What does a line cook do? (2024)

It’s a simple fact: without line cooks, many culinary kitchens couldn’t function. They are a key part of the “kitchen brigade,” a system where each member of the kitchen staff has a designated role in creating meals. And with kitchen staff in high demand today, there are tons of well-paying line cook shifts on Instawork right now. But what does a line cook do, exactly?

Whether you’re hoping to become a line cook or are just curious about the field, read on to learn all about line cook responsibilities, job requirements, certifications, and more.

What is a line cook?

If you’ve ever been in a professional kitchen before, you might have noticed that all of the cooking equipment is set up in a line under a set of whirring hood vents. This is the “line,” and each piece of cooking equipment — fryer, grill, flattop, stove, etc. — is manned by a different cook. A line cook can also be called a line chef, station chef, or chef de partie.

No matter the kitchen, the core job of a line cook is the same: help prepare food for customers as part of a team, with each person given a specific task. Usually, there’s one line cook assigned to a single station, like the sauté station, or a piece of cooking equipment on a line, such as a deep fryer — and they’re responsible for all the food coming off that station.

A line cook’s role can vary a little bit from place to place. The knowledge and technique required from line cooks at a college dining hall, for example, will probably be much more simple than it would at a five-star hotel. This doesn’t mean that the skills aren’t transferable at all, but you should know that employers will keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to hire you.

What does a line cook do?

A line cook’s tasks can fall into a few different categories, such as:

  • Station setup: As the saying goes, “fail to prepare, and you prepare to fail.” Line cooks must make sure that they have everything they need, from towels to pre-chopped and measured ingredients, ready to go before service starts. This is commonly called your “mise en place,” a French term meaning “everything in its place.”
  • Cooking: A line cook needs to recreate the head chef’s recipes flawlessly, time and time again. And just as importantly, they need to do it in sync with the other members of their team, so that each part of the dish comes together down the line quickly and efficiently.
  • Maintain health & cleanliness: A line cook is required to follow health code regulations and keep their station clean. At the end of each shift, each line cook must properly clean their station and put all their tools and food away.
  • Food prep: While many kitchens will have prep cooks or station assistants who prepare the ingredients, line cooks may have to help out as well with things like breaking down meat and partially-cooking fruit, vegetables, and other items.

What’s the difference between a prep cook & a line cook?

In the kitchen system, a line cook and a prep cook are two different roles, although their tasks may overlap a little bit. Prep cooks are more of an entry-level job for people without many years of experience in a kitchen — their main task is to get ingredients ready for cooking, which might include washing produce, trimming meat, peeling fruits and vegetables, and chopping them. After gaining some experience, a prep cook is often promoted to line cook, which comes with greater responsibilities and higher pay. While a line cook may do some ingredient prep, their main task is to make dishes using the prepared ingredients.

What education & experience does a line cook need?

If you’ve been asking “what does a line cook do,” you might also want to know how to become one. The good news for anyone interested in becoming a line cook is that it’s pretty straightforward. When it comes to educational requirements, some places might want you to have a high school diploma or GED, but others may be more flexible.

For anyone who’s determined to become a sous chef, head chef, or executive chef at a high-end or elite kitchenone day, a degree from culinary school can help. There are culinary schools around the country where you can gain the knowledge and experience needed to thrive in a kitchen, like the Culinary Institute of America, Johnson & Wales University, and the Institute of Culinary Education, to name a few. Most of these schools offer two- to four-year programs, and, because of the high costs involved, are usually for those who want to dedicate their lives to becoming a top chef. If you’re interested in formal instruction but can’t afford sky-high culinary school tuition, many community colleges offer culinary training programs or courses at a much lower price.

While formal education is one way to gain experience, it’s not a must. You’ll find that many — probably even most — line cooks haven’t gone to culinary school. Plenty of line cooks work their way up through the ranks in the kitchen, and have previously been prep cooks or station assistants. Even famous chefs like Gordon Ramsey have started out as dishwashers and climbed their way up the ladder over time.

