Thus short-order cooks only need to know how to prepare certain popular items. In addition, short-order cooks often on work several orders at once, which also speeds up food preparation. For example, while grilling hamburgers, they may also be frying eggs and French fries. During slow periods, cooks prepare for busy times. They may slice meats or vegetables and prepare soups or salads.
Cooks also clean the grill, counters, and floors.
Cooks who work for fast-food restaurants often specialize in preparing one item. Some cooks prepare hamburgers while others do French fries or fried chicken. In these restaurants, cooks prepare some items prior to busy periods and keep them warm until they are sold. Short-Order Cooks is in the Personal and Commercial Services Career Cluster.