| Submission declined on 4 December 2023 by Mcmatter (talk). Thank you for your submission, but the subject of this article already exists in Wikipedia. You can find it and improve it at Short order cooking instead.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
Short Order Cooking is about whipping up meals quickly in a fast-paced dining setting. It’s an important part of the dining industry because it caters to customers who want speedy service without sacrificing taste. Places like diners, breakfast spots, and cafes are always on the lookout for skilled short order cooks, there is a high demand. The key to this cooking style is combining delicious food with efficient cooking techniques. Being a multitasking pro is crucial in this line of work. Short order cooking is all about serving up tasty dishes in a jiffy!
Duties/Job Description edit
This job demands the mastering of the art of preparing food quickly to fulfill specific customer orders. Following a recipe and customizing it to a particular customer’s order is a standard and required skill. Short order cooking not only requires efficient basic cooking skills but also speed, organization and the ability to make dishes look great. A short order cook must not only whip up a wide range of dishes on the fly, but master the art of grilling, frying, and sauteing. Not only does the food need to be cooked to perfection but also presentation skills should be mastered so that dishes are appealing to the eye.
Skills edit
Education & training edit
The requirements for a short order cook are less formal than those for a chef. On the job training is typically enough to learn the necessary skills. Some employers prefer candidates with food service experience. A high school diploma is usually sufficient, but having additional cooking courses or vocational training can increase your chances of getting hired. Many short order cooks start as dining room attendants, kitchen helpers or dishwashers and learn from experienced cooks on the job.
Expectations/Competency edit
Short order cooks don’t really need special knife skills as their cooking menu is simple and they usually work with existing recipes. Short order cooks do, however, need to be able to read and understand the instructions and then execute them correctly.
Short order cooks need to be good organizers. They have to keep track of multiple food orders during busy periods and ensure that guests are served in the order they arrive. They must also juggle multiple items on the grill without burning anything. To maintain hot meals, they notify the wait staff as soon as the food is ready. Short order cooks work under pressure and are on their feet for their shifts. They typically work around 40 or more hours a week, including weekends and holidays. Short order cooks must have good manual dexterity and a keen sense of taste. Many states require a health certificate for chefs, bakers and short order cooks to ensure they have no communicable diseases.
Quality Control edit
Preparation edit
During slow periods, short order cooks focus on food preparation. They slice cheese, clean, slice and portion meats, wash and cut vegetables and prepare ingredients for salads. They may receive assistance from the kitchen helpers. Short order cooks also make sure the kitchen is well stocked with necessary tools and ingredients. They keep seasonings easily accessible and maintain clean pots, pans and utensils. [1]
Work area prep/Organization edit
Every ingredient should have an organized place near the cook. Ideally, everything in the workstation should be arranged in such a way whereas ingredients can be reached blindfolded. Ingredients should be displayed in the order they will be cooked in. Whichever food item a chef is finished with is typically moved out of the way so that the next necessary ingredient will be easily accessible. Eliminating equipment and ingredients that are not needed is a great way to reduce clutter at the cook station and it provides a more comfortable and efficient way to prepare food.
Cooking Techniques edit
There are tricks to getting things done faster and experienced cooks know exactly how to do it. For example, there is a quick method to devein shrimp, peel potatoes and chop onion. Incorporating these techniques saves a lot of time and allows the cook to concentrate on perfecting the food quality and delivery.
Maintenance, Cleanliness edit
It is important to make sure all equipment is cleaned and sanitized such as grills and slicers. Cleaning along the way is a great method to avoid a big mess at the end of the day. According to some experts in the industry, examples would be keeping the knives rinsed after each use and soaking the saucepan while prepping the next ingredients. Periodically checking the workstation for any leftover sauces or crumbs and wiping them clean are all required daily maintenance duties. Spills on the floor should be taken care of right away to prevent any accidents (restaurantware.com).
Statistics edit
Job Retention/Stability & Advancement opportunities edit
Short order cooks often improve their cooking skills in small restaurants to compete for jobs in bigger places. Some even open their own diners or cafes if they have experience and a good business sense. The job outlook for short order cooks is expected to grow as fast as the average, especially since more Americans are eating out and appreciate the fast service provided by short order cooks. Research suggests that there will be plenty of new job opportunities due to the high turnover rate in this position. [2]
Misc. Stats edit
Salary/Pay edit
Typically, Short order cooks earn an average salary range between $24,000 and $30,000 per year, however salary varies depending on experience, type of facility and location.
| STATE | HOURLY MEAN WAGE | ANNUAL MEAN WAGE |
|---|---|---|
| HAWAII | $19.55 | $40,660 |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | $19.50 | $40,560 |
| WASHINGTON | $18.66 | $38,820 |
| CONNECTICUT | $18.64 | $38,770 |
| MASSACHUSETTS | $18.61 | $38,720 |
References edit
“Short-Order Cook Job Description, Career as a Short-Order Cook, Salary, Employment”. WEB SOLUTIONS LLC. 2023. https://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/522/Short-Order-Cook.html
Encyclopedia.com. Economics-News and Education Magazine: “Short-Order Cook”. HighBeam Research, 2019. https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/news-and-education-magazines/short-order-cook
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Short Order Cooks. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022; (35-2015 Cooks, Short Order). https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes352015.htm
Restaurantware. “How To Organize Your Workstation”. Jun 17, 2021. https://www.restaurantware.com/blog/post/how-to-organize-your-workstation/
Maddison, Nicole. “What Foods Are Prepared by Short Order Cooks?”. Delighted Cooking. 6 NOV, 2023.
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-foods-are-prepared-by-short-order-cooks.htm
“Short Order Cook vs. Chef: What Are the Differences?”. Climb. 05 Oct., 2022. https://climbtheladder.com/short-order-cook-vs-chef/ .
Salary.com. “Short Order Cook Salary in Virginia” (2023) https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/short-order-cook-salary/va
Other Useful Resources edit
https://www.aboutcookingschools.com/career/culinaryjobs/shortordercook.asp
https://learn.org/articles/Short_Order_Cook_Career_and_Salary_FAQs.html