How to Become A Chef

Are you passionate about food and want to turn your passion into a career? If yes, becoming a chef might be the right path for you!

There are plenty of opportunities for talented chefs to find work in some of the best restaurants in the United States.

But what does it take to become a chef in the US? What are the job responsibilities, salaries, and career growth chances?

Let’s discuss everything in this informative blog post.

What is a Chef’s job?

A chef is a professional cook responsible for the preparation, presentation, and cooking of meals. In the United States, there are several different types of chefs, each with their own job responsibilities and titles.

The job responsibilities vary depending on the size and type of the kitchen they work in. In a small restaurant or private household, the Chef may be responsible for all aspects of food preparation, from menu planning to cooking and serving.

On the other hand, in a large restaurant, hotel, or resort, the Chef may have a team of cooks and other kitchen staff working under them.

What are the different types of chef?

Let’s look at the common types of chefs and their job responsibilities.

Executive Chef

Executive chefs are not necessarily employed by small food setups or restaurants; they are mostly hired by large organizations or five-star restaurant chains. Executive chefs have more than 20 years of experience working in professional and commercial kitchens.

You would barely see an executive chef performing cooking activities as they are always involved in the overall operation of a kitchen, including menu planning, food preparation, and supervision of other kitchen staff.

Head Chef

The head Chef is the senior-most cooking professional at any restaurant. They perform all the duties of an executive chef and might as well take part in direct cooking.

Sous Chef

Sous chefs are usually second-in-command and are responsible for assisting the head chef with all aspects of cooking and the kitchen’s day-to-day operations. Depending on the size and capacity, a restaurant may have more than one sous chef.

Sous chefs typically have seven to eight years of experience working in a professional kitchen.

Line Chef

Also known as Chef de Partie or Station Chef, line chefs are responsible for preparing and cooking all food orders. However, each line chef has a particular set of skills according to the station they are working on. For example, different chefs for continental, middle-eastern, desserts, and other cuisines.

Pastry chefs are the typical example of line chefs, and they are responsible for the preparation of desserts and pastries.

Below the line chef’s rank comes the junior Chef – someone who has completed culinary education but has no prior work experience.

So, what does it take to become a professional chef?

Pathway to becoming a Chef

First and foremost, one needs to have a strong passion for cooking to become a chef. If you’re not passionate about food and cooking, then a career as a chef is probably not for you.

But if you have a genuine love for food and thrive in a fast-paced environment, becoming a chef could be the perfect fit.

There are different paths to becoming a chef in the US. Some chefs start out as line cooks or prep cooks, working their way up through the ranks. Others attend culinary school and get their degree in Culinary Arts. And still, others learn on the job, through apprenticeships or other training programs.

Let’s look at the steps in detail.

Step 1 – Get a taste of the work.

If you’re serious about becoming a chef, the first step is to get some experience in a professional kitchen. This will help you decide if the chef’s lifestyle is really for you. It’s not uncommon for people to work in a kitchen for a few months and then decide it’s not the right fit.

There are a few different ways to get experience in a professional kitchen. One option is to take a job as a line cook or prep cook. This will give you a chance to see what the day-to-day work of a chef is really like. Another option is to take a culinary arts course at a community college or vocational school. This will give you some basic culinary skills and knowledge, and it will also help you decide if you’re really interested in pursuing a career as a chef.

Step 2 – Complete your high school diploma or GED.

While it’s not required to start, most senior chefs have formal culinary education, which requires a high school diploma or equivalent. So if you’re serious about becoming a chef, you should plan on completing your high school education.

Step 3 – Get formal culinary education.

Getting formal culinary education can be a great way to learn the skills and knowledge to be a successful chef. It can also help you make connections in the industry, which can be helpful when you’re looking for a job after graduation.

Here are a few ways to get culinary education:

Culinary School: One option is to attend a formal culinary arts program at a school that may result in a certificate, diploma, or degree. These programs typically last from two to four years and will give you the skills and knowledge to start working as a chef.

Community College: These colleges are relatively cheaper than schools and offer diplomas, certificates, and associate degrees in culinary arts.

Vocational School: These schools offer short-term programs that can give you the basic skills and knowledge required to start your professional chef career.

So, this is how you can learn culinary skills and knowledge to make yourself more employable by showing hard-earned certificates to prospective employers.

How much do Chefs earn?

The culinary and hospitality industry is rewarding if you have the right expertise and experience. But, how much do chefs earn?

Well, the median annual wage for chefs in 2021 was $55,380. The same is above $65,000 per year for executive chefs and goes further up with experience.

However, the salaries vary depending on the size of the organization and the state of the country. For example, different regions pay the following annual salaries to chefs:

Nevada	$105,000
Hawaii	$65,000
New York	$63,567
Massachusetts	$60,000
California	$59,886
Illinois	$58,614
Virginia	$57,500
Louisiana	$55,000

What is the Job Outlook of Chefs?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of chefs is projected to grow 25 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

This shows that no matter how challenging or fast-paced the work environment, becoming a chef can be an enriching career.

Click link to learn about Past and Present African American Chefs

https://www.leeneddies.com/7-incredible-african-american-chefs-from-the-past-and-present/

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2022/02/09/24-black-chefs-you-should-know/2/

Culinary Resources:

https://www.nal.usda.gov/legacy/fnic/food-service-and-culinary-organizations

https://www.acfchefs.org/