What Do Institution and Cafeteria Cooks Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Institution and Cafeteria Cooks prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias. They also monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.

Other tasks include:

• Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
• Rotate and store food supplies.
• Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
• Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
• Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
• Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.

We asked Institution and Cafeteria Cooks how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 59% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Institution and Cafeteria Cooks compile and maintain records of food use and expenditures. They cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.

A typical day for an Institution and Cafeteria Cook will also include:

• Rotate and store food supplies.
• Monitor menus and spending to ensure that meals are prepared economically.
• Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
• Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
• Monitor use of government food commodities to ensure that proper procedures are followed.

We asked some Institution and Cafeteria Cooks a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	33% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	67% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	55% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	53% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	42% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	50% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Institution and Cafeteria Cooks also determine meal prices, based on calculations of ingredient prices. They may also bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Institution and Cafeteria Cooks Take inventory of supplies and equipment. They might also Requisition food supplies, kitchen equipment, and appliances, based on estimates of future needs.

In addition, they Monitor use of government food commodities to ensure that proper procedures are followed.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.

To some Institution and Cafeteria Cooks, it is also their responsibility to Rotate and store food supplies.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Institution and Cafeteria Cook, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/food-preparation-and-serving/cooks.htm

http://www.acfchefs.org/

http://www.restaurant.org/

http://www.personalchef.com/