What Skills Do Chefs Learn in Commercial Cookery Certificate Courses?

Most Australians have a penchant for culinary careers, not only because they allow them to show the world their creativity but also because they are generally food lovers. If you are one of those individuals aspiring to become a successful chef, the chef courses Perth can be your stepping stone to a vibrant career.

In this piece, we will be taking an overview of the critical skills needed to succeed in a commercial kitchen and digging deep into the courses that will strengthen your future prospects.

What is A Chef, and Why Should You Consider Becoming One?

Generally, a chef is a culinary professional working in a commercial kitchen. Depending on the position, he or she can be in the management stream or in the food preparation stream. There are a variety of chefs working within different streams, such as hospitality, restaurants, or catering for other companies. People have also started opening their own food businesses with success after completing their Cert 3 commercial cookery.

People opt for this profession for different reasons, one of which is that they want to work in a fast-paced environment. To sharpen your skills and let your creativity shine, you can take cookery courses Perth.

Skills That You Can Learn While Taking Up the Commercial Cookery Certificate Courses

The commercial cookery certificate courses are offered to aspiring chefs to provide a broad variety of hands-on skills which can be a guide for succeeding in professional kitchens. These hand-on courses help the students achieve basic cooking skills proficiency. Here is what you can learn.

1. Technical Skills

Knife skills include dicing and mincing, chiffonade and brunoise techniques that demand practice. Students also learn to handle the bigger appliances in the kitchen, such as stoves, ovens, immersion blenders, and food processors.

They acquire basic understanding about how food can be cooked, for example, sautéing, roasting, grilling, braising, or poaching. Stock making and sauce preparation are all included in the various teaching curriculums. Additionally, they learn how to create excellent traditional or modern dishes.

2. Food Safety and Hygiene

While taking the Diploma in cookery, apart from acquiring technical cooking skills, one acquires knowledge of food safety and hygiene. For instance, appropriate food handling and storage as well as preparation must be done with caution to avert food poisoning.

They are taught how to implement food safety management systems, which include hygiene protocols and maintenance of cleanliness at the workplace. These include temperature control, prevention of cross-contamination, and waste management practices. A good food safety foundation is necessary for the well-being of a client as an aspiring chef.

3. Management Skills

Commercial cookery certificate courses encourage vital organisational and time management skills. These skills are essential for managing the pressure within a commercial kitchen. They train students on the prioritisation of tasks, how to make use of time well, and how to work with ease under pressure.

They also learn to work with other kitchen staff, adhere to the recipes followed, and deliver before certain deadlines. Teamwork also becomes important because communication and coordination with others always become necessary for efficient kitchen functioning.

4. Budgeting and Planning

Enrollment in an advanced diploma in commercial cookery also teaches students the principles of menu planning and costing. They learn how to create balanced and attractive menus, considering dietary requirements, seasonality, and budget constraints.

Students also learn how to cost foods, control portions, and manage inventory, skills that are key to running a profitable kitchen. This knowledge is foundational for students who may go on to own or manage restaurants in the future.

5. Developing Additional Proficiency

Apart from the above mentioned skills, certified chefs are adept in inventory management, following sustainable work practices, emphasising organisational skills, cleaning kitchen premises and more. Learning concepts like nutrition and menu development not only hones their skills, but makes them well equipped to handle meal preparations for people with health conditions.

Additionally, customer care skills, leadership and proficiency in culinary arts holistically develop the candidate’s competency, making them eligible for the hospitality sector. Tactful communication with colleagues, customers and managers enables them to land a secure position and excel in their chosen profession.

6. Theoretical Knowledge

Lastly, such courses often contain culinary theory, which provides the student with a broader understanding of how science relates to cooking. They learn about chemical and physical changes that occur while cooking, making them better equipped to understand why certain ingredients may react in the way they do and how best to achieve results.

Bottom line

For individuals who enjoy being creative through food, becoming a professional chef is one of the fantastic career options available. Apart from the opportunity to hone one’s passion, mastering the skills for the proper running of a commercial kitchen is also another excellent experience from taking commercial cookery courses Perth. Thus, seize the opportunities of the certificates and work towards an immensely fulfilling career.

Also Read:- Is A Career In Hospitality Industry Suited For You?