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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Also called: Fryer Operator, Kettle Fry Cook Operator, Machine Operator, Retort Operator

What they do:

Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.

On the job, you would:
  • Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
  • Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
  • Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
On the job, you'll need:

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products
  • food production

Business

  • management

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • read and understand what is written

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Cooperation

Data base user interface and query software

  • Database software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $36,700

Education

High school diploma/GED or certificate after high school is usually needed.

Explore More

See other careers in the Manufacturing industry.