Keep in mind that there are different levels for line cooks (often three, but it varies) based on previous experience. If you have little experience as a line cook and are still learning the ropes, you’ll usually start out at a lower level. Those with some past experience who have a good handle on one or two stations might be given a mid-level job title. Those with more experience who have mastered multiple stations will be at the highest level. These line cooks are valuable players, and often lead the line during service, so they earn the most money.

What certifications does a line cook need?

Required certifications for line cooks are different from state to state and even county to county. These certifications can go by different names, but often deal with topics like food safety and responsibly serving alcohol. Many areas where certifications are necessary state that full-time employees must get certified within 30 days of starting work.

Usually, these certifications can be done through an in-person or online course that takes anywhere from a few hours to a whole day. Once you get a certification, you may need to renew it every couple of years to prove that you still know your stuff — but again, this all depends on local regulation. Businessesusually have to keep a copy of all of their employees’ food safety certifications on file in case an inspector comes through the door, so it’s a good idea, and sometimes required, to share a physical or electronic copy with your employer.

On Instawork, most employers won’t book Professionals unless they already have the certificates they need — so make sure to upload your Food Handlers card and any other certifications you have to your Instawork profile so we can review and verify them.

What skills does a line cook need?

If you’re thinking about becoming a line cook, you shouldn't just ask “what does a line cook do,” but also, “how do they do it?” To succeed in this job, you’ll need a number of different skills, such as:

  • Cooking & kitchen skills: At a base level, all line cooks should have good knife skills, be familiar with classic recipes, and know how to operate the equipment at their station. They should also have a good understanding of how other stations work so they can coordinate with their teammates.
  • Communication skills: Communication in kitchens is like oil in an engine — without it, the kitchen will quickly shut down. With lots of orders coming and going, everyone on the line needs to know which tickets the team is working on to keep things moving smoothly. Each ticket almost always requires items from multiple stations on the line, and line cooks have to be in constant communication with each other to make sure the dish comes together at just the right time so that it’s hot (or, for things like salads or certain desserts, chilled) and ready for the customer.
  • Organizational skills: Getting everything set up before a shift is important, but keeping it organized in the middle of a busy shift — however long it lasts — matters just as much.
  • Ability to follow instructions: Fun fact — the creator of the modern kitchen brigade system actually modeled it on the military! When you’re on the job, remember that the head chef is in charge, and you’re making their dishes — so prep, cook, and plate exactly how they want you to.
  • Reliability: Line cooks should always show up on time and ready for work.
  • Working well under pressure: Line cooks work hard in a hot, fast-moving, and sometimes stressful environment for long shifts. If you want to be a line cook, you should thrive in these situations.

And while it’s not quite a skill, the best line cooks are also passionate about what they do — this motivates them to bring their A-game every day and make the most delicious food they can. Although you can be a line cook without being passionate about it, passion often makes the difference between good and great.

The bottom line

Now that you know the answer to “what does a line cook do,” you can decide whether or not it’s right for you. If you’re interested in cooking and food, learn quickly, and do well in high-pressure environments — as they say, “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” — then it just might be.

And there’s no better way to get a feel for being a line cook than gaining some kitchenexperience, whether that’s at the front or the back of the house. Seeing line cooks in action will give you a good idea of what the job is like, and what it takes to do it well. Then, if you do decide you want to become a line cook, that experience will give you a leg up in your job search.

So check out open FOH and BOH shifts on Instawork today to start building your career!

What does a line cook do? (1)

What does a line cook do? (2024)

FAQs

What does the line cook do? ›

What does a Line Cook do? A Line Cook prepares food and makes sure Servers deliver each dish to customers in a timely manner. A Line Cook is responsible for that station's workflow and getting meals out on time. They oversee the cooking process from start to finish and determine how much time each step requires.

What do you consider to be the three most important skills for line cooks? ›

Some skills a line cook should include on a resume are: Food preparation. Safe food and knife handling. High attention to detail.

