Career summary

Details for Food Preparation Workers


Description

Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

Tasks

  • Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
  • Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
  • Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
  • Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
  • Weigh or measure ingredients.
  • Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
  • Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
  • Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
  • Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
  • Prepare and serve a variety of beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
  • Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
  • Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
  • Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
  • Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
  • Stir and strain soups and sauces.
  • Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.
  • Keep records of the quantities of food used.
  • Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.
  • Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.
  • Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.
  • Add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.
  • Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
  • Distribute menus to hospital patients, collect diet sheets, and deliver food trays and snacks to nursing units or directly to patients.
  • Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
  • Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
  • Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
  • Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
  • Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
  • Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
  • Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
  • Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
  • Experience - Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.

Knowledge

None found.

Skills

None found.

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