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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 9412

Kitchen assistant

A kitchen assistant is a person who helps with food preparation and keeps the kitchen area clean. The role supports the cooks rather than cooking a dish from start to finish, and covers the part of the kitchen's work that guests never see.

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Rate 5 of the 19 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

receive kitchen supplies

design indicators for food waste reduction

monitor stock level

comply with standard portion sizes

use food preparation techniques

About kitchen assistant

The assistant does the work that has to be done before a cook can start: washing, peeling, portioning, moving and laying out. Catering stock is stored as it arrives, in the right place and the right order, so that what was delivered first is used first.

The assistant also cleans surfaces and cleans the food preparation area, works to the legislation on health, safety and hygiene in food handling, and keeps to occupational health and safety rules around hot surfaces, knives and wet floors. The result of a hygiene inspection depends largely on this work.

Waste belongs to the same person. The assistant manages waste and develops measures for reducing food waste, so the kitchen can see how much food it throws away and act on it. All of it happens inside a hospitality team working to service times, so the assistant works to the pace the kitchen is running at rather than to a task list.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (19)

comply with food safety and hygienecomply with food safety and hygieneRespect optimal food safety and hygiene during preparation, manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution and delivery of food products.receive kitchen suppliesreceive kitchen suppliesAccept the delivery of ordered kitchen supplies and make sure everything is included and in good condition.design indicators for food waste reductiondesign indicators for food waste reductionDetermine key performance indicators (KPI) for reducing food waste and managing in line with established standards. Oversee the evaluation of methods, equipment and costs for food waste prevention.monitor stock levelmonitor stock levelEvaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.comply with standard portion sizescomply with standard portion sizesAdhere to set portion sizes by cooking meals according to standard food portion sizes and recipe specifications.use food preparation techniquesuse food preparation techniquesApply food preparation techniques including the selecting, washing, cooling, peeling, marinating, preparing of dressings and cutting of ingredients.clean surfacesclean surfacesDisinfect surfaces in accordance with sanitary standards.manage wastemanage wasteManage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials and/or hazardous materials, in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities. Ensure required l...maintain customer servicemaintain customer serviceKeep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requ...work in a hospitality teamwork in a hospitality teamFunction confidently within a group in hospitality services, in which each has his own responsibility in reaching a common goal which is a good interaction with the customers, guests or collaborators ...monitor kitchen suppliesmonitor kitchen suppliesOversee stock levels for supplies used in the kitchen. Report to the appropriate person.clean kitchen equipmentclean kitchen equipmentDisinfect kitchen equipment, utensils and other facilities such as trolleys and hot cupboards.handover the food preparation areahandover the food preparation areaLeave the kitchen area in conditions which follow safe and secure procedures, so that it is ready for the next shift.work according to recipework according to recipePerform tasks in food preparation according to recipe or specification in order to preserve the quality of ingredients and to ensure replication accuracy of the recipe. Select the appropriate material...store kitchen suppliesstore kitchen suppliesKeep delivered kitchen supplies for future use in a safe and hygiene place according to guidelines.use food cutting toolsuse food cutting toolsTrim, peel and slice products with knives, paring or food cutting tools or equipment according to guidelines.ensure cleanliness of food preparation areaensure cleanliness of food preparation areaGuarantee the continuous cleanliness of kitchen preparation, production and storage areas according to hygiene, safety and health regulations.maintain a safe, hygienic and secure working environmentmaintain a safe, hygienic and secure working environmentPreserve health, hygiene, safety and security in the workplace in accordance with relevant regulations.carry out stock rotationcarry out stock rotationExecute repositioning of packaged and perishable products with an earlier sell-by date to the front of a shelf.
Optional (11) — show
prepare dairy products for use in a dishprepare dairy products for use in a dishPrepare dairy products for use in a dish by cleaning, cutting or using other methods.prepare meat products for use in a dishprepare meat products for use in a dishMake meat products for use in a dish by cleaning, cutting or using other methods.report on possible equipment hazardsreport on possible equipment hazardsCommunicate hazard risks and malfunctioning equipment so that incidents are quickly dealt with.prepare saucier products for use in a dishprepare saucier products for use in a dishMake saucier products for use in a dish by cleaning, cutting or using other methods.prepare sandwichesprepare sandwichesMake filled and open sandwiches, paninis and kebabs.prepare bakery productsprepare bakery productsMake bakery products such as bread and pasta by preparing dough, using proper techniques, recipes and equipment to achieve ready bakery items, combining with other products if necessary.cook vegetable productscook vegetable productsPrepare dishes based on vegetables in combination with other ingredients if necessary.prepare vegetable products for use in a dishprepare vegetable products for use in a dishMake vegetable products, such as vegetables, pulses, fruits, grains and mushrooms for further use in dishes.maintain kitchen equipment at correct temperaturemaintain kitchen equipment at correct temperatureKeep the refrigeration and storage of kitchen equipment at the correct temperature.check deliveries on receiptcheck deliveries on receiptControl that all order details are recorded, that faulty items are reported and returned and that all paperwork is received and processed, according to the purchasing procedures.prepare egg products for use in a dishprepare egg products for use in a dishMake egg products for use in a dish by cleaning, cutting or using other methods.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a kitchen assistant do?

Kitchen assistants assist in the preparation of food and cleaning of the kitchen area.

What skills does a kitchen assistant need?

A kitchen assistant needs 19 essential skills, including comply with food safety and hygiene, receive kitchen supplies, design indicators for food waste reduction, monitor stock level, comply with standard portion sizes.

Will AI replace kitchen assistant jobs?

The AI disruption score for kitchen assistant is 45/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: monitor stock level, monitor kitchen supplies, receive kitchen supplies. Most resilient: clean surfaces, prepare saucier products for use in a dish, clean kitchen equipment.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupFood preparation assistants
Essential Skills19

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