What are the duties of a cook? ›

They often have the following responsibilities:
  • Ensure ingredients and final products are fresh.
  • Follow recipes, including measuring, weighing and mixing ingredients.
  • Bake, grill, steam and boil meats, vegetables, fish, poultry and other foods.
  • Present, garnish and arrange final dishes.
  • Occasionally serve food.

What's the difference between a prep cook and a line cook? ›

Line cooks often have more experience and training than prep cooks. A prep cook typically prepares the ingredients the line cook will then use at their specific station. A line cook is specialized for their specific station.

What is a cook 5 job description? ›

This position functions as a cook, performing a full range of cooking and food preparation for the service of meals for prisoners and staff in a correctional facility using MDOC standardized processes, recipes, menus and reports.

Is it hard to be a line cook? ›

Being a line cook can be a challenging job that requires long hours, physical exertion, and intense pressure to meet the demands of customers and bosses.

How to be an effective line cook? ›

To perform their duties effectively, line cooks use a variety of skills, including time management, quality assurance, and teamwork. Learning about potential skills you can include on your line cook resume can help impress hiring managers.

What's your greatest strength as a line cook? ›

Example answer: “My greatest strength is my ability to remain calm and efficient, even when working on the cook line can be busy.” What's your greatest weakness as a line cook? Example answer: “Sometimes, I can be too detail-oriented, which I'm working on by learning to delegate and trust my teammates more.”

Why do you want to be a line cook? ›

Sample Answer: I love cooking and I love being around people. I want to be a chef someday, and I know that working in a restaurant will help me get there.

What does a cook do answer? ›

Frequently asked questions

What does a Cook do? A Cook plans, prepares, and cooks food items to ensure the highest quality service and experience for customers. They help keep the kitchen organized and running efficiently. They ensure proper food handling, sanitation and following food storage procedures.

How do you describe a line cook on a resume? ›

Prepares food items by cutting, chopping, mixing, and preparing sauces. Cooks food items by grilling, frying, sautéing, and other cooking methods to specified recipes and standards. Maintain cleanliness and complies with food sanitation requirements by properly handling food and ensuring correct storage.

How do you describe cooking skills? ›

Examples of cooking skills
  • Cleanliness. ...
  • Food safety. ...
  • Teamwork. ...
  • Kitchen management. ...
  • Detail-oriented. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Decision-making. ...
  • Creativity.
Jul 6, 2024

What is a line cook role? ›

A Line Cook, or Prep Cook, plates dishes and completes basic food prepping tasks for a restaurant. Their main duties include preparing and cooking food in a specific station, cleaning up prep areas and making sure the kitchen is stocked.

Are line cooks considered chefs? ›

Line cook is a term used in the foodservice industry for a cook who works on the “line” and prepares food orders. In a fine dining environment or a kitchen that follows a brigade system hierarchy, a line cook is considered a type of chef called a “commis” (section chef).

What is a line cook also known as? ›

Also known as a station chef or a chef de partie, line cooks are part of your core restaurant team and are essentially in charge of getting things done in a specific station. A line cook makes sure that dishes are ready to go and the chef's instructions are followed to a T.

Is being a line cook stressful? ›

Being a line cook is stressful, but it comes with an adrenaline rush and lifestyle that some people are drawn to and enjoy. Do you thrive in the chaos of a busy kitchen? There are many perks to the job: working on a team, often enjoying free food, and bringing satisfaction to customers every day.

Is line cook same as chef? ›

Line cook is a term used in the foodservice industry for a cook who works on the “line” and prepares food orders. In a fine dining environment or a kitchen that follows a brigade system hierarchy, a line cook is considered a type of chef called a “commis” (section chef).

What is the next position after line cook? ›

A line cook reports to the sous chef, who in turn reports to the head chef, who reports to the executive chef (if there is one).

Do line cooks make more than servers? ›

It takes several types of workers to make a full-service restaurant kitchen successful. Some, such as dishwashers, earn less on average than the servers who wait on patrons and survive largely on tips. Others, such as prep cooks, earn comparable wages. Cooks and head cooks make significantly more than servers.

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