Cook

Aurora Health Care; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Health Care in Chicago seeks a kitchen helper to ensure hot menu items meet standardized recipes and quality standards for dietary meals. The role emphasizes precise cooking, portioning, and timely service in a hospital setting.

The incumbent will document temperatures, assist with recipe development, and support the department with safe, sanitary food production and event catering when needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• 2-3 years experience in preparing quantity food items.
• Able to interpret and follow recipes.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Working knowledge of kitchen equipment.
• Sanitation certification or certification within the first 3 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Follow standardized recipes to ensure quality and adequate quantities for dietary meal programs.
• Document food temperatures prior to each service.
• Assist with new product testing, recipe development and revision of recipes.
• Provide input into recipe standardization and creative production food.
• Prepare hot items for service areas and cater events as needed.
• Check tally for breakfast, lunch and dinner patient trays; ensure supplies.
• Obtain supplies from storeroom; maintain a safe sanitary area per Board of Health.
• Clean and sanitize work areas and equipment; rotate dated items.
• Attend department meetings and inservices.
• Handle leftovers per safety guidelines and reuse where appropriate.

Skills

Good communication

Interpret recipes

Minimal supervision

Kitchen equipment

Sanitation cert

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Major Responsibilities: Responsible for ensuring that the hot menu items are correctly prepared according to the standardized recipes. 1) Follows standardized recipes to ensure good quality and adequate quantities of food for all dietary meal programs. 2) Documents food temperatures prior to each service. 3)Assists with new product testing, recipe development and revision of recipes.4)Provides informational input into recipe standardization and creative production food. Adherence to strict deadlines regarding food production for each area of service. 2)Refers to catering requests for hot production items required for special events. 3)Prepares all items as needed for service areas.1)Checks tally for items to be prepared for breakfast, lunch and dinner patient trays. Ensures adequate supplies are prepared and available for department needs. 1) Obtains supplies needed from storeroom, refrigerators, and freezer. Maintains a safe sanitary work area meeting Board of Health regulations.2)Cleans and sanitizes work area including tables, minor equipment, stove, ovens and walk-in refrigerators. 3)Dates and rotates all food items to ensure proper utilization and rotation. 4)Attends area and department meetings and inservices. 1)Ensure that all food is stored covered and dated and that leftovers are utilized.Other duties as assigned by Supervisor. Education/Experience Required: • High School Diploma. • 2-3 years experience in preparing quantity food items. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Good communication skills.Able to interpret and follow recipes. • Ability to work with minimal supervision. • Working knowledge of kitchen equipment. • Sanitation Certified or certification within the first 3 months of hire Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Able to work continuously mobile.Able to access high and low areas. • Able to maneuver heavy objects up to 75 pounds. • Exposure to hazardous materials and conditions. • Able to meet time constraints in a fast - paced environment.Able to perform cleaning tasks. • Able to communicate with others. • Able to safely use kitchen equipment (gas, electric, and steam) This requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 08/01/2014. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance.For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent.Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.