What Do Fast Food Cooks Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Fast Food Cooks prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment. They also order and take delivery of supplies.

Other tasks include:

• Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
• Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.
• Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
• Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
• Prepare and serve beverages, such as coffee or fountain drinks.
• Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils.

We asked Fast Food Cooks how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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48% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 28% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

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Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Fast Food Cooks operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles. They cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.

A typical day for a Fast Food Cook will also include:

• Maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.
• Serve orders to customers at windows, counters, or tables.
• Prepare and serve beverages, such as coffee or fountain drinks.
• Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers.
• Cook and package batches of food, such as hamburgers or fried chicken, which are prepared to order or kept warm until sold.

We asked some Fast Food 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?	57% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	59% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	26% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	28% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	33% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Fast Food Cooks also order and take delivery of supplies. They may also mix ingredients, such as pancake or waffle batters.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Fast Food Cooks Pre-cook items, such as bacon, to prepare them for later use. They might also Prepare dough, following recipe.

In addition, they Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Schedule activities and equipment use with managers, using information about daily menus to help coordinate cooking times.

To some Fast Food Cooks, it is also their responsibility to Cook and package batches of food, such as hamburgers or fried chicken, which are prepared to order or kept warm until sold.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Fast Food Cook, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per 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/