Career guide

Catering assistant cook: career guide and training

As a catering assistant cook you turn ingredients into meals on a large scale, for example for schools, hospitals, care homes or company restaurants.

What will you do?

You check deliveries and the condition of perishable products, prepare the kitchen utensils, carry out the mise-en-place and dose ingredients precisely. You prepare meat, fish and other components, help get the meal distribution ready and package food where needed. As a kitchen assistant or production assistant in a large-scale kitchen you always work according to the standards for hygiene, food safety and quality, and you keep an eye on costs.

  • Check deliveries and the condition of perishable products
  • Prepare kitchen utensils and carry out the mise-en-place
  • Dose ingredients and prepare meat and fish
  • Prepare dishes on a large scale following the recipes
  • Get the meal distribution ready and package food products
  • Work food-safe, hygienically and cost-consciously
  • Keep your workstation clean and tidy

Skills to develop

  • Knowledge of hygiene and food safety rules such as HACCP
  • Able to work efficiently at a steady pace in a team
  • Physically fit for standing work and lifting
  • Accurate when dosing ingredients and following technical sheets
  • A kitchen training or first experience is a plus, not a requirement

Your foundation for this occupation

Learn recipe scaling and production around collection times. Transport is part of preparation planning.

From preparation to your first day

  1. Develop the practical skills

    Practise batch preparation, portioning and packing by order.

  2. Check your work

    Check quantities, labels, allergen information and transport or service handover.

How can you grow?

Specialise in large-scale production, instructed dietary meals or catering planning.

Frequently asked questions

How does catering differ from restaurant cooking?

It often prepares larger quantities ahead for multiple locations. Portion control, packaging and clear handovers therefore matter particularly.

Sources and training

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