35-2021.00 · Task explorer
Food Preparation Workers: reported tasks and exploration worksheet
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Read the task inventory
This source lists 31 tasks, including 24 marked Core and 7 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.
Task source dates: 08/2024.
31 tasks shown
Core · Task 18728 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
Core · Task 2204 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
Core · Task 18730 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
Core · Task 2210 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
Core · Task 2208 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
Core · Task 2197 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
Core · Task 2203 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Weigh or measure ingredients.
Core · Task 18734 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.
Core · Task 18732 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
Core · Task 18731 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
Core · Task 18729 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.
Core · Task 21005 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.
Core · Task 2207 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.
Core · Task 2213 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
Core · Task 2217 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.
Core · Task 2200 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Portion and wrap food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.
Core · Task 2220 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.
Core · Task 2201 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
Core · Task 2209 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Prepare and serve a variety of beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
Core · Task 2221 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
Core · Task 2206 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
Core · Task 2214 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Stir and strain soups and sauces.
Core · Task 2211 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
Core · Task 2212 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.
Supplemental · Task 2215 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.
Supplemental · Task 18733 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.
Supplemental · Task 2222 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Distribute menus to hospital patients, collect diet sheets, and deliver food trays and snacks to nursing units or directly to patients.
Supplemental · Task 2199 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.
Supplemental · Task 2219 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.
Supplemental · Task 2218 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.
Supplemental · Task 2216 · 08/2024 · Incumbent
Keep records of the quantities of food used.
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Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.