Prep Cook

Prep Cook interview questions:

A prep cook holds an introductory role in the kitchen, responsible for arranging workstations and preparing ingredients, including chopping, peeling, and cutting, to assist chefs in cooking and finishing dishes. Typically, this position does not require formal education. While prior experience in cooking and customer service is beneficial, trainable candidates with potential are also suitable. It’s important to note that candidates should possess a food handler’s permit, a topic you should address during interviews.

Since every kitchen or restaurant may have unique requirements, tailor your questions accordingly. A good practice is to evaluate candidates’ skills and manual dexterity by having them demonstrate ingredient preparation.

Role-specific questions:

• Could you share your experience in food handling?
• Do you have a preference for working independently or as part of a team?
• How do you ensure you are consistently punctual in your work?
• What aspects of our menu did you find most appealing?
• Which entrees, sauces, or other items can you proficiently prepare?
• How do you ensure there are always sufficient supplies for the cooks during busy periods?
• Could you outline the key cleaning tasks you believe are essential in a kitchen setting?

Operational and Situational questions:

• If you suddenly found yourself with a heavy workload and other prep cooks were not offering assistance, how would you handle this situation?
• What steps would you take if tasked with preparing a sauce you’ve never made before?
• Imagine you have a question but can’t locate the chef. What would be your course of action?
• In what sequence would you arrange various ingredients (vegetables, meat, fish, etc.) in the refrigerator?

Behavioral questions:

• ell me about an instance when you made a mistake while preparing ingredients. How did you rectify it, and what lessons did you gain from the experience?
• Recall a time when you delivered exceptional customer service.
• What’s the most challenging situation you’ve encountered in your previous roles?