Menu Strategy Analyst
Chicago, IL · On-site
... test in the kitchen (includes vegetarian, pork, chicken, steak, and seafood) Company : Home Chef is a provider of subscription-based meal kit delivery services to help people to save time while ...
Menu Strategy Analyst
Chicago, IL · On-site
... test in the kitchen (includes vegetarian, pork, chicken, steak, and seafood) Company : Home Chef is a provider of subscription-based meal kit delivery services to help people to save time while ...
Create and test recipes with a focus on flavor, operational execution, consistency, profitability ... kitchen-related tasks requiring manual dexterity and attention to detail.Ability to travel as ...
Create and test recipes with a focus on flavor, operational execution, consistency, profitability ... kitchen-related tasks requiring manual dexterity and attention to detail.Ability to travel as ...
Cook
Park Ridge, IL · On-site
$18 - $23/hr
All other duties as assigned by the Kitchen Manager / Executive Chef REQUIREMENTS High school ... Drug Test * E-Verify *We are a promote-from-within company and top performers can achieve career ...
Quick apply
Cook
Park Ridge, IL · On-site
$18 - $23/hr
All other duties as assigned by the Kitchen Manager / Executive Chef REQUIREMENTS High school ... Drug Test * E-Verify *We are a promote-from-within company and top performers can achieve career ...
Cook II
$17 - $20/hr
Understanding of portion control and presentations set by the Chef team. * Test prepared foods to ... the kitchen, walk-in coolers, and storage areas. * Maintain the cleanliness and safety of work ...
Cook II
$17 - $20/hr
Understanding of portion control and presentations set by the Chef team. * Test prepared foods to ... the kitchen, walk-in coolers, and storage areas. * Maintain the cleanliness and safety of work ...
Cook II
Medinah, IL · On-site
$17 - $20/hr
Understanding of portion control and presentations set by the Chef team. * Test prepared foods to ... the kitchen, walk-in coolers, and storage areas. * Maintain the cleanliness and safety of work ...
Cook II
Medinah, IL · On-site
$17 - $20/hr
Understanding of portion control and presentations set by the Chef team. * Test prepared foods to ... the kitchen, walk-in coolers, and storage areas. * Maintain the cleanliness and safety of work ...
Chocolatier
Chicago, IL · On-site
$28 - $40/hr
... test batches Qualifications Required * Professional kitchen experience in pastry, confectionery, or ... Chef role. For the right candidate, equity participation is on the table. Compensation & Details ...
Quick apply
Chocolatier
Chicago, IL · On-site
$28 - $40/hr
... test batches Qualifications Required * Professional kitchen experience in pastry, confectionery, or ... Chef role. For the right candidate, equity participation is on the table. Compensation & Details ...
Cook II- Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago
Chicago, IL · On-site
$14.50 - $19.25/hr
... all kitchen equipment accurately Taste test and evaluate foods before serving to make sure standards are met; consult with Chefs if there are any concerns. Portions food into standard portions ...
Cook II- Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago
Chicago, IL · On-site
$14.50 - $19.25/hr
... all kitchen equipment accurately Taste test and evaluate foods before serving to make sure standards are met; consult with Chefs if there are any concerns. Portions food into standard portions ...
Prep Cook - Hiring Immediately
CA$18.50/hr
To test, clean, and maintain hot food equipment according to Pret standards * To report any ... Hot Chef / Kitchen Experience: 1 year (Required) * NYC Food Handlers Card ( Preferred ) * Ability ...
Prep Cook - Hiring Immediately
CA$18.50/hr
To test, clean, and maintain hot food equipment according to Pret standards * To report any ... Hot Chef / Kitchen Experience: 1 year (Required) * NYC Food Handlers Card ( Preferred ) * Ability ...
PT Line Cook
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
PT Line Cook
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
PT Line Cook
Chicago, IL · On-site
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
PT Line Cook
Chicago, IL · On-site
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
PT Line Cook
Chicago, IL · On-site
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
PT Line Cook
Chicago, IL · On-site
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
PT Line Cook
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
PT Line Cook
$22/hr
As an Entry-Level Line Cook, you'll work alongside experienced chefs and contribute to creating ... Provide support in various kitchen duties as assigned Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your ...
Hot Chef
$18.50/hr
To adhere to all kitchen health & safety and food safety standards in accordance with the law and ... To test, clean, and maintain hot food equipment according to Pret standards * To report any ...
Hot Chef
$18.50/hr
To adhere to all kitchen health & safety and food safety standards in accordance with the law and ... To test, clean, and maintain hot food equipment according to Pret standards * To report any ...
