Prep Chef Jobs in Iowa

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 28 Jobs

Line Cook/Prep Cook

  • Urbandale, IA
  • 12 hours ago
  • Urbandale, IA
  • 12 hours ago

Job Duties & Skills Required What You Will Do The responsibilities of this job include all types of food preparation, including but not limited to baking, grilling, stove-top and oven cooking; and cleaning...

Dishwasher (Kitchen Helper) - 50% North Liberty Campus

  • Iowa City, IA
  • 2 days ago
  • Iowa City, IA
  • 2 days ago

The University of Iowa Health Care department of Food and Nutrition Services is seeking a Dishwasher (Kitchen Helper) at our North Liberty Medical Campus. This position will, under direct...

Prep Cook

  • Blue Grass, IA
  • 3 days ago
  • Blue Grass, IA
  • 3 days ago

Prep Cook Wanted Perfect for a Retired Person or Anyone Wanting Low Hours, Low Stress! Were looking for a part-time Prep Cook at Tavern 61 in Blue Grass. This is a low-pressure, flexible jobideal...

Prep Cook

  • Clive, IA
  • 3 days ago
  • Clive, IA
  • 3 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...

Utility 2 - Prep/Cook

  • Cedar Rapids, IA
  • 5 days ago
  • Cedar Rapids, IA
  • 5 days ago

Utility 2 (Prep/Cook) - 2nd Shift 1:30pm - 10:00pm M-F Location: Kraft Heinz Cedar Rapids 4601 C Street SW Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404 Plant Overview: 3-Shift Operation Non- Union Facility with...

Food Preparer

  • Bettendorf, IA
  • 8 days ago
  • Bettendorf, IA
  • 8 days ago

This may include making salads, sandwiches, or assembling meals Store food in designated containers and storage areas Clean kitchen area, take out trash, mop floors, and wipe areas when needed Sanitize...

Part-Time Prep Cook Days & Nights Iowa Western

  • Council Bluffs, IA
  • 12 days ago
  • Council Bluffs, IA
  • 12 days ago

The Prep Cook will assist in the production of all food items in the day-to-day operations of the Galley. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday. Daytime hours will be from 8:30am-2:00pm...

Part-Time Prep Cook Days & Nights

  • Council Bluffs, IA
  • 13 days ago
  • Council Bluffs, IA
  • 13 days ago

The Prep Cook will assist in the production of all food items in the day-to-day operations of the Galley. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday. Daytime hours will be from 8:30am-2:00pm...

Prep Cook - Iowa State University

  • Ames, IA
  • 13 days ago
  • Ames, IA
  • 13 days ago

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

Culinary Aide

  • Fredericksburg, IA
  • 14 days ago
  • Fredericksburg, IA
  • 14 days ago

Come join our Culinary team! Whet your appetite for a fulfilling career as a Culinary Aide in Senior Housing! Are you a culinary enthusiast with a passion for nourishing others? Join our culinary...

Meat Cutter

  • Des Moines, IA
  • 15 days ago
  • Des Moines, IA
  • 15 days ago

If you're someone who has a genuine desire to help people live better and healthier lives, join us as we work to be a trusted resource in our communities, offering real people, real food at real...

Prep Cook

  • Clive, IA
  • 17 days ago
  • Clive, IA
  • 17 days ago

Job Summary:To produce and maintain the quality of menu items assigned to your station according to the company's menu recipes and specifications. To ensure the company's, safety, sanitation and...

Meat Cutter

  • Iowa City, IA
  • 19 days ago
  • Iowa City, IA
  • 19 days ago

Additional Considerations (if any): Night & Weekend Shifts Required - At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise a helpful smile in every aisle and those smiles can only come from a...

Prep Person

  • West Des Moines, IA
  • 19 days ago
  • West Des Moines, IA
  • 19 days ago

Prepares food products for restaurant usage according to company standards; uses, maintains, and cleans food preparation surfaces, equipment, and storage areas....

Part-Time Kitchen Helper

  • Dubuque, IA
  • 19 days ago
  • Dubuque, IA
  • 19 days ago

Company Description Boyd Gaming Corporation has been successful in gaming jurisdiction in which we operate in the United States and is one of the premier casino entertainment companies in the...

Demographic Data for Iowa

Moving to Iowa? Find some basic demographic data about Iowa below.


Local
National
3,191,035
82,356

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...
Chef DevOps Essentials
Course Description:In this Chef DevOps Essentials course, students will learn how to leverage Chef, a powerful configuration management tool, to automate the deployment, management, and scaling of...
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 Iowa

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 Iowa 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 Iowa
Less than 1 year
40.5%
2-4 years
26.0%
1-2 years
22.8%
None
9.8%
8-10 years
0.9%



Prep Chef Related Career Advice Articles

How to become a chef
How to Become a Chef

Thinking of launching a career as a chef? This guide will tell you everything you need to know – from how long it takes to become a chef to how to get a job as a chef (and more).

Read article »
Closeup of sustainably sourced ingredients
What Makes a Restaurant Sustainable?

In terms of restaurant management, sustainability is more than just a buzzword or an offshoot of the “farm-to-table” craze.

Read article »
Private chef cooking in home kitchen
Private Chef vs. Personal Chef

Are you considering a career as a private or personal chef? Is there even a difference? These two positions may be synonymous in some circles and require very similar skills, but there is one distinct difference: private chefs are employed by a single client, whereas personal chefs may work for a number of clients at any given time.

Read article »