What Do Food Preparation Workers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Food Preparation Workers perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea. They also clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.

Other tasks include:

• Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
• Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
• Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
• Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
• Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers’ orders or supervisors’ instructions, following approved procedures.
• Keep records of the quantities of food used.

We asked Food Preparation Workers 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 44% 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, Food Preparation Workers add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments. They operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.

A typical day for a Food Preparation Worker will also include:

• Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
• Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
• Keep records of the quantities of food used.
• Weigh or measure ingredients.
• Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.

We asked some Food Preparation Workers 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?	40% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	41% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	46% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	20% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	24% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Food Preparation Workers also make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches. They may also receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Food Preparation Workers Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers. They might also Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.

In addition, they Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients’ diets.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.

To some Food Preparation Workers, it is also their responsibility to Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Food Preparation Worker, 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/food-preparation-workers.htm

http://www.acfchefs.org/

http://www.chrie.org/

http://www.restaurant.org/