What You'll Do

  • Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.
  • Listen for malfunction alarms, and shut down equipment and notify supervisors when necessary.
  • Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity.
  • Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
  • Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
  • Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
  • Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps.
  • Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
  • Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers.
  • Admit required amounts of water, steam, cooking oils, or compressed air into equipment, such as by opening water valves to cool mixtures to the desired consistency.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.5/5
Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Operation and Control 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Coordination 2.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.88/5
Writing 2.75/5
Quality Control Analysis 2.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.75/5
Speaking 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Self-Control, Integrity, Attention to Detail, Stress Tolerance

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Problem Sensitivity 3.62/5
Oral Comprehension 3.38/5
Written Comprehension 3.38/5
Near Vision 3.25/5
Information Ordering 3.12/5
Selective Attention 3.12/5
Control Precision 3.12/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Database software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.49/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 3.96/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.83/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 3.78/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 3.76/5)

Want to see how YOUR work style matches this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

Similar Careers to Explore

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

100.0% similar profile

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

100.0% similar profile

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

99.9% similar profile

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

99.9% similar profile

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

99.9% similar profile

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

99.9% similar profile

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

99.8% similar profile

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

99.8% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Bakery Fryer Blanching Machine Operator Boiler Brine Maker Casing Cooker Chip Fryer Chocolate Temperer Coconut Boiler Confectionery Cooker Cook Box Filler Cook-Box Filler Cooker Cooker Operator Cooker Tender Corn Cooker Deep Fat Fry Cook Dextrine Mixer Dog and Cat Food Cook Donut Fryer Dough Maker Doughnut Fryer Doughnut Machine Operator Doughnut Maker Doughnut Processor Dumpling Machine Operator Fish Fryer Food Cooking Machine Operator Food Production Worker Fryer Fryer Operator Gum Cook Gum Machine Operator Gum Maker Industrial Cook Instant Potato Processor Kettle Cook Kettle Fry Cook Operator Kettle Operator Kettle Tender Machine Operator Mash Tub Cooker Operator Masher Meal Temperer Mogul Operator Molasses and Caramel Operator Nut Steamer Ordering Machine Operator Oven Operator Peeler Operator Pierogi Maker Popcorn Candy Maker Potato Chip Frier Potato Chip Fryer Potato Chip Maker Potato Pancake Fryer Process Cheese Cooker Retort Operator Sausage Cooker Scalder Soybean Specialties Cook Steak Sauce Maker Steam Box Hand Steam Box Tender Steam Conditioner Operator Steam Conditioning Operator Steam Oven Operator Steam Table Associate Steam Tender Steamer Sterilizer Operator Sugar Boiler Thermo Processor Thermoscrew Operator Tripe Cooker Vacuum Kettle Cook Vat Skimmer Wine Pasteurizer Yeast Distiller