Culinary Associate, Recipe Tester

Purple Carrot; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan matching

Paid time off

Delivery credits (Purple Carrot box)

Job summary

Purple Carrot in Chicago, IL is seeking a Culinary Associate, Recipe Tester to help ensure every plant-based recipe meets our standards from concept to final testing.

You will test and retest recipes, document detailed feedback, support kitchen operations, and collaborate with the Recipe Development Manager and Creative team.

Strong organization, excellent communication, and a passion for plant-based food are essential; on-site work at our test kitchen is required.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree or related cooking experience.
• Strong organization and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to commute to Chicago, IL.

Responsibilities

• Test and retest recipes; document detailed feedback.
• Participate in tastings and provide notes and data across platforms.
• Support photoshoot prep and kitchen organization with the team.
• Maintain pantry, inventory, and equipment; ensure cleanliness and safety.
• Plan and conduct competitor unboxings.
• Assist with ad-hoc projects as needed.

Skills

Professional cooking experience

Food knowledge

Excellent communication

Highly organized

Education

Culinary degree

Job description

About Purple Carrot

Founded in 2014, Purple Carrot delivers clean, long-lasting energy through the power of plants. As the only company in America devoted entirely to plant-based eating, we have spent over a decade perfecting the balance of protein and fiber that only plants can provide. Offering chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals delivered right to your door, we make plant-forward eating effortless, flexible, and endlessly exciting. Our menu spans quick weeknight dishes, occasion-worthy dinners, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals.

Purple Carrot prioritizes taste and flexibility, offering no membership fees, the freedom to skip or unskip weekly deliveries whenever you want, and a no-pressure, cancel-anytime policy. We pride ourselves on doing plants better than anyone else - and we have the receipts to prove it.

Description

We are looking for a Culinary Associate, Recipe Tester to join our mission-driven team. As an integral part of the Culinary department, you will join forces with the Recipe Development Manager (to whom you will also report) in our continued effort to inspire people to eat more plants!

We are looking for candidates who are passionate about food, highly creative, and energized by hands-on work in a fast-paced test kitchen.

This position will play an important role in ensuring the accuracy and quality of every recipe that reaches our customers, from initial concept through final testing.

As the Culinary Associate, Recipe Tester, you will be focused on testing and retesting new plant-based recipes, documenting detailed feedback, and supporting the day-to-day organization of the test kitchen.

We greatly thank all applicants; however, only those under serious consideration will be contacted.

Location

• This role is based in Chicago, IL, with on-site presence at our West Town photo studio and Fulton Market test kitchen.
• Schedule is driven by tasting, testing, and shoot calendars, so on-site days may shift week to week based on business needs.

On the Plate

• Test and retest recipes created by the Recipe Development Manager, documenting detailed feedback in accordance with Culinary Team standard operating procedures.
• Participate in all Meal Kit and Ready-to-Eat tastings, providing tasting notes and supporting data across our software platforms.
• Support photoshoot prep, mise en place, and execution in partnership with the Creative team and Recipe Development Manager.
• Maintain kitchen organization, including pantry and perishable inventory, package check-in, and general equipment upkeep.
• Plan and carry out competitor unboxings.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment in line with industry best practices and team policies.
• Assist with ad-hoc projects and tasks as necessary.

Main Ingredients for the Role

• Culinary degree and/or related professional cooking experience.
• No prior recipe testing experience required, but professional kitchen experience and food knowledge are a plus.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy across all projects and tasks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to commute to the office/test kitchen in Chicago, IL.

Extra Special Sauce

• Enthusiasm for working both independently and collaboratively toward shared goals; comfortable navigating diverse opinions and competing priorities.
• High degree of flexibility, positivity, and creative thinking, with the ability to quickly adapt to new processes and change.
• Passion for plant-based food and ingredient development.

Compensation

The anticipated hourly rate for this role is $19 - $21 per hour. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.

Garnish

We love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), matching retirement plan, generous and flexible paid time off, Purple Carrot box delivery credits, professional development, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with teammates who are passionate about food!

Final Touches

We are committed to a safe and inclusive work environment, free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, mental or physical disability, handicap, veteran status, or marital status.