Prep Cook Interview Questions

A Prep Cook is responsible for the preparation of ingredients and stations used in the cooking process, as well as maintaining the kitchen and ensuring it is clean and sanitized.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Prep Cook or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Prep Cook position, these Prep Cook interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Prep Cook Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Prep Cook interview questions.

1. Describe your experience with food sanitation and safety procedures.
2. Have you had experience with handling food at previous work sites?
3. How do you make sure that you don't run out of food and supplies during a peak hour?
4. Tell me about a time you made a mistake while preparing ingredients. How did you correct it and what did you learn?
5. What are some of the cleaning techniques you use to keep the kitchen sanitary?
6. Is there a particular order you follow to store food and produce inside the refrigerator?
7. What did you like most in our menu?
8. What entrees/sauces/etc. can you prepare?
9. What would you do if you are overloaded with responsibility during food prep and the other team members don't offer assistance?
10. What process do you follow when preparing a kitchen for the dinner shift?
11. How would you react if a supplier delivered poor-quality ingredients?
12. What basic ingredients would you expect to prepare on any given shift?
13. How would you handle a dispute with a coworker?
14. What is your experience with using knives and other kitchen equipment?
15. If hired, what would be your ideal shift(s) and schedule(s)?
16. Which cuisines do you have the most experience cooking as a Prep Cook?
17. What would you do if you noticed a potentially harmful ingredient was about to be used in a dish?
18. How well do you follow instructions?
19. Do you have any experience preparing vegan dishes?
20. When preparing a large quantity of food, what is your strategy for making sure it’s all cooked and ready at the same time?
21. We want to ensure our customers have a positive dining experience. As a Prep Cook, describe one strategy you would use to ensure a customer is happy with their meal.
22. What would you do if you were asked to prepare a sauce you had never prepared before?
23. Imagine you have a question about something but the chef isn’t around. What do you do?
24. What makes you stand out from other prep cooks?

Prep Cook Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Prep Cook interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

1. What is Your Salary Expectation?
2. Why Should We Hire You?
3. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
4. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
5. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
6. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
7. Tell Me About Yourself
8. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
9. Why Do You Want This Job?
10. What is Your Greatest Strength?