14 Commis Chef Skills for Your Career and Resume

A commis chef is a junior chef who works under the supervision of a more senior chef. As a commis chef, you will be responsible for a range of tasks, including preparing food, cleaning the kitchen, and running errands. To be successful in this role, you will need to develop a range of skills, including knife skills, food preparation skills, and time management skills.

Customer Service

Customer service skills are important for commis chefs to have because they often interact with customers directly. They need to be able to provide information about menu items, answer questions and take orders from patrons. Customer service skills can also help them work well with their supervisors and other kitchen staff members.

Inventory Management

A commis chef needs to be able to manage their inventory of ingredients and supplies. This includes knowing what ingredients are needed for each menu item, how much of each ingredient is needed and where the ingredients are stored. It also means being able to track when ingredients need to be replenished or rotated out.

A strong understanding of inventory management can help a commis chef ensure that they have all the ingredients necessary to prepare dishes in a timely manner. It can also help them save money by ensuring they aren’t purchasing unnecessary ingredients.

Food Preparation

Food preparation is the ability to prepare food for customers. This includes cooking, seasoning and garnishing dishes. It’s important to be able to cook a variety of foods well so you can meet customer demands. You may also need to know how to use kitchen equipment like ovens, griddles and deep fryers.

Passion for Cooking

Passion for cooking is an important skill for a commis chef to have because it can help them stay motivated and engaged in their work. Having passion for the culinary arts can also make it easier for them to learn new skills, as they may be more willing to practice and take on challenges. A commis chef with passion for cooking may enjoy working in a kitchen environment more than one who doesn’t like cooking.

Multi-tasking

A commis chef is responsible for completing a variety of tasks throughout the day. They may be preparing food, cleaning work stations and equipment, stocking supplies and communicating with customers all at once. Being able to multi-task can help them complete their duties in a timely manner while maintaining high standards of cleanliness and customer service.

Organization

Organization is the ability to keep track of multiple tasks and resources. As a commis chef, you may be responsible for many ingredients at once, so it’s important to stay organized. You also need to know where all your equipment is located in case you need to prepare an ingredient quickly or if someone else needs something from storage.

Creativity

Creativity is the ability to think of new ideas and solutions. As a commis chef, you may be tasked with creating original dishes for customers or developing recipes that use ingredients from local farms. Having creativity in your skill set can help you come up with unique ideas that are both delicious and sustainable. It also allows you to create innovative ways to prepare existing dishes, which can help you save time and resources.

Cooking Techniques

Cooking techniques are the methods that you use to prepare food. This includes how you cook, what tools you use and any special processes you may have for preparing certain dishes. Having a variety of cooking techniques can help you adapt to different situations in the kitchen and provide your patrons with unique experiences when they visit your restaurant.

Teamwork

Working in a kitchen can be a team effort, so it’s important to know how to work with others. A commis chef needs to be able to communicate effectively and listen to the instructions of their superiors. They also need to be willing to help out other members of the kitchen staff when needed. This is especially true if they want to advance in their career because many executive chefs are former commis chefs who worked hard to move up the ranks.

Kitchen Safety

Kitchen safety is an important skill for commis chefs to have because they work in a kitchen where there are many hazards. They need to know how to handle sharp objects, hot surfaces and other dangers that may be present in the kitchen. Having this knowledge can help them keep themselves safe while working in the kitchen so they don’t get injured or hurt others.

Menu Planning

A commis chef is responsible for creating and maintaining a menu, which requires them to have knowledge of food preparation techniques and ingredients. They also need to be able to plan the daily or weekly meals for an establishment, including how much of each ingredient they’ll need and what time they should prepare it. This requires attention to detail and organizational skills.

Leadership

Leadership skills are important for commis chefs to have, as they often supervise and train other kitchen staff. Having leadership skills can help them motivate their team members and encourage them to improve their own cooking abilities. It’s also important that a commis chef be able to lead by example so that their team members know what is expected of them.

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is a necessary skill for any chef, especially those working in the kitchen of a restaurant. Commis chefs must be able to follow recipes precisely and ensure that all food served to customers meets health standards. They also need to pay close attention to their surroundings while cooking so they can notice when something catches fire or if another employee needs help with an ingredient.

Sanitation

Sanitation is the process of maintaining cleanliness in a kitchen. As a commis chef, you should be familiar with proper sanitation practices to ensure food safety and prevent contamination. You may also need to instruct other kitchen staff on how to properly maintain sanitary conditions. For example, if you notice that an employee isn’t washing their hands before handling food, you can address it by explaining why hand-washing is important and providing them with resources for learning more about sanitation.

How Can I Learn These Commis Chef Skills?

There are a few ways that you can learn the necessary skills to become a commis chef. Many technical and community colleges offer culinary arts programs that can give you the hands-on experience you need to learn the basics of cooking and food preparation. There are also many online cooking courses available that can teach you the basics of cooking and food preparation. In addition, many restaurants offer training programs for aspiring chefs that can give you the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become a commis chef.