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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