What does a Prep Cook/Dishwasher do?
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.
Prep cook/dishwasher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real prep cook/dishwasher resumes:
- Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
- Operate many kitchen appliances and machines including fryers, grinders, food processors, mixers, and slicers.
- Perform basic cooking duties such as operate fryers as well as assist cooks in any way need with entrees.
- Receive, prepare and plate orders using commercial grills, fryers, ovens and stoves in a quick and consistent manner.
- Prep food items and refrigerate appropriately, maintain cleanliness of restaurant, wash all dishes associate with the daily operations
- Operate a dishwasher for a hospital cafeteria.
- Provide friendly, quality, customer service to each Chipotle customer.
Prep cook/dishwasher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 42% of Prep Cook/Dishwashers are proficient in Wash Dishes, Food Preparation Equipment, and Dishwashers. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Physical strength, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Prep Cook/Dishwashers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Wash Dishes, 42%
Volunteered position which required the employee to wash dishes over the weekend because there was no dishwasher for the morning shift.
- Food Preparation Equipment, 10%
Maintain safe food handling practices and procedures, including standard food service operational duties and utilization of basic food preparation equipment.
- Dishwashers, 8%
Assembled, Disassembled, and Regularly Cleaned Commercial Company Dishwasher.
- Kitchen Equipment, 4%
Removed rubbish according to recycling guidelines; cleaned and sanitized workstations and kitchen equipment
- Cooking Equipment, 3%
Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas/Sweep or scrub floors.
- Line Cooks, 3%
Prepared ingredients for line cooks, including soups, pickled onions, making chicken and vegetable stock, and cleaning mussels.
Most prep cook/dishwashers use their skills in "wash dishes," "food preparation equipment," and "dishwashers" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential prep cook/dishwasher responsibilities here:
Dexterity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of prep cook/dishwashers is dexterity. This skill is critical to many everyday prep cook/dishwasher duties, as "cooks should have excellent hand–eye coordination." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "lift and move boxes and other kitchen equipment as necessary. "
Physical stamina. prep cook/dishwasher responsibilities often require "physical stamina." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "cooks spend a lot of time standing in one place, cooking food over hot stoves, and cleaning work areas." This resume example shows what prep cook/dishwashers do with physical stamina on a typical day: "maintained stamina, capitalized on ability to multi-task and demonstrated a professional attitude * provided excellent customer service. "
Sense of taste and smell. Another crucial skill for a prep cook/dishwasher to carry out their responsibilities is "sense of taste and smell." A big part of what prep cook/dishwashers relies on this skill, since "cooks must have a keen sense of taste and smell to prepare meals that customers enjoy." How this skill relates to prep cook/dishwasher duties can be seen in an example from a prep cook/dishwasher resume snippet: "assist in setting up banquets, clean grills & other cooking equipment, wash dishes & overall cleaning of common areas. "
The three companies that hire the most prep cook/dishwashers are:
- TPI25 prep cook/dishwashers jobs
- DIGS.com22 prep cook/dishwashers jobs
- SAGE Dining Services10 prep cook/dishwashers jobs
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Compare different prep cook/dishwashers
Prep cook/dishwasher vs. Kitchen helper
Kitchen helpers perform various kitchen tasks in restaurants, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Their duties and responsibilities include assisting cooks in the preparation of meal ingredients, helping other staff with unloading food items from delivery trucks, and washing and drying the utensils, dishes, and cookware. Kitchen helpers are also responsible for removing and replacing garbage bags and storing ingredients and food supplies in compliance with food safety standards. The requirements for this position may include a high school diploma, a license in food handling, and knowledge of food safety standards.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between prep cook/dishwashers and kitchen helper. For instance, prep cook/dishwasher responsibilities require skills such as "line cooks," "sanitation standards," "commercial cleaning," and "prep list." Whereas a kitchen helper is skilled in "food handling," "food service," "cleanliness," and "culinary." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Kitchen helpers tend to make the most money working in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $27,239. In contrast, prep cook/dishwashers make the biggest average salary, $30,948, in the retail industry.On average, kitchen helpers reach similar levels of education than prep cook/dishwashers. Kitchen helpers are 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Prep cook/dishwasher vs. Kitchen worker
The primary duty of a food prep is to accomplish various food handling and preparation tasks according to the direction of supervisors, chefs, or cooks. One can work in different establishments or industry where there is food involved. Among the responsibilities will mostly revolve around doing light to moderate chores such as cleaning the kitchen and sanitizing utensils, preparing the required ingredients and ensure its quality and quantity, be in charge of food storage, and assist by performing basic cooking tasks.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real prep cook/dishwasher resumes. While prep cook/dishwasher responsibilities can utilize skills like "wash dishes," "food preparation equipment," "line cooks," and "bus tables," kitchen workers use skills like "cleanliness," "food handling," "food service," and "customer service."
Kitchen workers may earn a lower salary than prep cook/dishwashers, but kitchen workers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $30,650. On the other hand, prep cook/dishwashers receive higher pay in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $30,948.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Kitchen workers tend to reach similar levels of education than prep cook/dishwashers. In fact, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Prep cook/dishwasher vs. Food prep
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from prep cook/dishwasher resumes include skills like "wash dishes," "food preparation equipment," "cooking equipment," and "line cooks," whereas a food prep is more likely to list skills in "food service," "food handling," "taking care," and "cleanliness. "
Food preps earn the best pay in the retail industry, where they command an average salary of $28,945. Prep cook/dishwashers earn the highest pay from the retail industry, with an average salary of $30,948.When it comes to education, food preps tend to earn similar degree levels compared to prep cook/dishwashers. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Prep cook/dishwasher vs. Assistant cook
Types of prep cook/dishwasher
Updated January 8, 2025
