What does a Short Order Cook do?
Published 3 min read
A short order cook is a food service worker who specializes in preparing quick, simple meals to order. Short order cooks are often found in diners and fast-food restaurants, where they work in the kitchen to prepare burgers, fries, and other menu items.
Short Order Cook job duties include:
- Prepare food for service (e.g. chopping vegetables, butchering meat, or preparing sauces)
- Cook menu items in cooperation with the rest of the kitchen staff
- Answer, report and follow executive or sous chef’s instructions
- Adhere to health and safety standards and maintain cleanliness in the kitchen
- Check quality of ingredients
- Operate kitchen equipment safely and responsibly
- Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons
- Taste dishes and report any problems to the chef de cuisine or sous chef
- Keep up with current culinary trends
- Plan menus and estimate food requirements
Short Order Cook Job Requirements
There are no formal education requirements for short order cooks, although many have completed high school or received some type of culinary training. Many short order cooks learn on the job, starting as dishwashers or prep cook assistants. Certification is not required, but completing a certified culinary arts program can give cooks an edge in the job market. Employers typically require one to three years of experience in a commercial kitchen.
Short Order Cook Skills
- Proper food handling and preparation
- Knife skills
- Grill skills
- Ability to follow recipes
- Ability to work under pressure
- Good customer service skills
- Team player
- Organized
- Cleanliness
- Time management
- Multi-tasking
Related: Top Short Order Cook Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Short Order Cook
There are a few things you need to know to become a short order cook. First, you'll need basic cooking skills. This means being able to follow recipes and knowing your way around a kitchen. If you don't have these skills, you can take a cooking class or two to learn the basics.
Next, you'll need to be able to work quickly and efficiently under pressure. This is important because in a restaurant setting, there are often many orders coming in at once and it's your job to get them all out in a timely manner. This can be challenging, but it's important to keep a cool head and work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Finally, it's helpful if you're able to multitask. This means being able to cook multiple orders at once without getting confused or overwhelmed. It takes practice to be able to do this, but it's an important skill for any short order cook to have.
If you have the necessary skills and are able to work quickly and efficiently under pressure, then you have what it takes to become a short order cook. Just remember to always keep a cool head and multitask when necessary, and you'll be sure to succeed in this career!
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