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How to become a Chef

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Chef courses

Career progression and salary expectations for a Chef

Chef

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The role of a Chef

What does a Chef do?

Are you passionate about food? Want to follow in the footsteps of Gordon Ramsey, Delia Smith or Jamie Oliver? If you want to take your family recipes one step further then becoming a chef could be the perfect career move for you.A chef’s role involves preparing, creating and cooking food. However, a chef’s duties will vary greatly depending on the size of the restaurant/kitchen and their specialism. Aside from a general chef, you could choose to specialise in areas as varied as pastry and desserts through to sauces and sautéing. Most entry-level candidates start as commis chefs.Although duties will vary, daily tasks for most chefs will include the following:

Preparing and cooking food
Delivering food promptly, adhering to serving deadlines
Measuring ingredients and controlling consistent portion sizes
Stock control
Adhering to relevant hygiene and health & safety guidelines

Is a career as a Chef right for me?

Being a chef involves long hours and hard work and, in order to be successful in this industry, you’ll need to have drive and ambition. It’s a position based on team work, with all the kitchen staff needing to work together harmoniously in order to produce a final outcome.The kitchen is a fast-paced, stressful environment, so the ability to keep calm under pressure is also essential.Other key skills include:

Strong communication and organisational skills
Excellent decision-making skills
Drive and self-motivation
Efficiency, and the ability to prioritise tasks
Excellent timekeeping

What's it like to be a Chef?

"I’d always enjoyed cooking and preparing meals for friends and family, but it wasn’t until I finished university with a degree in economics that I realised it was more than just a passion, I wanted to make a career out of it. Now I’m working as a sous chef in a top London restaurant. It’s long hours and hard work but I can honestly say I’m doing a job I love."

Get qualified as a Chef

It is not a necessary requirement to have a degree to become a Chef. However, gaining an industry recognised qualification, as well as relevant work experience, can be the key to finding a perfect position.

Recommended Chef courses

Level 2 Certificate in Food Preparation and Cooking with Culinary Arts for Chef Training

Apex Learning

Year-End Sale | 30-in-1 Bundle| CPD Certified | 300 CPD Points| Gifts: Hardcopy + PDF Certificate + SID (Worth 300)
- Compare
- Online
- 150 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- 300 CPD points
- Tutor support
Great service

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***24 Hour Limited Time Flash Sale*** Get Hard Copy + PDF Certificates + Transcript + Student ID Card worth £300 as a Gift! - Enrol Now in this Chef Training Program! Stop scrolling through endless job listings and turn your passion for food into a paycheck! It's time to cal …
£149
Chef Training: Bread, Pastry, Dessert, British Cooking, Catering & Hospitality Management

Apex Learning

Year-End Sale | 30-in-1 Bundle| CPD Certified | 300 CPD Points| Gifts: Hardcopy + PDF Certificate + SID (Worth 300)
- Compare
- Online
- 143 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- 300 CPD points
- Tutor support
Great service

Popular

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***24 Hour Limited Time Flash Sale*** ►►► Chef Training: Bread, Pastry, Dessert, British Cooking, Catering & Hospitality Management Admission Gifts ◄◄◄ ★★ FREE PDF & Hard Copy Certificate| PDF Transcripts| FREE Student ID| Assessment| Lifetime Access| Enrolment Letter★★ …
£149