How to Hire Prep Cooks for Your Kitchen

Prep cooks are the backbone of any successful kitchen. They handle essential tasks that help ensure the cooking process and kitchen’s service runs smoothly. 

Without prep cooks, even the most talented chefs can’t perform at their best. However, finding reliable prep cooks can be challenging, especially for hospitality businesses with tight schedules and high turnover rates. 

In this blog, we’ll explore strategies to help you hire prep cooks efficiently and effectively.

What is a Prep Cook?

A prep cook is responsible for preparing ingredients and performing basic tasks to support chefs and line cooks. Prep cooks typically work under the supervision of a head chef or sous chef and help maintain the kitchen's overall organization and cleanliness. 

They play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow in the back-of-house so that guests in the front-of-house can have a seamless experience.

Define Your Ideal Candidate

Before beginning the hiring process, take some time to outline the qualities and skills you’re looking for in a prep cook. When crafting a job description for a prep cook job posting, common duties to include are: 

• Washing, peeling, and chopping vegetables and fruits.
• Measuring and portioning ingredients.
• Preparing simple dishes like salads or sauces.
• Setting up and stocking workstations with necessary supplies.
• Cleaning and sanitizing kitchen equipment and surfaces.
• Assisting with receiving and storing food deliveries.
• Knife skills and food preparation techniques.
• Familiarity with food safety and sanitation standards.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.

Don’t overlook soft skills like punctuality, communication, and the ability to work well in a team. Defining these criteria will help you filter candidates more effectively.

Explore Beyond Traditional Job Boards

When starting the hiring process, many businesses turn to traditional hiring platforms and job boards, like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, or Glassdoor. These platforms can run expensive, requiring users to pay for their subscription and their job postings.

Platforms, like shiftNOW, offer unique advantages for businesses with consistent hiring needs by curating a vetted pool of experienced hospitality professionals.

Using platforms like these enable businesses to trial run a candidate before hiring, allowing for an accurate assessment of their skills, work ethic, and personality. Additionally, businesses reap the benefits of:

• Faster hiring processes with better results
• Reduced employee turnover
• Affordable pricing with no hidden costs

Leverage Social Media and Networking

Social media can be a powerful tool for finding prep cooks. Post job openings on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Join local Facebook Groups or community forums where hospitality workers connect and share opportunities. Encourage your current staff to share the job posting within their networks—referrals often lead to high-quality hires.

Partner with Culinary Schools

Culinary schools are filled with aspiring chefs looking for hands-on experience. Establish partnerships with local programs to create internship opportunities or recruit students for part-time prep cook positions. By offering flexible shifts, you can attract motivated candidates eager to learn and contribute.

Optimize Your Job Posting

An effective job posting can make all the difference in attracting top talent. Be clear and concise, and include:

• A detailed prep cook job description, outlining key prep cook duties and responsibilities (e.g., ingredient prep, cleaning workstations)
• The required skills, experience, and character traits you look for in prep cooks
• Benefits such as flexible schedules, free meals, or growth opportunities 

To help improve your job post’s visibility on search engines, incorporate keywords such as “prep cook jobs,” “prep cook job description,” “prep cook duties,” “prep cook responsibilities,” and “hospitality kitchen staff”.

Offer Competitive Pay and Perks

To attract and retain skilled prep cooks, ensure your pay rates are competitive with industry standards. Highlight any additional perks, such as:

• Flexible scheduling for part-time or full-time employees
• Free or discounted meals during shifts
• Opportunities for professional growth and promotion within the company

Trial Shifts to Evaluate Skills

Getting to know who you’re hiring is important and trial shifts are an excellent way to assess whether or not a candidate is the right fit.

When reviewing applicants, invite potential hires to work for a short trial period where they can demonstrate their abilities in a real kitchen environment. This approach reduces hiring risks and ensures you find the right fit for your kitchen.

Find Your Next Back-of-House Superstar

Hiring prep cooks doesn’t have to be a stressful or time-consuming process. 

By defining your ideal candidate, leveraging platforms like shiftNOW, and exploring social media and culinary school partnerships, you can build a reliable and efficient kitchen team. 

Don’t forget to offer competitive pay and conduct trial shifts to ensure you’re hiring the best person for the job. With these strategies, your kitchen will run smoothly, leaving your chefs free to focus on delivering exceptional dishes to your customers.