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Prep Cook Job Description: Examples & Template

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In the culinary world, Prep Cook is a beginner role. They aid the cooking process by preparing ingredients and stations. In fact, most Chefs started out working as Prep Cooks and made their way up the ladder through hard work and determination.

If you're looking to hire a Prep Cook, the first step is to write a compelling job description for your job posting. This will help you attract candidates who are well-suited for the role and can help your establishment thrive.

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Prep Cook Job Description Template

Below is a free-to-download (PDF or Word) example of what a Prep Cook job description should look like. You can also tweak it to your liking until it meets your needs and requirements.

Job Overview

[Restaurant Name] is seeking a Prep Cook to assist kitchen staff in the preparation of dishes and keeping stations clean and organized.

Your responsibilities will include setting up workstations, slicing, dicing and measuring ingredients and ensuring food is cooked according to established recipes.

If you are efficient, detail-oriented and knowledgeable of health and safety guidelines, we invite you to join our team.

Salary: $[Salary range] per year (non-tipped position)

Schedule: Full-time ([Number] hours per week with the possibility of overtime)

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Organize and prepare ingredients
  • Measure ingredients accurately
  • Slice and dice vegetables, fruits, meats and fish
  • Keep kitchen equipment, utensils and workstations clean and sanitized
  • Assist in preparing dishes
  • Monitor inventory levels

Experience & Skills Requirements

  • Knowledge of fundamental cooking techniques as well as food preparation
  • Superb organizational skills and a keen eye for details
  • Knowledge of best food safety practices
  • Must be a team player who can work under pressure
  • Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays when required

Education & Certification Requirements

  • High school diploma or GED
  • A certificate from a culinary school is considered a bonus!
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What To Include in a Prep Cook Job Description

The best job description should entice the right applicants to apply for your job opening. Writing a job description isn't easy, but we're here to help you out.

In addition to the template provided above, here are the sections you should include if you decide you want to write your own job description from scratch.

Prep Cook Duties and Responsibilities

Prep Cooks are responsible for preparing raw ingredients by washing, slicing and dicing them. This includes vegetables, fruits and all kinds of meats and fish. They help speed up the cooking process so that dishes leave the kitchen quicker. In addition, they might be asked to assist Chefs by cooking simpler dishes.

They're also responsible for maintaining stations clean and sanitized. Prep Cooks help out around the kitchen by performing tasks given to them by other kitchen staff, such as Sous Chefs and Head Chefs.

Prep Cook Skills and Experience

Since they'll be dealing with food, Prep Cooks need to be familiar with basic cooking techniques. They don't need to be Gordon Ramsay, but they should have basic cooking and food preparation knowledge.

Prep Cook Main Skills

Prep Cooks should also be familiar with food safety practices since they might be asked to assist in cooking dishes in addition to preparing ingredients. They need to have great organizational skills and be detail-oriented. Lastly, they need to be able to work in a team environment and perform well under pressure.

Prep Cook Education and Certifications

Prep Cooks don't need any special education since this is an entry-level role, but a certification from a culinary school or course would definitely be a major plus.

Prep Cook Salary Expectations

Prep Cooks earn $32,427 per year on average in the United States. Obviously, their salaries will vary depending on the establishment they work in, their previous experience level and the state they live in.

When mentioning salaries, include a specific figure or at least a range to attract the most amount of applicants. According to multiple studies, a staggering 64% of applicants would be less likely to apply for a job if salary wasn't included in the ad.

Similar Job Titles

Prep Cook Job Description FAQs

If you're looking to hire a Prep Cook who can start helping out immediately, you'd be much better off hiring someone with previous experience. However, because this is an entry-level role, if you can provide your new employee with some initial training during their first few weeks, then hiring someone with no previous experience can work in your favor.

There is no age requirement when it comes to hiring Prep Cooks. The only age requirement is the one your state sets for employing minors, which is 16 years old in most states. However, you should check out your specific state labor laws just to make sure.

If they don't have any previous experience, you can only ask questions related to their skills and abilities. These would include questions such as:

  • Are you familiar with the best food safety practices?
  • Can you wash and slice raw ingredients with Chef knives?

Prep Cook interview questions guide has many more

Prep Cooks earn less than Chefs and Sous Chefs, but they're on par with other entry-level positions such as Barbacks. It's worth keeping in mind that Prep Cooks in New York City earn much more than Prep Cooks in Miami, and it's all down to the living standard in each respective city and state. Research what other establishments near you have to offer to Prep Cooks so that you're able to offer a competitive salary.