Kitchen Helper

What Is a Kitchen Helper and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Kitchen Helper

What Is a Kitchen Helper?

As a kitchen helper, you perform a variety of duties in a restaurant, cafe, or large commercial kitchen. You use food service skills to assist chefs, wait staff, and restaurant managers with a variety of tasks to keep the kitchen functioning smoothly and safely. Although there are no formal qualifications required for this career, you typically have some form of previous restaurant work experience, such as dishwashing or bussing tables. You do not interact directly with customers, although your job may be near customer areas. Kitchen helpers must be detail oriented and capable of multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment.

What are Kitchen Helper Duties and Responsibilities?

Kitchen helpers perform a number of cooking-related duties, often related to food preparation. You must be able to identify and retrieve ingredients from freezers or other storage locations and be familiar with safe food handling techniques. Peeling, washing and dicing ingredients and other food items may also be required. You should understand the roles of the various chefs and back-of-house staff, and keep work areas organized, tidy, and sanitary. Opening and closing duties can be especially busy, as you must prepare or store ingredients according to food safety standards, scour surfaces, and make sure the necessary tools, cutlery, and appliances are in good working order.

Kitchen Helper Job Description Sample

With this Kitchen Helper job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Kitchen Helper role.

Job Summary

Our restaurant is looking for a hard-working Kitchen Helper to assist with dishwashing and other back-of-house tasks. In addition to washing utensils and dishes, you will help keep the kitchen areas and equipment clean throughout your shift. In some cases, you may also assist with washing produce and other food prep tasks. A restaurant kitchen can be a high-stress environment, so we prefer applicants who have some prior experience. You must be able to stand for long periods of time and lift at least 60 lbs.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Keep kitchen areas and equipment clean
  • Wash utensils and dishes
  • Assist with food prep
  • Assist with other tasks as needed

Requirements and Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent (preferred)
  • Some kitchen experience preferred
  • Bilingual communication skills a plus
  • Ability to stand for a long periods of time
  • Ability to lift 60-75 lbs.

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