What does it take to be a chef? Is it innate, or can you learn how to be a chef? How much money do chefs make? You’ve probably asked yourself one of these questions
or all of them! The answer to all of them is that yes, you can become a chef and there are many ways to do so.
Follow along as we look at what exactly the job of a chef entails and how you can prepare yourself for this career path.
Start Simple
If you’re still in high school, study up on what courses to take and try to get some hands-on experience in a restaurant kitchen. Ask if you can volunteer at local restaurants. If you do well, your employer might hire you on. If not, study hard and
retake those classes until you’re confident that cooking is for you. Once that’s settled, apply to culinary school—you have nothing to lose! If culinary school isn’t for you, consider other options like hiring an instructor or taking classes at a nearby
community college or university extension program. No matter which route works best for your current situation and budget, it never hurts to start simple when trying to reach new goals.
Practice Cooking With Other Chefs
It’s one thing to practice cooking on your own time—but it’s another to learn from other chefs in a kitchen environment. If you’re serious about honing your skills, consider
finding part-time work in restaurants that interest you. You might work for free as an unpaid apprentice (aka stage) or trade service for hours. Either way, you’ll get real-world experience and get to know those who have made their living through cooking professionally.
Find Mentors
A good place to start when you’re trying to figure out how to become a top-notch cook is asking around and learning from other chefs. It doesn’t matter whether they work in
food service or at home—everyone has something new to offer, especially if you’re
serious about improving your culinary skills. Attend classes: If there are any culinary
schools in your area, take advantage of them! Attending some basic classes at these institutions will familiarize you with all kinds of tools and techniques that will help you hone your craft as a cook.
Understand Culinary Terminology
In order to communicate with your peers, you’ll need to know common culinary terms. Food is defined by its taste, aroma, appearance and texture. A food's flavor is a
combination of all these properties. While chefs have their own jargon for describing flavor, there are some general terms that most people use. The savory tastes include
salty (umami), bitter and sour flavors. The five basic tastes are: sweet, salty (or savory), sour, bitter and umami (savoury). Salty foods make you thirsty so we tend to drink more liquids when eating them.
Dive Into the Ingredients
Before you do anything else, start cooking. Make it your goal to make three meals every single day and make sure that at least one of those meals is something new. It’s
important to follow recipes closely when you first start so that you have a better understanding of how ingredients interact with each other—and so that you learn how
to properly season your food. Keep everything on hand: You might find yourself in situations where there isn’t an entire spice rack, but even if all you have is some dried basil or cumin seed, those will work just fine.
Learn Basic Culinary Techniques
To land your first gig, you’ll likely need to work in several different kitchens. You should learn from each experience. Find out what does and doesn’t work in each kitchen, who
to look up to and who to avoid, what’s fun and what's drudgery. During these stages of your career, you need as much experience as possible. Even if it's not where you plan
on staying forever, pay attention while working there because all that information is
going to come in handy later on. After a year or two at various restaurants, you should have enough information (and hopefully some strong references) that you can start looking for more permanent positions that fit with your goals and ambitions.
Work in Several Kitchens
You’ll learn much more working in other kitchens than you will in culinary school. Work in several restaurants, not just one. Learn what it’s like to work at all different types of
restaurants. You’ll have access to better equipment and ingredients, too. And because you won’t be making food for hundreds of people each night, you’ll likely end up
preparing more variety than you would as an entry-level cook—and gaining confidence and skill along the way!
Listen to Your Chef and Sous-Chef
It doesn’t matter how good you are in culinary school if you don’t listen to what your
head cook is telling you. Ask questions and pay attention to them. The head cook and sous-chef are there to help guide you through your career as a line cook, but they also
have their own jobs and responsibilities. Take advantage of every opportunity they give you! You should feel like they’re always pushing you—it means that they care about getting the best out of their employees, not just themselves. They want to see new chefs succeed.
Understand What It Takes To Be A Chef Today
The right school for you may not have anything to do with what you're passionate
about, but more to do with your chosen career path. As an example, if you want to work
in fine dining, culinary arts might be a better fit than culinary management. If you're passionate about both cooking and running a restaurant, choose your educational
options accordingly. The school that gets you closer to your goals is where you need to go. You could easily spend several years getting an education at The Culinary
Institute of America (CIA) or similar institution, but that doesn't mean that there aren't
great opportunities available for less formal training as well. It really just depends on
what kind of career path best fits who you are and how much time and money you have at your disposal.
Get an Education at The Right School For You
One of the best ways to learn how to cook professionally is by attending culinary school. These schools typically combine coursework with on-the-job training, so you
can gain essential, real-world experience while you’re in class. And, like any good student, it’s important that you find a program that matches your interests and goals.
Choosing a Cooking School: If you're interested in enrolling in an accredited cooking school or culinary arts program, ask some questions: Where is your facility located?
What kind of equipment do you have access to? Do students have opportunities for off-site apprenticeships or internships during their time at school?
