Are you working in a commis chef job but feel like you have room to improve?

This position is the perfect place to learn from the more experienced chefs in the kitchen. Working as a commis chef will allow you to absorb a lot of knowledge and then put it into practice. It’s a role where dedicated individuals can develop their culinary abilities and build a skillset that will help them succeed in their restaurant career.

We’ve already covered everything you need to do to become a commis chef and make yourself a valuable member of a kitchen brigade. Now, we want to dive a little deeper into the role and give you some expert tips on how to be the best commis chef you can.

1 - Keep It Clean

This one may seem simple but it’s actually extremely important. Cooking and cleaning go hand in hand so it’s important to keep a tidy and uncluttered station as much as possible. 

One of the main ways you can achieve this is by cleaning as you go.

Don’t let food scraps, dirty utensils, or used pots & pans pile up in your station and kitchen. Think of cleaning as part of the cooking process so it becomes second nature to keep things tidy, even during a busy dinner service.

An uncluttered workspace will make it much easier for you to focus on the task at hand. Also, cleaning as you go will also save time at the end of the shift so you can get home earlier.

2 - Be Curious

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it won’t kill a commis chef!

As a matter of fact, being curious and willing to ask questions will take you far in a professional kitchen. If you are unsure about what to do with a certain ingredient or want to learn a specific technique, don’t hesitate to ask a more experienced brigade member.

The chef de partie of your section will be an invaluable resource when you start working as a commis chef. You should direct any culinary questions you have in their direction and listen closely to their answers. 

However, you should avoid bothering the head chef in this way unless it’s totally necessary. They are often extremely busy and don’t have time to be hands on with the commis chefs, so stick to asking for help from someone closer to you in the hierarchy.

3 - Know your place in the kitchen, figuratively and literally

It’s important to be aware of your position in the hierarchy of the kitchen brigade and not act in a way that causes the other chefs to question your intentions. 

A commis chef is an entry level position and so you should be humble and stoic as you learn the ropes in your new job.

Try to avoid speaking too much when it’s not necessary, demonstrate your skills in real time instead of boasting about them, and pay close attention when someone more senior gives you advice or teaches you something. 

This will show that you are serious about the role you are in and make you a great candidate for a promotion.

It’s also important to know the physical layout of both your station and the entire kitchen you are working in. 

Having a mental map of where everything is will make it much easier when a chef de partie is yelling for something they need during a busy dinner service. You should know where everything is stored and be able to find them quickly when you need something.

4 - Speed is good, precision is better

Being able to work quickly is great but it means nothing if you’re constantly making mistakes. Rushing through a task only to have to do it again takes more time than if you just took a breath and focused the first time.

A precise hand in the kitchen is always more valuable than a fast one. You should learn techniques properly and practice them slowly at first. This will allow you to truly apply what you’ve learned and get it right before trying to execute it at full speed.

This is especially important when working with expensive ingredients or the more dangerous elements of the kitchen like sharp knives and hot pans. If you aren’t precise in these situations, your mistakes could lose the restaurant money or, even worse, get someone hurt. 

If you want to get your start in hospitality and think you have the right skills to succeed in the kitchen, check out the open commis chef jobs available on Hosco today!