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Interview Questions

Top 33 Prep Cook Interview Questions & Expert Answers

Are you an employer looking to hire a Prep Cook or a job seeker preparing for an upcoming interview for this role? Either way, we've prepared a list of some of the most common Prep Cook interview questions and answers you can expect.

Table of Contents

Popular Prep Cook Interview Questions and Answers

As a candidate, your goal should be to confidently present your skills and experience. This will ensure you leave a good first impression. As an employer, focus on finding the best applicant who will contribute to the success of your establishment.

The Best Prep Cook Interview Questions

1. Prep Cook Interview Questions About Skills and Experience

2. Prep Cook Questions About Food Safety Practices

3. Prep Cook Interview Questions on Excelling in the Role

Types of Prep Cook Interview Questions

  • Prep Cook Interview Questions About Skills and Experience: As an employer, you can use these questions to get to know the candidates better. As a rule of thumb, the more skills and experience a candidate has, the better. However, make sure to also go through other questions that involve food safety knowledge and their willingness to advance in the role.
  • Prep Cook Questions About Food Safety Practices: According to the U.S. government, it is estimated that one in six Americans gets food poisoning at some point in life. This is just one of many reasons why it's crucial for a great Prep Cook to adhere to strict guidelines when it comes to food safety procedures.
  • Prep Cook Interview Questions on Excelling in the Role: Even though Prep Cook is considered an entry-level position, most employers will encourage you to advance in your career. For example, if you're a good Prep Cook, you will have no issues acquiring more responsibilities and becoming a Sous Chef. After a couple of years in the role, you'll be able to manage the entire kitchen. To prepare for the promotion, check out the most popular Head Chef interview questions and answers.

FIFO method for proper food storage

Check out this video to learn the number one way that experienced Prep Cooks use in the kitchen to make sure their ingredients are always well-stored and fresh.

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What Are the Top Interview Questions for a Prep Cook?

Check out these additional 23 questions if you'd like to go the extra mile in preparation for your upcoming job interview.

23 More Prep Cook Interview Questions

  • Which cuisines are you most familiar with?
  • If you had an important question but the Chef wasn't around to answer, what would you do?
  • What sauces are you most comfortable with preparing?
  • How familiar are you with allergen-free or special diet preparations?
  • How would you react if you had to prepare a meal you hadn't encountered before?
  • How would you teach a new Prep Cook to prepare a complex sauce?
  • How do you ensure your sauces retain their consistency?
  • Do you have any experience preparing vegetarian dishes?
  • Describe a time when you had to work as a part of a larger team.
  • What do you think is the most important quality in a Prep Cook?
  • What knife techniques do you regularly use at work?
  • What are the sanitation protocols that you always follow?
  • How do you ensure proper storage of different ingredients in the kitchen?
  • What role do you think a Prep Cook plays in a restaurant's operations?
  • How do you stay focused while handling repetitive tasks?
  • What approach do you use to minimize the waste while preparing a dish?
  • Tell me about the last time you've made a mistake. What was the outcome?
  • Describe a process you use to make a vegetable stock from scratch.
  • How would you confront a colleague who's not following hygiene guidelines?
  • What would you do if a customer complained your dish was too salty?
  • What was the most challenging dish you prepared and why?
  • What would you do if you ran out of key ingredients during peak hours?
  • What is the best thing about being a Prep Cook?

How To Prepare for a Prep Cook Job Interview

If you were wondering, "How do I prepare for a Cook interview," this section will outline the interview process for both candidates and interviewers.

As a candidate:

You should prepare for the interview beforehand for a number of reasons.

  1. You want to appear confident and knowledgeable about your role.
  2. Researching the company helps you understand exactly what they are looking for.
  3. Having good answers to their questions shows the employer you're committed and determined to succeed in your role, should they hire you.
  4. Preparing for difficult questions will ensure you're not taken aback by anything, as you will be proactively anticipating potentially challenging queries.

For more information on what not to wear for a professional business interview or how to write your CV to attract more job offers, make sure to check out our Career Advice section, which we crafted specifically for candidates like you who are looking for a reliable and profitable career in the hospitality industry.

As an interviewer:

The hospitality industry is notorious for high instances of employee turnover. While the international average sits at 47%, the turnover in the United State's hospitality industry in 2021 was 84%.

Although poor training is named as the main contributing factor to high rates, besides providing proper training at work, as an employer, you also want to focus on hiring someone motivated and driven to succeed in your establishment.

To reduce the turnover rate, focus on being transparent during the interview and answer questions regarding Prep Cook salary expectations and the overall workplace culture. By practicing how to answer these interview questions for Cook, you can increase your chances of getting hired.

What To Wear to a Prep Cook Interview

As long as you wear something appropriate that's not too casual but isn't completely formal either, you'll be fine. We have a list of what not to wear during your first interview in case you want to check that out.

Additionally, you can read about what Chefs wear since their professional attire is closely tied to what Prep Cooks wear in a kitchen environment.

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Written by Lidija Misic

Content Specialist

Lidija holds a BA in English Language and has lived in five different countries, where she has worked in various roles, including as a flight attendant, teacher, writer and recruiter. Her biggest passion is crafting great content and reading. She is particularly passionate about creating punchy copy that inspires people to make positive changes in their lives.

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Reviewed by Stefan Petrov

Editor and SEO Content Writer

With over 10 years of experience as a writer and editor, Stefan has worked in the automotive, IT, health and hospitality industries. Familiar with Google Search Console and other SEO tools like Ahrefs and Semrush, Stefan uses his experience to create content that's visually appealing to the user but also ranks in the SERPs.