Cook I - Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago
Chicago, IL · On-site
$14.50 - $19.25/hr
Operates all kitchen equipment accurately * Taste test and evaluate foods before serving to make sure standards are met; consult with Chefs if there are any concerns. * Portions food into standard ...
Cook I - Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago
Chicago, IL · On-site
$14.50 - $19.25/hr
Operates all kitchen equipment accurately * Taste test and evaluate foods before serving to make sure standards are met; consult with Chefs if there are any concerns. * Portions food into standard ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
Winfield, IL · On-site
$19/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
Winfield, IL · On-site
$19/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
Winfield, IL · On-site
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
Winfield, IL · On-site
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/ Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/ Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
$16.75 - $21.50/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/ Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
Geneva, IL · On-site
$19/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Lead/ Prep Cook Part time Rotating schedule
Geneva, IL · On-site
$19/hr
Demonstrates understanding and proper use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to ... Tests foods being cooked to ensure doneness. Adjusts heat controls as needed. Insures foods are ...
Test Kitchen Chef information
See Chicago, IL salary details
$10.41 - $13.65
4% of jobs
$13.65 - $16.90
18% of jobs
$17.30 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$16.90 - $20.14
23% of jobs
The median wage is $21.47 / hr.
$20.14 - $23.39
12% of jobs
$23.39 - $26.63
11% of jobs
$29.57 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$26.63 - $29.87
8% of jobs
$29.87 - $33.12
7% of jobs
$33.12 - $36.36
5% of jobs
$36.36 - $39.61
4% of jobs
$39.61 - $42.85
5% of jobs
$42.85 - $46.10
2% of jobs
$10
$25
$46
How much do test kitchen chef jobs pay per hour?
As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for test kitchen chef in Chicago, IL is $25.39, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.36 and $31.97 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What is a test kitchen chef?
A Test Kitchen Chef is a culinary professional who develops, tests, and refines recipes in a controlled kitchen environment, often for food companies, magazines, or restaurants. Their primary role is to ensure that recipes are accurate, reproducible, and meet specific standards of taste, appearance, and safety. Test Kitchen Chefs may also evaluate new ingredients, cooking techniques, or kitchen equipment, and provide feedback or recommendations. They often collaborate with food scientists, nutritionists, and editors to perfect recipes before they are published or used commercially.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a test kitchen chef, and why are they important?
To thrive as a Test Kitchen Chef, you need strong culinary expertise, recipe development skills, and often a degree or certification in culinary arts. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, recipe management software, and food safety standards is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication help you innovate and clearly convey recipe instructions. These skills are crucial for developing reliable, appealing recipes that can be reproduced consistently in various food industry settings.
How does a test kitchen chef typically collaborate with product development and marketing teams?
Test Kitchen Chefs play a vital role in bridging culinary creativity with business objectives. They regularly work alongside product development teams to create, refine, and test new recipes or food products, ensuring consistency, scalability, and quality. Collaboration extends to marketing teams, as Test Kitchen Chefs often provide insights on food trends, participate in promotional content creation, and help translate technical recipes into consumer-friendly formats. This cross-functional teamwork is both rewarding and essential to bringing successful products to market.
What is the difference between Test Kitchen Chef vs Line Cook?
| Aspect | Test Kitchen Chef | Line Cook |
|---|---|---|
| Credentials | Cooking certifications, culinary degree often preferred | High school diploma or equivalent, culinary training |
| Work Environment | Test kitchens, culinary labs, product testing facilities | Restaurant kitchen, fast-paced food service |
| Employer & Industry | Food companies, culinary media, product testing firms | Restaurants, hotels, catering services |
| Primary Focus | Recipe development, product testing, quality control | Food preparation, plating, and service |
The Test Kitchen Chef specializes in recipe development and product testing within culinary labs or food companies, focusing on quality control and innovation. In contrast, a Line Cook works in restaurant kitchens, preparing and cooking dishes for service. While both roles require culinary skills and certifications, their work environments and primary responsibilities differ significantly.
How to become a test kitchen chef?
To become a test kitchen chef, you typically need culinary training or experience in professional kitchens, strong cooking skills, and knowledge of recipe development and food science. Many roles also require familiarity with kitchen equipment, food safety standards, and the ability to test and refine recipes efficiently.
What are popular job titles related to Test Kitchen Chef jobs in Chicago, IL?
For Test Kitchen Chef jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Test Kitchen Chef jobs in Chicago, IL look for?
