What Do Private Household Cooks Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Private Household Cooks prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs. They also plan menus according to employers’ needs and diet restrictions.

Other tasks include:

• Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.
• Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
• Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.
• Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.
• Prepare meals in private homes according to employers’ recipes or tastes, handling all meals for the family and possibly for other household staff.
• Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.

We asked Private Household Cooks how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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53% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 36% 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, Private Household Cooks keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues. They stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.

A typical day for a Private Household Cook will also include:

• Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
• Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.
• Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.
• Direct the operation and organization of kitchens and all food-related activities, including the presentation and serving of food.
• Create and explore new cuisines.

We asked some Private Household 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?	21% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	0% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	18% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	22% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Private Household Cooks also plan menus according to employers’ needs and diet restrictions. They may also cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Private Household Cooks Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries. They might also Specialize in preparing fancy dishes or food for special diets.

In addition, they Prepare meals in private homes according to employers’ recipes or tastes, handling all meals for the family and possibly for other household staff.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.

To some Private Household Cooks, it is also their responsibility to Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Private Household 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 working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also 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.

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/