kitchen, dishes, familiar with commercial cleaners
- Salad Station, 6%
Help create food for lunch and dinner service for the salad station, oven and the raw bar stations.
- Line Cooks, 6%
Stock the alley and line with items needed for line cooks to complete orders on time with no delays.
Common skills that a line cook, prep cook uses to do their job include "kitchen equipment," "food handling," and "culinary." You can find details on the most important line cook, prep cook responsibilities below.
Dexterity. The most essential soft skill for a line cook, prep 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 line cook, prep cook resume shows how their duties depend on dexterity: "prepare food in fast paced kitchen responsible for all cooked food organize food orders keep workspace clean and organized heavy lifting dishwashing"
Physical stamina. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling line cook, prep 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 line cook, prep cook resume, here's how line cooks, prep cook can utilize physical stamina in their job responsibilities: "maintained the physical appearance inside and outside of buildings and maintained equipment, worked fryers and provided customer service as needed"
Sense of taste and smell. This is an important skill for line cooks, prep cook to perform their duties. For an example of how line cook, prep cook 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 line cook, prep cook: "worked from the bottom up- dish/prep., fry station, saute, a little salad station, and late night. ".
The three companies that hire the most line cook, prep cooks are:
- Chipotle Mexican Grill403 line cooks, prep cook jobs
- Nordstrom161 line cooks, prep cook jobs
- Logan's Roadhouse69 line cooks, prep cook jobs
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Compare different line cooks, prep cook
Line cook, prep cook vs. Cook
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.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, line cook, prep cook responsibilities require skills like "salad station," "line cooks," "sanitation standards," and "food orders." Meanwhile a typical cook has skills in areas such as "food service," "cleanliness," "basic math," and "math." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Cooks tend to make the most money working in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $34,114. In contrast, line cooks, prep cook make the biggest average salary, $33,354, in the retail industry.The education levels that cooks earn slightly differ from line cooks, prep cook. In particular, cooks are 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Line cook, prep cook 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 line cook, prep cook responsibilities requires skills like "culinary," "salad station," "line cooks," and "quality food." But a short order cook might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "food preparation equipment," "good communication," "food service," and "making sandwiches."
On average, short order cooks earn a lower salary than line cooks, prep cook. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, short order cooks earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $31,094. Whereas line cooks, prep cook have higher pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $33,354.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Short order cooks tend to reach similar levels of education than line cooks, prep cook. In fact, they're 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Line cook, prep cook vs. Breakfast cook
Generally, a fry cook works in a kitchen specializing in fried foods and operating the deep fryer. Fry cooks or chefs cook food by submerging in boiling oil. They prepare food to be fried, work with frying pans, and watch over deep fryers. The skills they need to establish include food preparation, dexterity, physical stamina, and comprehension. They are also expected to be understanding and patient, noting that these qualities help impress the customers.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a line cook, prep cook is likely to be skilled in "customer service," "salad station," "line cooks," and "quality food," while a typical breakfast cook is skilled in "cleanliness," "food service," "dependability," and "guest satisfaction."
Breakfast cooks earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $36,931. Line cooks, prep cook earn the highest pay from the retail industry, with an average salary of $33,354.Most breakfast cooks achieve a similar degree level compared to line cooks, prep cook. For example, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Line cook, prep cook vs. Fry cook
Types of line cook, prep cook
Updated January 8, 2025
