Many people are working in the catering industry. This field sounds interesting as it includes many jobs with varied difficulty levels. Have you ever wondered who is behind a restaurant’s excellent services? Secret agents are working in the kitchen to contribute to the restaurant’s success. Today’s article will take inside the kitchen and introduce you to kitchen porters. What are their primary tasks? What do they do? How much do they earn? This is what we are going to answer right now.

What is a Kitchen Porter?

A kitchen porter is a person responsible for the cooking tools and materials and kitchen hygiene. Kitchen porters have no direct contact with the client’s restaurants, as they operate inside the kitchen. They can tackle different tasks such as;  

-Cleaning: a kitchen porter cleans the dishes and the cooking stove, but he/she is not considered a dishwasher or a table cleaner.

-Preparing the kitchen worktops and baking surfaces: a kitchen porter makes the working site for chefs to prepare food.

-Organizing: kitchen porters organize the kitchen tools. Take a look at Who Is Responsible For Workplace Health And Safety?

-Supplying and receiving deliveries: kitchen porters provide chefs with the necessary ingredients or tools and contribute to the preparation process.

-Controlling and storing: kitchen porters check on the food quality, expiring date, and store ingredients for the upcoming usage.

-Removing the wastes.

How to Become a Kitchen Porter:

There is a list of requirements for applicants who want to work in the kitchen field. This job is also open for immigrants who are looking for a living in the UK. The requirements differ from one restaurant to another, depending on the lack of kitchen staff and vacancies. Here are the terms and conditions:

-Having the proper age with the physical ability to lift heavy materials like potato bags, fruit boxes, etc..

-having completing apprenticeship or training for kitchen management and equipment maintenance.

-Having citizenship or a green card.

-A medical report that determines your health conditions.

-Having obtained a certificate in kitchen management, or just reached a GCSE level in a previous training in restaurants.

How to Apply for a Kitchen Porter?

Applicants who are interested in kitchen shores should contact the restaurant manager or a head chef to discuss the details of their application. Like any application process, potential kitchen porters should prepare a CV/ resume. They can also write a cover letter to reach out employers and convince them that they are eligible for the job. After following all these steps, they can expect a job interview, in which they can get acquainted with the working conditions and details.

Terms and Conditions:

To step inside big kitchens you need to meet the eligibility list to the job:

-A perfect health condition: a kitchen porter should be a healthy person who can bear the kitchen temperature and can work for hours in a standing position.

-Availability: a kitchen porter should follow the working schedule and should come one hour before the coming of the chefs to prepare the kitchen.

-Hygiene: a kitchen porter should care for the kitchen cleaning conditions and should always sanitize the kitchen tools.

-Adaptability to the working conditions: despite the presence of a ventilation system in every kitchen, kitchen porters should adapt to all the sudden changes. The work of a kitchen porter requires standing for long hours in front of ovens and fryers, depending on the program of the day.

Skills Required in a Kitchen Porter:

- Organizational skills: a kitchen porter should know how to store food in the fridge and wrap them in a perfect package for the next usage.

- Attention to details: a kitchen porter should be very cautious in putting food supplies and kitchen tools in a safe place.

-Ability to work under pressure: a kitchen porter should be a very wise person, since the kitchen is filled with many people and there is a daily work load.

-Coordinating Skills: adding to preparing food supplies and kitchen space, a kitchen porter should be able to coordinate with the rest of the team to provide better results.

A Kitchen Porter’s salary

A kitchen porter is paid depending on the work schedule, place, and the level of experience.

An entry level kitchen porter working on a daily basis can make up to £14,307 per year.

An experienced kitchen porter makes up to £15,680  per year.