Cook, NA-08 - United States Army Installation Management Command

Uses a full range of quantity cooking and baking procedures from the common or frequently used to the new or complex recipes. Prepares a variety of meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, sauces, gravies, and baked goods (including cakes, cookies, pies, buns, biscuits and rolls) by following standardized recipes at different levels of difficulty. On a daily basis, assignments may include preparing a number of menu items for one meal (usually four or more). Plans and coordinates a variety of steps to ensure all items are ready for serving at the same time. Uses special or difficult recipes involving many steps, ingredients, or long preparation time to prepare menu items, e.g. creole shrimp, sweet and sour pork, spaghetti sauce. Examines all food for quality and freshness before preparation. Makes substitutions and adjustments in food preparation procedures and seasonings to make food more attractive and to improve taste. Makes modifications to recipes for ingredient quantities, number of servings, and size of equipment available. Directs and provides technical guidance, as required, to lower graded personnel. Monitors preparation of menu items by lower grade cooks and reviews menus and standardized recipes to ensure food items are made correctly. Cleans utensils and equipment after use, observes established safety procedures, and keeps the work area clean and tidy. Performs other duties as assigned. Skill and knowledge: Skill to plan, coordinates, and time the sequences of steps needed to have menu items ready for serving at mealtime without overcooking or waste. Knowledge of related procedures to work in large quantities. Incumbent also applies skills necessary to overcome practical production problems, evaluate final food products, and initiate corrective action when an item does not meet established quality standards. Ability to adjust recipes according to the number of services needed, e.g., when recipe shows four pounds of rice are needed for 50 servings, incumbent