Food processing workers prepare raw food items and combine ingredients to make food products.

Food processing workers cook large quantities of food. They work for companies that create the canned, boxed, and frozen foods sold in grocery stores. Rather than cook a few gallons of soup as a chef might, food processing workers cook kettles, vats, or tanks of soup.

Workers generally cook the same or similar items each day. They might always cook soups, lasagnas, spaghetti sauces, or other types of prepared foods. They also cook items such as potato chips, noodles, and crackers that have simpler cooking processes.

Food processing workers begin their shifts by reading work orders. These orders tell workers which products to cook and how much to make. Work orders also include the recipes for the products.

Once they know what they will cook, workers measure or weigh the ingredients they need. They also determine the order for mixing ingredients. Then they add the items to the cooking equipment. Because they are dealing with large quantities of ingredients, workers may use hoists to lift some items.