Prep Chef Jobs in Crystal Lake, IL

A Prep Chef, also known as a preparation cook, is an integral part of the culinary industry responsible for preparing ingredients for the main cooks or chefs in a kitchen. Their tasks include washing, peeling, cutting, and chopping fruits, vegetables, and other food items, as well as cooking and preparing simple dishes. They also play a critical role in maintaining cleanliness and order in the kitchen, storing food appropriately, and ensuring the availability of fresh ingredients. Prep Chefs often work under the supervision of a head chef or cooks, thus they need to have a keen eye for detail, excellent time management skills, and the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment.

To qualify as a Prep Chef, a certificate or an associate's degree in culinary arts or a related field is usually required. However, critical skills such as culinary expertise, knife skills, understanding of food safety standards, and a strong familiarity with various cooking techniques are essential. In addition, they should also have good physical stamina to manage long hours of standing and handling kitchen equipment. Prior to progressing to the position of a Prep Chef, a person may start their culinary journey in roles such as a dishwasher, line cook or a kitchen assistant.

1-15 of 38 Jobs

Prep Cook

  • Vernon Hills, IL (17 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 1 day ago
  • Vernon Hills, IL (17 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 1 day ago

$15 per hour - $21 per hour Our Prep Cooks make all the magic possible. They put their heart into ensuring the kitchen and line is properly stocked with the necessary items to complete food orders...

Grocery Butcher

  • Kildeer, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 1 day ago
  • Kildeer, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 1 day ago

Successfully completed WFM Butcher Apprentice Program, or an equivalent training program.* * UK Exceptions may apply Physical Requirements/Working Conditions Must be able to lift 50 pounds....

Meat Cutter

  • Schaumburg, IL (20 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 2 days ago
  • Schaumburg, IL (20 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 2 days ago

Id : 580773, Title : Meat Cutter, Category : Retail, Store Ops, RequisitionType : High Volume - Retail, JobGrade : null, RequisitionId : ...479, ExternalPostedStartDate : 2025-03-26T22:57:34...

Butcher - Full Time

  • Kildeer, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 3 days ago
  • Kildeer, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 3 days ago

Successfully completed WFM Butcher Apprentice Program, or an equivalent training program.* UK Exceptions may apply Physical Requirements/Working Conditions Must be able to lift 50 pounds....

Prep Cook

  • Wheeling, IL (22 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 4 days ago
  • Wheeling, IL (22 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 4 days ago

be at least 18 years of age Previous prep or line cook experience preferred An individual who thrives in a team-based environment Basic knowledge of professional cooking and experience with basic knife...

Meat Cutter

  • Lake Forest, IL (22 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 8 days ago
  • Lake Forest, IL (22 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 8 days ago

The Fresh Market & You: Our mission is to make everyday eating extraordinary for our guests, and we are looking for a new team member who will commit to helping us deliver on this mission. Our...

Prep Cook

  • Hoffman Estates, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 9 days ago
  • Hoffman Estates, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 9 days ago

Completes orders from steam tables and grill and serves customers at multiple stations....

Prep Cook

  • Schaumburg, IL (20 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 10 days ago
  • Schaumburg, IL (20 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 10 days ago

PREP COOK Req. Number: 117 Posted Date: 4/16/2025 Address: 406 E. Golf Road Schaumburg, IL Zip Code: 60173-4441 $15 per hour - $17 per hour Our Prep Cooks put their heart into ensuring that the...

New Store - Butcher - Full Time - Saint Charles, IL - Opening Early Summer 2025

  • Saint Charles, IL (23 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 13 days ago
  • Saint Charles, IL (23 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 13 days ago

Successfully completed WFM Butcher Apprentice Program, or an equivalent training program.* UK Exceptions may apply Physical Requirements/Working Conditions Must be able to lift 50 pounds....

Full Time Culinary Aide (AM)

  • Saint Charles, IL (23 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 20 days ago
  • Saint Charles, IL (23 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 20 days ago

This role does not require a valid driver's license or personal vehicle unless specified in additional job requirements What you'll be doing: Assist with food preparation, washing dishes and overall...

Food Prep

  • Saint Charles, IL (23 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 21 days ago
  • Saint Charles, IL (23 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 21 days ago

You are applying for work with a franchisee of Dunkin' Donuts, not Dunkin' Brands, Inc., Dunkin' Donuts or any of their affiliates. Any information you submit will be provided solely to the...

Prep Cook (Part Time)

  • Hoffman Estates, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 22 days ago
  • Hoffman Estates, IL (11 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 22 days ago

Completes orders from steam tables and grill and serves customers at multiple stations....

Meat Cutter

  • Grayslake, IL (13 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 23 days ago
  • Grayslake, IL (13 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 23 days ago

A Day in the Life: As a Meat Cutter, you will be on the cutting edge with our beef, poultry, and other meat products, and you must be willing to carve out time to engage our customers in friendly...

Prep Cook (Part Time)

  • Hoffman Estates, IL (18 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 23 days ago
  • Hoffman Estates, IL (18 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 23 days ago

Completes orders from steam tables and grill and serves customers at multiple stations....

Prep Cook

  • Schaumburg, IL (20 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 24 days ago
  • Schaumburg, IL (20 miles from Crystal Lake, IL)
  • 24 days ago

Description IMMEDIATELY HIRING - Prep Cooks Part-Time & Full-Time Opportunities! - Text APPLY to ... Our Teammates Enjoy: Great Pay Overtime eligibility for schedules over 40 hours/week Paid Sick...

Demographic Data for Crystal Lake, IL

Moving to Crystal Lake, IL? Find some basic demographic data about Crystal Lake, IL below.


Local
National
59,191
1,975
Medium

Prep Chef Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireChefs curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Planet Chef
Whether they were born in Brazil, Argentina, Japan, South Africa, or Cameroon, they all learned how to cook in France. Meet these young and creative chefs who drew their know-how from their unique...
Travel Cake Master chef series Chef lim by APCA chef online
Travel cakes Master chef series by chef Lim, our in-house executive Pastry are something which does not need too much or a storage and great stuff for picnic and partiesThis program will cover 8...
Viennoiserie Master Pastry chef by APCA chef online
Master chef Angelo Vontoorn in this program is going to teach about different Advance Venoisseries and Laminated doughs. Some are also based on started or Levain. You will be learning how to make...

Salary for Prep Chef Jobs in Crystal Lake, IL

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireChefs research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Prep Chef positions.



Highest Education Level

Prep Chefs in Crystal Lake, IL offer the following education background
High School or GED
33.4%
Associate's Degree
24.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
17.5%
Bachelor's Degree
16.9%
Some College
3.2%
Master's Degree
2.3%
Some High School
1.8%
Doctorate Degree
0.4%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Prep Chefs in Crystal Lake, IL
Less than 1 year
40.5%
2-4 years
26.0%
1-2 years
22.8%
None
9.8%
8-10 years
0.9%



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