What to Study to Become a Chef: Culinary Education for a New Breed of Culinarian

There will be a great amount of opportunities available for those who are passionate about a cooking career. Getting a formal education is often the best way to start a culinary career. Classes can help you in ways you might not have even thought of yet.

However, what are some of the subjects chefs should study to prepare them for commercial cooking? How does a formal education help cooks be more competitive in tough job markets? What benefits does a formal education offer for cooks in their daily work?

Essential Lessons for Culinary Learners

The purpose of a culinary school program is to prepare students to work in a variety of commercial kitchen environments. Students are given a broad knowledge base that qualifies them for a number of important entry-level positions in restaurants, production plants, cafeterias, and a variety of other eateries.

Culinary skills and techniques are the foundation of these programs. Students learn how to sauté, bake, sear, fry, and other techniques they'll use in their daily work.

• Kitchen essentials introduce students to the realities of working in a commercial kitchen. Students learn the importance of organization, teamwork, and compliance.
• Front-of-the-house management classes teach students how to handle the customer experience at an eatery.
• Nutrition classes help students put together meals that meet the demands of those with special diets and restrictions.

Other classes included in a culinary education introduce students to new ingredients, teach them how to keep commercial kitchens stocked, and safety rules that prevent the spread of food-borne illness. These are all essential lessons for those who want to pursue careers in commercial kitchens.

How Formal Education Boosts Your Options in the Job Market

A culinary degree is a great way to bring new life to your existing career or kick start a new one.

• The lessons learned in a culinary education means graduates should be ready to contribute to the success of an eatery from the first day on the job. Since they probably require less training, many hiring managers could be willing to start these employees with higher wages than those with less education.
• For highly competitive positions, a degree could be a big advantage. Your education should make your resume stand out from the crowd, which means you're more likely to get a call back.
• Cooking is a multidisciplinary field. Whether you want to wow visitors at five-star hotels or feed hungry students at large cafeteria-style college dining rooms, your degree should give you more options than just experience alone.
• On-the-job training makes it difficult to move forward in your career. If you change positions, you generally have to start all over from the beginning. With a degree, you should not be limited to a certain type of job or position.

Culinary Education On-the-Job

After you get your first job, your culinary education could continue to provide a number of important benefits.

• Always wanted to work in management? Your culinary degree improves your chances of advancement.
• Not sure where your future lies? Your degree program exposes you to many of the most important aspects of the restaurant business, so you can choose which part attracts you the most.
• Dream of owning your own business? A culinary degree gives you an important understanding of the restaurant business that can be used to build your own food-based empire.
• Looking for a change? Like most field, the best culinary jobs aren't advertised through normal channels. Through your degree program, you will make contacts that can help you find interesting opportunities throughout your career.
• Are you a self-taught cook? Culinary school sharpens your basic skills and prepares you for the rigors of commercial cooking.

Are you interested in a career as a chef? If you want to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, consider ECPI University for the education you want. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Arts - Associate’s

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