What Does A Kitchen Porter Job Entail?

As the name suggests, a kitchen porter works in kitchens of establishments which serve food to the public. The types of places are many and varied, from fine dining restaurants with Michelin stars to golf clubs, hospitals and works canteens. In any kitchen which that prepares meals for a paying public, it is likely there is a Kp in the team.

The kitchen porter's duties range from washing up and cleaning to a basic level of food preparation.

The KP has to show their commitment to achieving and keeping up a high standard of hygiene. Council Food Safety officers are rigorous in their assessment of kitchen best practices, and it's imperative to meet the food safety and legal requirements which are necessary to maintain a five-star food hygiene rating.

Additionally, the KP has to be methodical and have an attention to detail which can also be used in the preparation of ingredients before the rush of service. In any restaurant consistency is key, and it's important to prepare the raw ingredients to exacting specifications so that the finished dishes will taste identical from day to day.

Teamwork is another key criteria when working in a kitchen - regardless of the role. During service, the kitchen is a high-pressure environment. In cook to order kitchens, all plates for a table must be served simultaneously, and this creates a situation where teamwork, and having each other's backs is critical. In a banqueting service, many plates must be pushed out at the same time, and this is an entirely different, but none the less stressful environment.

Stamina is an absolute must for a would be KP. The hours are long, and kitchen porters are on the go most of the time.

As with most jobs, it's the team of people you're working with which makes the difference between enjoying your working day or wishing you were somewhere else. Kitchen brigades do tend to have even more camaraderie than most workplaces. The banter between team members and the after work drinks all enhance what could be a repetitive job to make it quite entertaining.

Being a KP is hard work, but either as a rung on the career ladder or a temp job to bring in some extra cash, it can be a satisfyingly enjoyable job.

Jake Miller has worked in kitchens all over the UK. You can read more about his experiences at Chef Times