Ship chef: characteristics, duties, pros and cons

The complex profession of a ship's cook is in demand primarily in port cities. Those who choose this job should take into account that he will not only deal with cooking. The ship's chef prepares menus, prescribes diets, selects the correct diet for sick crew members, and prepares meals taking into account the weather and other factors affecting the condition of the sailors.

This position is from the category of working specialties. To become a cook, you need a professional and technical education, confirmation of your qualifications, experience in this area of ​​at least 1 year is desirable. The immediate superiors on the ship are the captain and his deputy.

Working as a cook on a ship is much more difficult than on land. It's not enough just to have a craving for cooking - you also need to love the sea. It is preferable when a young man becomes a cook, although many women also cope with such a profession. The ship's chef doesn't just prepare food in the regular kitchen or dining room. His galley is a food block that houses various machinery and equipment. Special knowledge is required to activate them.

Coca's responsibilities include more than cooking - he must keep an eye on ovens, refrigerators, and other equipment... Endurance will help you survive long periods at sea.

The performance and condition of the ship's crew depend on this specialist.A person who has chosen such a profession should be aware of all the responsibility assigned to him, and also take into account the fact that he will have to work for a long time in a confined space. To be psychologically stable, to remain calm in any situation, to be able to set others up, not only to help with your actions, but also to support morally - those qualities that a ship's cook should have. And you also need to understand that in this case there is a big risk for your own life, especially when it comes to a warship. Yes, the job brings a good income, since the salary of the cook is high, plus you will always be well-fed, but the profession is not as romantic as it is described in literature and shown in films.

First of all, this is a very responsible and difficult work. Let's try to analyze the pros and cons separately. Let's start with the positives.

• Cook is a profession of a creative plan, this is a flight for your imagination... You will be able to create culinary masterpieces from the most common set of products and receive rave reviews from team members.
• The specialty is in great demand both at sea and on land. If you have extensive experience as a ship chef and show what you are capable of, you will be gladly hired to work in prestigious restaurants.
• The accumulated experience and knowledge will help in everyday life and in personal life... Agree, not everyone is given to indulge their surroundings with delights.
• Constant gratitude from colleagues, clients, their loved ones and an even greater desire to create for them.
• One of the main advantages - good earnings and never be hungry yourself.

There are few disadvantages, but they are also there.

• Early rise and late retreat.
• The entire shift at the chef takes place while standing. In this case, you need to concentrate not only on one dish, but at least three: the first, second and dessert.
• The profession is traumatic, even a high-level professional cannot be insured against burns, cuts, and other injuries.

Nevertheless, the work is interesting, it allows you to reveal your talent and brings good earnings.

The ship's chef has a lot of daily duties:

• to process products;
• create a menu for every day (taking into account dietary food for those who need it);
• prepare breakfast, lunch dishes and desserts, compotes and jelly;
• prepare dough and bake buns, pancakes, whites, bread (if it is impossible to get it);
• make noodles, dumplings;
• draw up applications for products;
• keep the galley clean and service kitchen appliances in a timely manner, wash the dishes repeatedly.

Not all "land" cooks can cope with such an increased load. Plus, it must be taken into account that sometimes you have to negotiate with foreign suppliers, which means that a good cook will also need international language skills. The duties of the ship's chef include preparing dishes of medium complexity, but, in addition, he has to cut salads (from fresh and boiled vegetables, meat), make sandwiches, various snacks, and the like.

Fresh baked goods are always associated with home comfort, so it is a great happiness for the crew members when the cook starts making aromatic buns and desserts. Yes, the cook on the ship has his own responsibilities, but a lot also depends on the personal approach to organizing the case. The management and crew will always appreciate the spirit, dexterity and imagination of the culinary specialist on board. A prerequisite is the observance of sanitary conditions in the preparation and distribution of food, and for this the cook can put forward his requirements to the captain.

In the job description of a cook-cook, in a general position, it is indicated that a specialist must undergo special training and have an appropriate certificate. You can get this job from 18 years old with medical confirmation. A special medical commission determines the suitability of the candidate and gives permission to start work after the trainee has passed the test for the sanitary minimum. The most important thing that a cook should know is the peculiarities and organization of meals for the crew, depending on the conditions and timing of the voyage. He needs to know the recipes of the main dishes, the technology of dividing food into portions, design features. Determining the quality of products and storage rules is an important moment in the profession of a culinary employee on board.

Knowledge of the preparation and storage of semi-finished products is also what is required from the ship's chef. Skills of working with dough, as well as baking bakery products are also required. Knowledge of the basics of balanced nutrition will help you to correctly compose the menu and correctly distribute the available stocks. We'll have to keep track of the consumption of products, therefore you need to be able to draw up product reports... And of course, before starting work, you should study your workplace, understand how the galley is tripled, what mechanisms it has, check the inventory and how the equipment works, examine the utility rooms.

The question is often asked: "Is it possible to work as a ship's chef without education?" If there is a shortage of personnel, then, most likely, they can hire a person without special knowledge, but you will be asked to show your skills. You will be given a kind of exam and still asked to cook your favorite dish. It will be important for the employer to see what you are capable of, he will appreciate your cooking speed, overall skill and taste.