The top searched job categories for Test Kitchen Chef jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Home Chef rating
6.9
Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz
Job description
Job Summary:
Home Chef is a company focused on culinary strategy and ecommerce, currently seeking a Menu Strategy Analyst. The role involves planning menus, executing KPI tracking, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize meal offerings.
Responsibilities:
• Support the balancing and publishing process with tactical inputs in Home Chef systems (e.g. Admin) for Core, Family, and Extras menus
• Perform ad-hoc analysis requests to identify and implement actionable takeaways for future menus
• Collect cross-functional menu requests and ensure execution including but not limited to aging inventory depletions, partnership requests, etc.
• Work collaboratively with both menu team and cross functional partners on strategic recommendations for solving menu issues (e.g. over/under food cost, cross functional meeting representative)
• Execute weekly and monthly KPI tracking and analysis of menus - including financial (revenue, food, and margin) metrics and other quantitative (rating) or qualitative (reviews) metrics; this can also include helping track acquisition or marketing promotions
• Track competitor product offerings and promotions
• Support development and maintenance of R&D and various Menu Strategy team tools within Google Workspace
• Lead the meal selection process including preparing the data, leading the meeting, and allocating meals to menus
• Support weekly recipe ideation process identifying redundancies in concepts and aggregating feedback for discussion
• Taste and provide feedback on new meals
• Lead sampling for Extras program - preparing items, tracking results, and communicating next steps with cross-functional partners
• Review weekly menus to ensure all products (e.g. meal kits, extras) are merchandised / assigned accurately and meet production guardrails
• Execute any ad-hoc menu changes and communicate changes to cross-functional partners
• Review bank of successful recipes for future menu uses including reviewing ongoing weekly meal performance for bank consideration
Qualifications:
Required:
• Completion of a four-year degree program in a related field
• 2+ years of experience in a rigorous fast-paced work environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and initiatives simultaneously with a results-oriented approach
• Strong Excel/Google sheets experience
• Independent self-starter inclined towards finding solutions without significant oversight
• Passion for food and must be able to taste and provide thorough feedback on every meal and ingredient sample test in the kitchen (includes vegetarian, pork, chicken, steak, and seafood)
Company:
Home Chef is a provider of subscription-based meal kit delivery services to help people to save time while enjoying home cooking. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in Chicago, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.
Home Chef is a company focused on culinary strategy and ecommerce, currently seeking a Menu Strategy Analyst. The role involves planning menus, executing KPI tracking, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize meal offerings.
Responsibilities:
• Support the balancing and publishing process with tactical inputs in Home Chef systems (e.g. Admin) for Core, Family, and Extras menus
• Perform ad-hoc analysis requests to identify and implement actionable takeaways for future menus
• Collect cross-functional menu requests and ensure execution including but not limited to aging inventory depletions, partnership requests, etc.
• Work collaboratively with both menu team and cross functional partners on strategic recommendations for solving menu issues (e.g. over/under food cost, cross functional meeting representative)
• Execute weekly and monthly KPI tracking and analysis of menus - including financial (revenue, food, and margin) metrics and other quantitative (rating) or qualitative (reviews) metrics; this can also include helping track acquisition or marketing promotions
• Track competitor product offerings and promotions
• Support development and maintenance of R&D and various Menu Strategy team tools within Google Workspace
• Lead the meal selection process including preparing the data, leading the meeting, and allocating meals to menus
• Support weekly recipe ideation process identifying redundancies in concepts and aggregating feedback for discussion
• Taste and provide feedback on new meals
• Lead sampling for Extras program - preparing items, tracking results, and communicating next steps with cross-functional partners
• Review weekly menus to ensure all products (e.g. meal kits, extras) are merchandised / assigned accurately and meet production guardrails
• Execute any ad-hoc menu changes and communicate changes to cross-functional partners
• Review bank of successful recipes for future menu uses including reviewing ongoing weekly meal performance for bank consideration
Qualifications:
Required:
• Completion of a four-year degree program in a related field
• 2+ years of experience in a rigorous fast-paced work environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and initiatives simultaneously with a results-oriented approach
• Strong Excel/Google sheets experience
• Independent self-starter inclined towards finding solutions without significant oversight
• Passion for food and must be able to taste and provide thorough feedback on every meal and ingredient sample test in the kitchen (includes vegetarian, pork, chicken, steak, and seafood)
Company:
Home Chef is a provider of subscription-based meal kit delivery services to help people to save time while enjoying home cooking. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in Chicago, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.
About Home Chef
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Industry
Food services and drinking places
Company size
1,001 - 5,000 Employees
Headquarters location
Chicago, IL, US
Year founded
2013