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Food Preparation Workers - 35-2021.00

O*NET-SOC 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.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Dietary Aide
  • Prep Cook (Preparation Cook)
  • Food Service Worker
  • Diet Aide
  • Food Service Aide
  • Dietary Assistant
  • Nutrition Aide
  • Food Preparer
  • Pantry Cook
  • Slicer

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
  • Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.
  • Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
  • Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
  • Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.
  • Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.
  • Distribute menus to hospital patients, collect diet sheets, and deliver food trays and snacks to nursing units or directly to patients.
  • Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
  • Keep records of the quantities of food used.
  • Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.
  • Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
  • Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
  • Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
  • Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
  • Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
  • Portion and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
  • Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
  • Prepare and serve a variety of beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
  • Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
  • Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
  • Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
  • Stir and strain soups and sauces.
  • Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
  • Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
  • Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas such as refrigerators and freezers.
  • Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
  • Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
  • Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
  • Weigh or measure ingredients.
  • Work on assembly lines adding cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.

Detailed Work Activities

  • carve meat or bone fish or fowl
  • clean equipment or machinery
  • clean rooms or work areas
  • cut, trim, or clean meat, or carcasses
  • deliver or obtain mail, messages, records, food or other items
  • distribute food to waiters or waitresses to serve to customers
  • follow recipes
  • knead, shape, cut, or roll food products by hand
  • load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
  • maintain records, reports, or files
  • measure or weigh ingredients for food preparation
  • operate food preparation equipment
  • perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking
  • place food on dishes or trays or in takeout bags
  • prepare appetizers, salads, or cold dishes
  • prepare beverages
  • provide customer service
  • read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
  • requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
  • retrieve or place goods from/into storage
  • serve food or beverages
  • stock or organize goods
  • understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
  • use knives
  • use knowledge of food handling rules
  • wash dishes, glassware, or related utensils

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Culinary Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Culinary Specialist Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Food Service Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Food Service Specialist (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Mess Management Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Baker Helper
  • Butcher, Chicken and Fish
  • Carver
  • Caterer Helper
  • Coffee Maker
  • Cook Helper
  • Cook Helper, Pastry
  • Deli Cutter-Slicer
  • Food Assembler, Kitchen
  • Pantry Goods Maker
  • Raw Shellfish Preparer
  • Salad Maker
  • Sandwich Maker